Mobile Electronics Alert - North Andover, MA – March 30, 2020:

The Mobile Electronics Association announces the launch of www.MEAhelp.com as a resource for the Mobile Electronics Industry.

This resource will be updated frequenlty with infomation about: Vital Resources for Retailers, COVID-19 Health Information, Federal & State Resources and Education & Training Events.

Mobile Electronics Alert - North Andover, MA – March 30, 2020:

The below link is for applying through the Small Business Association (SBA) for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Relief. This is a short form (5 screens) that can be completed online in a few minutes. MEA recommends that all members that have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus apply for this relief.

You will need the following information:

1. Business Tax ID or Social Security number

2. Total Sales for the period from 2/1/2019 through 1/31/2020

3. Total COGS (Cost of Goods Sold - which is only what you pay for products for resale) for the same period (2/1/19-1/31/20)**

4. Total Operating Expenses (Total of everything else you paid not including the COGS) for same period (2/1/19-1/31/20)**

5. The date the business was established (usually date of incorporated) and current ownership is the same if it has not changed

6. Select “Automotive Repair” activity and “Automotive – Parts. Accessories” for detailed

7. Number of employees you had employed as of 1/31/2020

8. You will need the full name, address, DOB and social security number of each owner of the business and the % of ownership they have

9. Bank name, account number and routing number

Mobile Electronics® Magazine Announces 2020 Digital Strategy

Interactive digital format to become more smartphone ready

North Andover, MA (January 23, 2020) – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA), producer of Mobile Electronics magazine, announced today a new strategy that will focus on its digital publication which has more than 1.5 million impressions since the digital service first launched a few years ago.

For more than 35 years, Mobile Electronics magazine has been the industry’s premier information and education publication, including current topics like Real World Retail, What’s Happening, Difference Makers, Strategy and Tactics and Tech Today. None of that will change, and it will continue as a monthly publication featuring its rich content.  

As a digital focused publication, Mobile Electronics magazine will deliver more timely information while tracking which content is more interesting to the readers and provide quick links to advertiser websites and other valuable resources. The magazine will feature KnowledgeFest supplements (Long Beach, Indianapolis, Orlando and Dallas) with timely content of the latest information for each event.

“We have a new challenge to leverage faster, more interactive and more vibrant mediums to educate, inform and empower you (our readers),” stated Solomon Daniels, Mobile ElectronicsÒ editor-in-chief. “The book format will evolve into something else that will be more intuitive to electronic formats; we will be able to gauge your opinions in real time, share your advice one day, so other retailers can implement it the next day,” Daniels concluded.

“The economics of printing and mailing any publication, along with the increasing number of readers who prefer to access it from their smart phone, justifies this targeted approach,” said Chris Cook, President of Mobile Electronics Association. “Now,” Cook continued, “we can establish valuable partnerships with other magazines and associations to cost effectively increase our circulation.”

About the Mobile Electronics Association:

Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.        

For Installer of the Year Tim Baillie, moving forward meant choosing to make major changes. With a renewed sense of freedom and self-confidence in both work and personal life, he hopes to spread a message of health and wellness in the industry.

Words by Rosa Sophia

Tim Baillie was led into the 12-volt industry after growing up around his father, who was a mechanic. “I had my first car when I was 14,” he said. “I wanted to follow [in my dad’s footsteps] and be a mechanic.” Baillie took automotive courses in high school and went into the industry, but was led toward car audio in the early 90s. “There was a car audio school in Orlando called CMA. I think it was only around four or five years—before Mobile Dynamics and Installer Institute. My parents said, ‘If this is something you want to do, we’ll send you to school.’”

In the course of his studies, Baillie learned the fundamentals of sound and electrical. In 1992, he got involved in IASCA, eventually winning over 150 first place awards, and several eastern and western regional events. “I placed in the top five every year from 1992 to 1999 at the IASCA World Finals, and in 1997 I won an IASCA World Championship in the Expert SC+ Class. I met Mark Fukuda there,” he said, adding, “He was doing things with routers and vinyl then—ten, fifteen years ahead of everyone else. Talking to him [opened up] a whole new world [for me] as far as building cars and getting better at it.”

Having a strong work ethic helped Baillie move forward with his career goals. “My dad, being a mechanic, always taught me if you... [Click Here] for the rest of the story

North Andover, Mass. – August 23, 2019 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) with its media partner "Into Tomorrow" with Dave Graveline, reveals highlights from its most recent KnowledgeFest Dallas event. Take a moment to see what you missed! [Click here] to view the interviews.

• February 7-9, 2020 - Long Beach, CA
• March 27-29, 2020 - Indianapolis, IN
• May 15-17, 2020 - Orlando, FL
• August 21-23, 2020 – Dallas, TX

Industry trends and strategies for growth considered.

North Andover, MA – May 23, 2019 – The Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) hosted a leadership conference last week in Orlando to discuss its newest KnowledgeFest event planned for May 15-17, 2020 at Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center. Companies represented included MEA Partners: Alpine, Cerwin Vega, DS18, InstallerNet, JL Audio, JVC, Kenwood, Focal, Rostra, Sony, VAIS Technology, VOXX, all of which will be exhibiting at the Orlando event. Seventy-five percent of the exhibit space is pre-sold. Leadership discussed growth trends and opportunities for KnowledgeFest, met with Visit Orlando and received tours of the host hotel, the Rosen Centre, and the convention center exhibit hall.

The group acknowledged that KnowledgeFest plays an important role in educating retailers and provides value for all their employees through its workshops and manufacturer-sponsored training. Now with the new KnowledgeFest Orlando event drawing attendance from the east coast, exhibiting manufacturers can support training for retailers nationwide.

KnowledgeFest is the only industry event devoted exclusively to the mobile specialist, the installing dealer. The addition of a fourth event in Orlando brings KnowledgeFest to a coast-to-coast nationwide audience. Combining an exhibit floor with dealer education and manufacturer training, KnowledgeFest delivers a tremendous value for the entire industry.

Other topics that were discussed at the conference included strategies to grow MEA’s retailer membership, mobile industry trends and challenges facing today’s mobile electronics specialists. "We had many of the top leaders from our industry in the room,” said MEA President, Chris Cook. “We appreciate the many actionable ideas they contributed to help us grow membership and improve the quality of service delivered to consumers.”

Upcoming KnowledgeFest events:

• August 9-11, 2019 - Dallas, TX
• February 7-9, 2020 - Long Beach, CA
• March 27-29, 2020 - Indianapolis, IN
• May 15-17, 2020 - Orlando, FL

About the Mobile Electronics Association

Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) is a trade association comprised of installing dealers and product vendors dedicated to serving the needs of the mobile electronics specialist industry. MEA owns and produces KnowledgeFest, regional trade-only industry events that combine educational programming and vendor training with a trade show floor. MEA owns and publishes the monthly Mobile Electronics® magazine, which is the industry’s #1 resource, as well as other digital media, including websites and the industry’s e-newsletter Hotwire. MEA provides software and data-driven services to vendors and retailers. Learn more at mobile-electronics.com.