Premium Sound Deadening Brand Debuts at KnowledgeFest Dallas

DALLAS, TEXAS -- July 22, 2019 -- 12-volt industry icons John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt partner to launch a premium brand of sound deadening products called SoundShield. The flagship product is a 4.5mm thick, triple-layer damping sheet with a flexible butyl rubber, high-tac adhesive base, a heat-rejecting foil center and a high-tech, waterproof closed-cell foam top layer. The sheets easily install on vehicle sheet metal and panels prone to vibration and transfer of road noise. SoundShield products are intended for 12 volt installation specialists and interior fabricators to aid in premium, finished-quality results of an automotive interior and sound system. The products debut at the MEA KnowledgeFest in Dallas, TX on August 9th.

Both company founders come from other well-established, self-made companies. Schwartz is the CEO of 2010 & 2015 ME-Mag Retailer of the Year, Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security in Anchorage, AK. Schmitt is the President of ME-Mag 2017 Accessory Vendor of the Year and three-time category finalist, Mobile Solutions USA. Both are regular presenters at industry trade events and mentors to many retail shop owners. The two have collaborated on business ideas and forward-looking industry initiatives over the years and the partnership with SoundShield is a natural evolution of their relationship.

“I’m so excited to partner with Bryan on SoundShield. He is one of the most respected people I know. I met Bryan in 2009 at a trade show and I knew we would be great friends," Schwartz said. "I think the Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security name I’ve worked hard to elevate completely matches the values of the Mobile Solutions brand. We both espouse integrity and high quality in the work we do, as well as that represented by independent specialists around the country. We want 12-volt technicians and interior fabricators to love SoundShield as much as we do.” Among the technical accolades, Schwartz noted the retail-to-consumer margins with SoundShield are also fantastic.

Since January 2019 the pair have been developing the SoundShield brand to serve the independent 12-volt specialist by researching and sourcing the highest quality automotive sound damping and absorption products in the industry. They’ve not only considered the technical aspects and installation-friendly design, but created stunning retail packaging and thoughtful profit margins to bring added labor dollars into the business of its dealers. “We are very much dedicated to highlighting the value of specialty installation and SoundShield products simply add to that effort," Schmitt said. "John Schwartz is an amazing marketing mind and an all-around business inspiration with all he’s accomplished, so I could not be more pleased to partner with him in SoundShield. We believe we have something very special to bring to market.” The company says retailers selling upscale interiors and high-end audio upgrades are the ideal audience for SoundShield partnerships.

SoundShield will debut its flagship damping sheet technology at MEA KnowledgeFest in Dallas, Texas, August 9-11, 2019. They will be co-located with the Mobile Solutions booth #523. SoundShield products will be distributed out of their Dallas, Texas warehouse which has its own dedicated staff. Shipping times are within one to three days anywhere in the continental US. The company is also seeking international distributors.

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, AK and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, Texas, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening products available today.

For more information, please visit www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram at soundshield.

Anchorage, AK 3/11/2024 Known by so many throughout the industry as “Big Bro”, SoundShield founder and CEO, John Schwartz has earned that title by doing whatever he can to help others be their best. At the next Knowledgefest event, which takes place in Nashville, TN from April 19th through April 21st, Schwartz’s company will continue that tradition by sponsoring the seminar entitled “Cast Off the Crutches”. This seminar, which will be delivered by Jon Kowanetz of Pathways Coaching & Consulting, aims to help attendees to identify and overcome the obstacles that are holding them back from getting to where they want to go in both their personal and professional life.

Through the sharing of personal experiences with habit and behavior change, Part 1 of this seminar seeks to empower others to proudly acknowledge the areas in their own lives that they would like to change and shows them how doing so could benefit them both at home and at work. Whether the habit is as seemingly harmless as nail biting or excessive social media usage, or as destructive as alcohol and drug dependence, attendees will learn a step-by-step process to overcome it.

