March 23, 2016  Santa Fe Springs, CA, -- American Road Products will conduct two dealer interactive workshops at the Mobile Electronics’ KnowledgeFest Spring Training event being held April 8-10, 2016, at the Indiana Convention Center. The focus of these workshops is to jump start 12V Specialist retailers into sales and installations of the 360º OmniVue Advanced Vision Surround View Camera Systems and the ReverseGUARD line of add-on back-up protection products.  

The safety business is the fastest growing segment of aftermarket vehicle electronics. American Road Products will give proactive retailers the foundation to begin the high margin business of selling and installing safety to consumers AND local commercial fleets. Carlos Garcia, Fleet Installation Manager and Stephen Witt will conduct the sessions. The how to sell to commercial customers is the NEW business education for retailers. 

All Dealer Workshop attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a 360º OmniVue Surround View Passenger system worth $1199. retail. 

"With our commercial product offering, 12V Specialty retailers can add the profitable local commercial fleet safety business to the revenue stream of the store states" Stephen Witt, "The local HVAC, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, delivery and service fleets need safety products to improve driver behavior and reduce accidents. The average cost in 2015 of a non injury accident for commercial fleets was $64, 981. Working together with our Authorized 12V Dealers, we will help the local commercial business save money by lowering accident rates, insurance costs and downtime" says Witt.  

To register for the American Road Products sessions, visit the following link and click on the American Road Products Sales & Install Workshop listing:

https://knowledgefest.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php  

Open to ALL  Dealer Workshop:  5:15PM - 6;15PM Friday, April 8 

Open to ALL  Dealer Workshop:  9:30AM - 10:30AM Sunday, April 10  

Garcia and Witt will also be conducting the Selling Safety: Developing You New Profit Center Sales Track workshop on Saturday, April 9 from 11:00AM - 12:15PM. This session is must attend for store owners and managers that WANT to expand their business into the high margin vehicle safety business. Attendees will learn how to market and position their store in the growing safety market, how to target, present to and close commercial fleet safety customers and what products are in the highest demand. 

For more information call 888.918.8800 or visit amercianroadproducts.com

3/22/16 Elgin, IL – K40 Electronics announced that they will offer two hands-on installation workshops for K40’s remote radar detectors and laser jamming products during Mobile Electronics’ KnowledgeFest Spring Training event being held April 8-10, 2016, at the Indiana Convention Center.

Brady Siebert, Director of National Accounts for K40, and Joshua Landau, from JML Audio of St. Louis, will lead the hands-on training on how to custom install a K40 RL360i dual remote receiver radar detection and Laser Defuser g5 laser jamming system. Also covered will be K40’s new Expert control unit that enables mobile electronics retailers to offer an additional customization option to customers. This permanently installed, yet easily concealable component looks and functions just like other factory installed vehicle controls, including back-lighting for easy button identification in low light conditions.  

Two training sessions covering the same topics will be offered by K40 in event booth #410:

Friday, April 8, 2016

5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Saturday, April 9, 2016

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

To register for a K40 training session, visit the following link and click on the K40 Brand Workshop listing:

https://knowledgefest.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php

“We’re excited to present this business-building training for the second year at KnowledgeFest," said Siebert. “It offers dealers interested in entering into the radar category key insights from both the manufacturer and an award-winning retailer on how K40 can be added into their product mix as well as offering established dealers a refresher on best practices for custom installations.”

For information on K40’s entire product line, which offers the industry’s first ticket-free guarantee, visit http://www.k40.com/products

15 Focused Classes, Expanded Show Floor and Brand-Specific Training Sessions Await Industry Attendees

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – March 3, 2016 – Mobile Electronics, dedicated to the growth and education of retail establishments in its industry, has announced that registration is open for its second annual KnowledgeFest Spring Training tradeshow and conference. The three-day event spans April 8-10 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Attendees can also reserve seats in the series of workshops and training sessions that will comprise the educational part of the event.

KnowledgeFest Spring Training features 15 educational workshops, segmented into three tracks to cover topics related to owners and managers, sales professionals and installation technicians. In addition, more than 50 brands welcome attendees to ask questions and experience the latest gear in the 42,000-square-floor exhibit area, and several hold separate training sessions to familiarize attendees with features and selling tactics of their new-for-2016 products.

"We're very proud of the fact that the instructors for our educational series all come from our industry," said Chris Cook, president of Mobile Electronics. "It not only speaks to their willingness to share their experiences for the benefit of their peers, but also to the respect they've earned as evidenced by the hundreds of professionals who come here every year to learn from them."

KnowledgeFest is the only venue that is solely dedicated to the mobile electronics industry. Through its workshops, exhibit floor and networking events, it serves to provide a meeting ground on which professionals can learn, share ideas and collaborate on solutions to common issues facing the industry.

