By Chris Cook We’ve gathered the best available education, supplier displays and much more. What you do with it is up to you. I just finished reviewing some of the responses from the magazine’s latest industry survey, which focuses on KnowledgeFest. It asks questions about the main benefits of the show for attendees as well as how respondents rate KnowledgeFest against other events in terms of value to their business. But there was one response that did not show up in the Stats section on page 10. Those who responded “Not sure yet” on whether they were attending KnowledgeFest were asked what the most important factor was in determining whether they would go or not. More than “Cost” or “In-store obligations,” the overwhelming answer was “Value of the Event.” That’s good and bad—bad because it means we can do a better job of communicating the value of KnowledgeFest. But good because it shows that retailers are thinking about things the right way. Businesses are prioritizing long-term success over short-term profitability. So, for those of you on the fence, I’ll make the case for attending KnowledgeFest now. Show and Tell: There is a lot to see and hear on the exhibit…
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There are many ways to learn new strategies and absorb knowledge during lectures and trainings. Continually putting these tactics into practice as you study new processes is essential for personal and professional growth. Not knowing how to do something can leave you feeling less than adequate. That feeling is compounded when it’s your job to know it. Knowledge truly is the power behind your success, and there are many ways to learn. If you are like most of us, learning is a result of just figuring it out on your own and using every available resource to find a solution to your problem. Taking the solitary approach can be satisfying, but you may have to endure several mistakes before you find what works best. This takes time and money and depending on your situation, may cause others to doubt your ability. And, you won’t get the benefit of learning from the mistakes of others. Regardless, if you’re attempting to learn something new at a lecture, class, or training, or trying to find a better way with your current process, knowing how best to absorb knowledge will help you reach your goals. Listening Learning by hearing allows you to pick…
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January Issue: Don't Miss Out on KnowledgeFest 2018
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Don’t Miss Out KnowledgeFest is Your Place to Learn and Connect with the Mobile Electronics Community "These education events are designed provide you with the latest information to help you advance the professionalism and profitability of your business." If you missed attending CES 2018 then take heart in knowing that you have another chance to discover your favorite brands at KnowledgeFest West in Long Beach, California, KnowledgeFest East in Indianapolis, Indiana and KnowledgeFest Dallas in Dallas, Texas. KnowledgeFest is the only industry event dedicated to the mobile electronics specialist, the installing dealer. These events combine a trade show floor with educational workshops and manufacturer trainings for added value to you, the attendee. The next event is just around the corner in Long Beach California, February 23-25, 2018. This city is a great destination for West Coast dealers, especially those in the Southern California market. The Long Beach Convention Center is a downtown venue with lots of nearby hotels and restaurants. And February is a great time for manufacturers to showcase their new products and provide the best information and education to sell and install them. The KnowledgeFest experience is designed to provide you with the information you need to provide…
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"Find a need and fill it." Ever since I first heard this profound statement, which was spoken by 12-volt sales guru Del Ellis at my first KnowledgeFest, I found that it was also representative of the industry I'd soon come to adore. When I was first hired by Mobile Electronics magazine I was a daisy-fresh rookie with a journalism degree who didn't know a double-DIN from a DSP. Although I'm still no expert on the technical side of 12-volt, what I have gained a strong grasp of is how the industry works. That's also what intrigues me the most about it. In my first year, here's what I learned: car audio isn't just putting a deck and four's in a car but an entire industry filled with music lovers who also love cars. The products are vast and complicated. Installing those products takes great skill and expertise that is acquired through countless hours of trial and error, through which most are done for no money and could potentially ruin a vehicle's electrical system if done incorrectly. My second year consisted of me basically trying to make sense of the whirlwind of things I'd learned in my first. I developed my…
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12-28-2017 Mobile Electronics -- With the new year just around the corner, there are plenty of things worth remembering about 2017. Among them are stories about the people that help make the 12-volt industry so great. Here are the top three most read articles of 2017: 1. May 2017 Bird of Prey – Osprey Boston Truck & Van : https://issuu.com/mobileelectronics/docs/17me_may_for_digital/30 2. October 2017 Partner for All – Automotive Data Systems: https://issuu.com/mobileelectronics/docs/17me_october_new/40 3. April 2017 Rebel Monarchy – KingPin Car & Marine Audio: https://issuu.com/mobileelectronics/docs/17me_april_for_digital/28
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12-20-2017, Forbes -- If you invent a great idea for a new product, others will copy you. It’s just a matter of when. That’s guaranteed. Whether your company is small or one of the largest in the world does not matter. Copycats are the norm now. Run a successful Kickstarter campaign? Factories in China may beat you to market before you’ve shipped a single unit. Selling on Amazon.com? Prepare to do battle with Chinese counterfeiters who steal your original photos, descriptions and even reviews. Congratulations on your success! Copycats do not imitate products that aren’t selling. So… how can you compete? Will having a patent or several patents help you? Not really. Due to changes in our patent laws, it has become enormously expensive to defend one’s intellectual property in the United States. First, take a deep breath. There are other strategies to pursue. Not only can you survive, you can succeed. But you’re going to have to be unemotional and think differently. Early on in my career, I was under the impression that it was possible to own a creative work through patents, copyrights and trademarks. And in fact, the only right referred to explicitly in the U.S. Constitution is to our inventiveness. But it’s more…
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