Part 2 of Cast Off the Crutches is a workshop that builds upon what attendees learned in Part 1, by giving them an opportunity to use that same step-by-step process to create an actual plan to change their unwanted habits and behaviors, in a way they may not have encountered before. “We all know that in order to change a habit or behavior, we must first acknowledge it,” Kowanetz said “But to create the desire to actually make that change, we need to clearly define why it is a problem for us, how much it could negatively affect our lives if we don’t change it and how much our lives could improve if we do!”

“Look, we all need to make money, sell more, install better and there are so many classes at Knowledgefest that will teach people how to do those things,” said John Schwartz of the sponsorship “But what is all that worth if we are not good within ourselves? The industry needs a class like this and SoundShield is proud to support it!”

Part 1 of “Cast Off the Crutches” will be delivered at 8:00 am on Saturday, April 20 2024 in room 103 A and Part 2 will be delivered at 10:30 am on Sunday, April 21 2024 in room 103 A, as part of the Knowledgefest Nashville event, being held at the Music City Center in Nashville
TN. Please contact Jon Kowanetz at Pathways Coaching & Consulting with any questions.

Premium Sound Deadening Brand Expands Product Line

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, October 11, 2020 — SoundShield, the premium sound deadening brand launched in 2019 by 12 volt industry veterans John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt, launched two exciting new products in late September; SoundShield SLIM and WrapiT.

SLIM is a new damping sheet material that’s 1/3 of the thickness of the original SoundShield sheet material. At just 1.5mm thick, SLIM is intended to install in locations where tight fitting panel surfaces leave little extra room for a traditional damping sheet. Using SoundShield’s revolutionary pressure sensitive high-tac adhesive, the butyl rubber sheets install easily and effectively damp vibration and external noise. It’s available in a single 11 square foot tube suitable for retail presentation that includes two 20”(H) x 39.5”(W) sheets, or as a four tube Pro Pack.

WrapiT is a unique vibration suppression tape intended for items that are prone to rattle, buzz or otherwise create vibration-oriented noises. Made from SoundShield’s 3mm thick, 2” wide waterproof closed-cell acoustic foam with pressure sensitive high-tac adhesive, WrapiT is easily dispensed from the 15 foot roll. Technicians can quickly and effectively mitigate unwanted vibrations in things like OEM wiring harnesses, passive crossover enclosures or the back of plastic OEM panels that have direct contact against a metal surface. “A technician could use WrapiT as a gasket for a component speaker sealing into a custom plastic adapter plate or a subwoofer sealing to the enclosure baffle surface. The useful applications in the 12 volt install bay are virtually unlimited” comments SoundShield co-founder and CEO John Schwartz. WrapiT comes either in a two roll pack (each 15 linear feet x 2” width) or a 12 roll Pro Pack.

The two new products came about by Schwartz and co-founder Bryan Schmitt soliciting feedback from their original SoundShield damping sheets and what technicians needed to take their installs even further to control unwanted noise or vibration. “We are fortunate to have a very loyal and talented base of shops and technicians that use our products, so we listened to the market needs and responded with SLIM and WrapiT” noted Schmitt.

To learn more about pricing and sales information on SLIM and WrapiT, request a dealer application from www.soundshieldusa.com.

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, AK and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, TX, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening products available today.

Stay connected with SoundShield by visiting www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.

Visually Striking Acrylic Display Merchandises the Sound Deadening Category

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, October 19, 2020 — SoundShield, the premium sound deadening brand founded by industry veterans John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt in 2019, introduces a visually striking merchandizing tool for its retailers; a custom-engineered, laser-engraved acrylic and LED-lit wall display to hold SoundShield retail-packaged tubes of sound deadening material.

Designed by co-founder Bryan Schmitt, the purpose of the new display is to elevate the sound deadening category within the retail setting. This allows retailers to merchandise SoundShield products, a category not commonly considered in showroom merchandising. The display invites conversations from either curious clients or as a reminder to sales professionals to include sound deadening in the sales process. The multi-color LED lighting with wireless remote allows retailers to easily customize the display to integrate into their showroom’s color scheme.