Bryan Schmitt, president and lead instructor at Mobile Solutions in Tempe, Ariz., has been a presenter at KnowledgeFest spring and summer events for more than eight years.

"I'm pleased to continue to be a part of KnowledgeFest, and as a result, part of the industry community," said Schmitt. "Every year my team and I try to bring something fresh to teach attendees. I look forward to the opportunity to give technicians productive tips to take back to their stores."

Professionals who wish to attend KnowledgeFest Spring Training can register at www.knowledgefest.org/attendees/attendee-registration. Mobile Electronics members may attend at no charge. The fee for non-members is $149.00; however, the fee is waived if the person is invited as a VIP by an exhibiting manufacturer.

Prospective attendees can view and register for available workshop classes, reserve seats and print out a personalized itinerary at http://bit.ly/KFSpring16. Seating may be limited in some workshops, and those with reservations will be given priority access over walk-ins, according to Cook, who also noted that professionals must register to attend KnowledgeFest—in addition to workshop reservations—to participate in workshops and have access to the exhibit floor.

Industry-dedicated show readies for Dallas event, Industry Awards

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – April 18, 2016 (MEDIAWIRE) – The Mobile Electronics Group completed the second Spring Training session of KnowledgeFest, an education and exhibiting conference series centered on advancing the knowledge and expertise of mobile electronics retail and technical professionals. Held April 8-10 in Indianapolis, the show boasted more than 750 attendees and over 40 exhibitors.

"We are extremely pleased with the turnout of the event," said Chris Cook, Mobile Electronics Group president. "We had a steady presence of retailers during exhibit floor hours and workshop attendance was strong. Exhibitors we've spoken to are pleased with the traffic they received, both in their booths and their individual product training workshops. In fact, onsite we received strong commitments from exhibitors to come back to Indy next year."

Eight meeting rooms rotated educational and manufacturer training workshops throughout the show. Attendees received peer-based instruction, tips and advice through 18 workshops segmented for owners and managers, sales professionals and installation technicians. An additional 40 workshops were allotted to exhibitors whose trainers conducted brand-specific instruction, with most opening their workshops to prospective as well as current authorized retailers.

The KnowledgeFest show schedule has been adjusted over the past few years to improve efficiency and make the time more valuable for attendees and exhibitors.  On the last day of this year's spring training venue, the exhibit floor hours were moved to the morning and educational workshops finished off the day, resulting in more face time between manufacturers and attendees. 

The next KnowledgeFest event takes place August 20-22 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Now in its seventh year, the Dallas conference will feature more classes, a larger show floor and the finale of the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. For more information, visit KnowledgeFest.org.

New Long Beach KnowledgeFest Announced for 2018

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – April 18, 2017 – Mobile Electronics® has completed its KnowledgeFest® Spring Training Indianapolis. Now in its third year, this KnowledgeFest event held April 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center has grown to more than 800 attendees and 32 exhibitors. KnowledgeFest Events are educational and exhibiting events whose audience is the mobile electronics specialist, the installing dealer.

Centered on advancing knowledge and expertise, KnowledgeFest Events educate, inform and empower mobile electronics retail and technical professionals. KnowledgeFest Spring Training featured over 29 hours of educational sessions, 39 hours of manufacturer training, and 14-plus sours of exhibit time. Spring Training highlights manufacturers’ new products now shipping and kicks-off the mobile selling season.

"Our Indy event continues to grow year-over-year," said Chris Cook, Mobile Electronics president.

“There were two drivers behind our creation of this event: First, to offer our retailer members the opportunity for training and networking; and, second, to offer our manufacturer exhibitors the opportunity to meet with their retail accounts east of the Mississippi, the mobile specialists they’re not seeing in January in Vegas. Exhibitors we spoke with onsite at space selection for our 2018 events were pleased with the traffic they received, both in their booths and their training workshops. We received strong commitments from exhibitors to come back to Indy next year and to participate in our new Spring Training Long Beach.”

In Indianapolis, Mobile Electronics announced it was adding a third KnowledgeFest event for 2018. A second Spring Training event in southern California at the Long Beach Convention Center February 23-25.  “With many manufacturers’ U.S. headquarters located in southern California, the Long Beach location allows manufacturers to meet with dealers in their own backyards and train on new products,” said Cook. “And, it allows us to offer a regional, yet nationwide approach to training and exhibiting with KnowledgeFest events in Indy for the east, Dallas central and Long Beach west.”    

For 2018, KnowledgeFest Spring Training returns to Indy and the Indiana Convention Center on March 16-18. The next KnowledgeFest event for 2017 takes place August 12-14 in Dallas at a new venue, the Dallas Convention Center. Now in its eighth year, the Dallas KnowledgeFest will feature more classes, a larger show floor and the finale of the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards. For more information, visit knowledgefest.org.