“The size of the display is compact, but commands a presence so it makes it a sensible fit for any sized retail shop” comments SoundShield CEO John Schwartz. Several 12-volt specialty retailers in the SoundShield family have tried early production models and provided feedback that proves the new display’s effectiveness.

“This is an excellent way to merchandise sound deadening that presents at eye level so clients can easily see the product” remarked Adam Devine of Devine Concepts in Naples, FL. The configurable color of the LED lighting made the display easily integrate into Adam’s showroom and company colors. Award-winning Mobile Toys, Inc. in College Station, TX also has implemented the display in their store and reports that their customers ask questions about what sound deadening is because of the display, which ultimately leads to sales.

The SoundShield wall display includes the necessary mounting hardware, multi-color programmable LED lighting and weighs just 25 pounds. SoundShield offers a direct purchase of the wall display or discounted pricing with a qualifying minimum product order. If not already a dealer, retailers can fill out a quick application at www.soundshieldusa.com.

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, AK and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, TX, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening products available today.

Stay connected with SoundShield by visiting www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.

Premium Sound Deadening Brand Broadens US Distribution

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, February 1, 2021 — SoundShield, the premium sound deadening brand launched in 2019 by 12 volt industry veterans John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt, recently welcomed CE Guys as their newest rep firm. CE Guys is representing the brand in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Hawaii.

“We are very pleased to welcome CE Guys as our newest rep firm, along with their distribution company, FDI, that will stock SoundShield” commented John Schwartz. The fact that the CE Guys are essentially stocking reps via their distribution company mean that SoundShield availability in all of those states represented is just a one or two day shipment time in most cases.

Michael Foundation, CEO of CE Guys said “We absolutely love the love and enthusiasm that John and Bryan have put into every detail of the product, from packaging to point-of-sale displays. These two guys are well-respected in the industry and that carries a lot of weight with dealers. We feel comfortable that we are selling the best Sound Deadening product on the market!”

For 2021, Foundation plans to position SoundShield as the go to sound deadening brand in all of their represented states. “There is zero reason to carry another brand. We have the service, product, and relationships to make this happen. SoundShield, CE GUYS, and FDI together is the winning trifecta to dominate in our markets” commented Foundation.

One of the advantages Schwartz noted in choosing to go with CE Guys is that they are known as the #1 powersports/motorcycle rep firm in the country. They have a long-standing background and experience in car audio, though. In addition to traditional car audio, motorcycles and powersports, CE Guys also services RV and marine sales channels. “This means we have a great opportunity for brand exposure in different retailer categories and for shops that may be unfamiliar with the category of sound deadening, acoustic treatments and road noise control” added Schwartz.

To learn more about SoundShield, request a dealer application from www.soundshieldusa.com. To learn more about CE Guys and their company, visit ceguys.com.

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, AK and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, TX, SoundShield is dedicated to 12-volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening and noise control products available today.

Stay connected with SoundShield by visiting www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.

New Opportunities for Premium Sound Deadening Brand in 13 US States

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, February 22, 2021 — SoundShield, the industry’s most recognized new premium sound deadening brand, announces DOW Electronics as their newest distribution partner. DOW now stocks and sells SoundShield sound deadening and noise control products in 10 Southern region US States including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. Additionally, DOW offers SoundShield in Missouri, Kansas and Texas for a total of 13 states.

John Schwartz, CEO of SoundShield said, “Having the broad distribution channel through DOW locations across the Southeast and Midwest, including Texas, means our customers have access to SoundShield in multiple warehouses. SoundShield availability in all of those states represented is just a one or two day shipment time in most cases.” DOW intends to leverage their reach to provide more permeation of SoundShield in their dealers’ shops which brings increased profit & labor dollars on installations.

“Some dealers love the sound deadening category and some ignore it,” said Drew Fischer, director of sales at DOW Electronics. “We think SoundShield has the right products and is the right vendor partner to elevate the category into something our dealers will routinely quote and sell into their installs instead of being an afterthought category” continued Fischer. DOW plans to be proactive with dealer activities that engage and energize for SoundShield and important installation-related topics. Dealer contests and product highlights on DOW’s What the FAQ is in the Box YouTube Channel are among the activities pending.

“When DOW dealers see installations done by their peers or industry pros using SoundShield, it conveys a sense of trust and confidence regarding the engineering and performance of the products,” added Jay Johnson, director of marketing for DOW Electronics. SoundShield works to have great visibility on social media channels popular with 12 volt technicians to further that confidence. “I wouldn’t ask any retailer, professional builder or enthusiast to install any product I don’t use in my own shop,” Schwartz said.

SoundShield Co-Founder Bryan Schmitt agreed and said, “We work hard to develop and produce high quality products in the sound deadening and noise control category. Partnering with DOW Electronics further elevates the category among its dealers and makes it part of the conversation to enhance audio and ride comfort in the automotive environment.”

To learn more about SoundShield, visit www.soundshieldusa.com. To learn more about DOW Electronics, visit dowelectronics.com/12volt.

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening and noise control products available today.

Stay connected with SoundShield by visiting www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.

Premium Sound Deadening Brand Continues US Growth and Visibility

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, 3.2.2021 — SoundShield, the premium sound deadening brand launched in 2019 by 12 volt industry veterans John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt, announces the addition of End Result as the brand’s representatives in Ohio, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania.

Ed Dalesandro, Principal of End Result said, “We are proactive about adding brands and categories that make our retailers healthier in business.” End Result has a 37 year track record of representing some of the most iconic and sought after brands in the business. “Sound deadening has always been an afterthought category. With the addition of SoundShield, we intend to show real world performance and additional profit opportunities to our retailers. The products are a cut above, just like we perceive ourselves, so it’s a great fit,” Dalesandro continued.

“We are extremely happy to welcome End Result to the SoundShield family” commented SoundShield CEO Schwartz. He and co-founder Schmitt know Dalesandro and his team well from past industry trade shows, as well as regional training events known as the End Result Show. “Ed does a great job of supporting and training his dealer base, which is something important to us as a premium brand,” added Schmitt.

For 2021, Dalesandro and colleague Rusty North plan to educate their entire dealer base on why to sell sound deadening and noise control products at all, plus what differentiates SoundShield from other products in the category. “A dealer introduction video for SoundShield is already recorded and circulating throughout our dealer base with about 70 having already watched and climbing every day,” said Dalesandro.

End Result typically puts on regional trainings via the End Result Show twice per year, but in the pandemic they were early to take the lead on Zoom meetings/trainings. Since Dalesandro feels some folks are ‘Zoomed out’ he is being increasingly creative about how to put together more interesting content for SoundShield, such as an interview format rather than a traditional product training with slides. Depending on the viability of an in-person End Result Show in 2021, Dalesandro is considering Pittsburgh, PA or Columbus, OH.

To learn more about SoundShield, visit www.soundshieldusa.com. To learn more about End Result and their company, visit endresultonline.com.

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, AK and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, TX, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening and noise control products available today.

Stay connected with SoundShield by visiting www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.

Mobile Electronics® Sales Pro of the Year brings in-depth experience to the brand

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, May 24, 2022— SoundShield, an industry recognized premium sound deadening brand, announces Robert Kowatch joins the company as Sales Manager. Kowatch will be responsible for enhancing frequency of the company’s outreach to retailers as well as conduct sales training efforts to convey the merits of SoundShield products on the sales floor.

John Schwartz, CEO of SoundShield and Perfectionist Auto Sound said “Rob is currently our Sales Manager at Perfectionist. He and I discussed his interest in growing his career path so we both felt taking on the Sales Manager role at SoundShield was a great fit.” Kowatch will continue his duties at Perfectionist as the SoundShield sales training efforts and dealer outreach gets underway. These efforts will be over the phone, via Zoom, in-person store visits and, of course, trade shows such as the upcoming SEMA Show in November 2022.