Utilizing a quality venue, good timing and a solid combination of educational seminars and manufacturer trainings, the first KnowledgeFest Spring Training event drew retailers from areas never before tapped for the industry-specific event.

Being the second of its kind, this event was created to focus primarily as a bridge for retailers who are unable to travel to Dallas in August and meet directly with manufacturers for training and to ask questions in an intimate setting. Located in downtown Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center, this second KnowledgeFest offered trainings from Kicker, Kenwood, Alpine, Voxx, Directed, Escort, Memphis Car Audio and K40, among others. Companies provided trainings on their latest products and gave sales tips on how to sell those products in the most effective ways. New technologies have been a source of confusion for many retailers in recent years due to the rapid rate of change, which manufacturers saught to help with at the event.

The educational tracks saw a variety of pairings from veteran retailers and industry gurus. One such pairing was between Del Ellis and Jason Kranitz, who were their to promote their new venture, Kingpin University, in an attempt to promote more education in the industry due to a shortage of installers. Also presenting were Marcel Newell and Ben Vollmer from Avidworx/Businessworx, alongside retailers Mike Bartells and John Schwartz.

The biggest strengths of the seminars came in their topics, focusing on some of the hottest issues causing headaches to retailers today, including how to find good help amidst an installer shortage, sale strategies for less popular categories like window tinting and techniques for integrating new technologies like iPad dash kits and OEM integration.

The event also showcased a Town Hall Meeting, featuring a panel of veteran retailers providing their thoughts in an open forum for both retailers and manufacturers to hear. Topics discussed included customer retention, finding and developing new talent and the importance of continuous training. Questions from the audience bore some controversy with some retailers airing grievances regarding topics like a lack of POP from some manufactures, specifically regarding literature for clients to read, as well as issues with defective products and no reimbursement for return shipping costs.

To close the meeting, Solomon Daniels, editor-in-chief of Mobile Electronics magazine, discussed this year's Industry Awards, which will take place in Dallas, Texas at KnowledgeFest 2015. The awards process officially begins on May 1st and will include many changes, including new awards for Rookie of the Year, Trusted Tech (separately voted), various retail performance awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. A new website will be created specifically for the awards, which, in addition to current contest information and rules, will include previous winners and nominees.

4-9-2017 -- KnowledgeFest Spring Training in Indianapolis, Ind. officially opened today. Events included the mobile electronics show, nine different educational seminars and 14 manufacturer trainings. 

"KnowledgeFest Spring Training is the kickoff event for all the new products introduced this year. Manufacturers will be featured in training opportunities each day developed to educate on features, benefits and installation techniques of their new products," said Chris Cook, president of the Mobile Electronics Group on the knowledgefest.org home page. "The three-day event is complete with top-notch educational workshops, great networking opportunities, manufacturer training sessions, and an exhibit floor packed with your favorite brands. Completing the educational workshops and manufacturer trainings will give you the tools and knowledge to deliver exceptional customer experiences and grow your business."

The event runs from April 9-11 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. 

Mobile Electronics March Issue, 3-1-2016 -- Everything starts small. Children grow into adults. Small seeds blossom into giant redwood trees. And small businesses that wish to learn and improve come together to form internationally recognized trade shows. SEMA, for example, started in 1963 with a group of small automotive manufacturers who supplied performance equipment for early hot rods. After 40 years, it became what it is: an industry giant, featuring thousands of companies and hundreds of show cars, all having joined over time, despite several name changes and makeovers to the event over the years.

KnowledgeFest, now in its 23rd year, has grown and changed in similar ways with a name change (formerly referred to by many retailers as MERA), growing attendance from both manufacturers and retailers, adding activities (like the Industry Awards) and changing venues over the years. Now, held in Dallas at a luxurious hotel and including more seminars and events than ever before, it's outgrown being just an annual event.

After last year's highly successful first-time effort, KnowledgeFest Spring Training is back to offer an alternative for some and an expansion for others looking to improve their businesses. Located at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, this year's show will emphasize more focused seminars and product trainings from the biggest names in 12-volt. The event has more exhibitors, requiring an addition of 7,500 square feet of exhibit space to make room for those new companies. First time manufacturer exhibitors for the event will include JL Audio, Sony, AudioControl, AAMP Global and Accele.

“We are extremely pleased to have these new exhibitors join us at KnowledgeFest Spring Training 2016. Most of them have been supporting our Dallas event for several years,” said Chris Cook, Mobile Electronics Group President in a recent press release. “Their support recognizes this event as the best opportunity to provide quality sales and installation training during the launch of their new products and services introduced earlier this year at CES."