Kowatch comes to the role with deep experience in sales, having started in the 12 Volt industry in 1998. He participated in various sales training platforms within that time and arrived at Perfectionist Auto Sound in 2015. What Kowatch said really got him dialed in with focus and intent for his process was his attending the Grant Cardone University for Sales Training courses. “It moved me off of being naturally a good sales person to actively building a client pipeline so that I was top-of-mind whenever people thought about audio, remote starter or other vehicle upgrades.” He has specific processes in place on presenting and selling noise control and sound deadening that will be the basis on which he builds SoundShield’s sales training efforts for their existing retail partners, as well as pursuing outreach strategies to new dealers.

To his credit, Kowatch’s hard work in the front end of a successful retail store garnered him top honors at the Mobile Electronics Awards earlier this year in Las Vegas, Nevada by winning Sales Pro of the Year. “Winning that award was an incredible honor” said Kowatch. He has since appeared on multiple industry podcasts and will be featured in an upcoming issue of Mobile Electronics Magazine. “This and all of his other ascents in the sales professional calling makes him an ideal fit for SoundShield’s Sales Manager” added SoundShield CEO Schwartz.

Rob Kowatch can be reached at 907-563-8112 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To learn more about SoundShield, check out the range of newest products and see updated dealer profiles, please visit www.soundshieldusa.com.

Founded in 2019, SoundShield founders saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska and with its central distribution facility in Dallas, Texas, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening and noise control products available today.

Stay connected with SoundShield by visiting www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.

Canada-wide coverage and support ensures effective market opportunity

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, September 17, 2019 —SoundShield™, the innovative sound deadening brand that debuted at KnowledgeFest in Dallas last month, announced they have signed BB Distribution as their exclusive Canadian distributor. SoundShield co-founders John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt both said, “We’re very excited to partner with the powerhouse team at B&B! They have a great reputation and it’s an honor to have them exclusively represent our brand SoundShield in Canada.”

BB Distribution will stock SoundShield in its 44,000 square foot headquarters and Western Canada warehouse in Edmonton, Alberta as well as in their Eastern Canada warehouse and office in Mississauga, Ontario. The company also has a French speaking Client Services office in Montreal, Quebec. “We have the entire country well covered with our warehouse locations and most importantly with our national sales and training team to support our aftermarket automotive electronics specialist dealers. We are excited to partner with John and Bryan with this SoundShield brand opportunity in Canada.” remarked Jason Haberman, Director Sales & Marketing for BB Distribution.

SoundShield’s flagship product is a 4.5mm thick, triple-layer damping sheet with a flexible butyl rubber, high-tac adhesive base, a heat-rejecting foil center and a high-tech, waterproof closed-cell foam top layer. The sheets easily install on vehicles sheet metal and panels prone to vibration and transfer of road noise. “We originated the adhesive compound after much testing in Alaska where my retail shop (Perfectionist Auto Sound & Security) is located, so we know SoundShield will adhere easily and remain bonded even in the coldest Canadian winters,” said John Schwartz.

B&B Electronics changed company names to BB Distribution this year after 47 years of distributing 12 volt electronics and accessories. The company is known for their annual BB Dealer Expo in Edmonton where they offer the BB Installer IQ School with high level 12 Volt technician training over three to four days. Bryan Schmitt, the lead instructor at BB Installer IQ commented, “Their dedication to the specialist retailer channel is a significant reason we chose to sign BB Distribution as our exclusive Canadian distribution partner for SoundShield.”

Founded in 2019, partners John Schwartz and Bryan Schmitt saw an opportunity to elevate the level of installation quality behind the panels of a vehicle interior so that every technician’s visual and audible installation efforts were highlighted without the drawbacks of rattles, buzzes and road noise. Headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska and with its central US distribution facility in Dallas, Texas, SoundShield is dedicated to 12 volt retailers and interior fabrication specialists with the highest quality and most effective automotive sound deadening products available today.

For more information about SoundShield, please visit www.soundshieldusa.com or follow them on Instagram @soundshield.