Over 50 brands are scheduled to be featured within 42,000 square feet of exhibit space and 10 meeting rooms at the event. Given the timeliness of the event coinciding with new product releases, dealers can expect trainings on the ins and outs of the newest products from top manufacturers.

Continue the rest of the story HERE.

Panelists will discuss going beyond average to build a successful, longstanding operation

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – March 25, 2016 (MEDIAWIRE) – The town hall meeting at the upcoming KnowledgeFest Spring Training show and education conference will feature five prominent retailers, discussing how specialist mobile electronics outlets can continue to grow their businesses. "Breaking Through the Retail Ceiling" will focus on the strategies and practices that elevate a business from moderate performance to legitimate success and sustainability. 

The town hall signals the midway point for KnowledgeFest Spring Training, following the first full day of exhibits and education. Its purpose is to present and discuss topics that concern or benefit the industry, led by an informed group of panelists.

"This year, we felt it was important to let retailers speak to retailers," said Chris Cook, Mobile Electronics president. "KnowledgeFest has always thrived as a peer environment, where people in the same profession can network and share ideas. For the town hall, we've selected a group of retailers who have achieved above-average levels of profit, market share and repeat clientele, and all of them are excited to relay their experiences and advice to our attendees."

The 2016 retail panelists are all current or prior recipients of awards from Mobile Electronics. They include:

• Eric Carter of Cartronix in Valparaiso, Ind., multitime Top 50 and Top 12 Retailers award recipient
• Brian Layton of Sound FX in Lewes, Del., a recent Retailer of the Year award recipient and multitime Top 50 Retailer
• Josh Mojica of GNC Customs in Goshen, Ind., a recent Top 12 Retailers award recipient
• Matt Schaeffer of Safe and Sound Mobile Electronics in Manassas, Va., 2015 Installer of the Year runner-up
• Ken Ward of Musicar Northwest in Portland, Ore., previous Retailer of the Year award recipient

KnowledgeFest Spring Training leverages the time of year when new products have begun to ship and retailers are most in need of instruction on product features and specifications as well as selling strategies. The event will be held April 8-10 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Ind. Professionals who wish to attend can register at www.knowledgefest.org/attendees/attendee-registration. Prospective attendees can view and register for available workshop classes, reserve seats, and print out a personalized itinerary at http://bit.ly/KFSpring16. Find more information on KnowledgeFest Spring Training, travel to the event, and accommodations at www.knowledgefest.org.

Interested in getting free registration for the upcoming KnowledgeFest in Indianapolis? Then here are some questions to help you decide:

What are you doing to help your cause?

In the early 1990s the Internet was just becoming popular and a man with a vision left his job and home in New York to map out his course that would change consumer purchasing forever.

What did the man do after he moved away from New York?

There was a trade show for all “Book Store” owners and he drove himself for this four-day “INDEPENDENT TRADE SHOW” to learn how to become better at what he was planning on doing. Topics included “Selecting Opening Inventory” and “Inventory Management”. In the mean time, his associate was learning other aspects of the business to build one of the most successful teams in US history and with a threadbare budget.

Who was the man and what was the name of his business?

Before I answer you let me ask you this, between who the man is and what the man did to become successful, what’s most important? If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve the same results.


- Tony Robbins

You see you have before an outstanding opportunity to do what the man I am talking about did!
 We have some of the best trainers in the field of car audio coming together to help you to learn to become better at what you are planning on doing!

We have people like Jason Kranitz, Micah Williams, Mike Bartells, Eric Carter, John Schwartz, Ken Ward, Harry Lichtman, Bryan Schmidt and of course yours truly. 
You have manufacturers wanting to invest their time and energy on how to make your facility better and more profitable, and yet you look for or make excuses not to go!

By the way, the man Tony Robbins is talking about above is Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com. 

Based on all the above info, you ask, "Del, what should we do?" 
The answer is, I would beg, borrow or do whatever it takes to get yourself and your staff underneath the teaching of these great leaders in our independent industry which we all love so much and come learn the secrets like Jeff Bezos learned in the early 1990s.

Now, as promised, here's what you do to get your FREE registration: 

1. Go to http://bit.ly/KF4Free.

 2. Fill in your contact information. Be sure to enter your title under 'Registrant Title.' 

3. Under 'Exhibitor Name,' select the vendor you're most excited to see at KnowledgeFest Spring Training. 

4. Under 'Registration Classification,' select 'I am a VIP retailer invited by an exhibitor.' 
 5. Click Registration Confirmation and that's it! You'll receive a confirmation in your email.

We look forward to helping you in Indianapolis at our own Independent Trade Show on April 11th-13th 2015.