Ken Wiseman and Nathan Larson Join Team Phantom to Bring Premium Phantom Level Service to California 12-Volt Retailers  

Clearwater, FL (November 20, 2017) – AAMP Global, a leader in automotive electronics and technology, announced that it has further expanded its Team Phantom street team with two new members: Ken Wiseman and Nathan Larson. Splitting the state, Larson will cover Northern California and Wiseman Southern.

No strangers to car audio, aftermarket technology, or AAMP brands, the level of dealer support from product training, to rapid in-field new production introduction, will be elevated for California store owners, sales staff, and installers with these two. Approaching the year anniversary of the launch of Team Phantom, the program has proven successful in the inaugural territories, leading to rapid expansion throughout 2017.  The team, who visit shops in the signature Team Phantom showcase trucks, was created to further deliver on AAMP’s core mission, to serve the 12-volt industry with tools, programs, and initiatives that support the dealer channel, partnering in the success of their specialty retail partners, and aiding them in growth and profitability.

“We launched Team Phantom with big plans to scale,” explained vice president of sales Herb Brown, “with lofty expectations on the shoulders of the first members. The team has delivered on those expectations and then some. Part of the magic of the Team Phantom program is the level of expertise each of the team members brings to the table. The selection process is stringent, and they go through an intense vetting process. But the results are worth it. The team isn’t coming to chat about the weather, they are in our customers’ stores, understanding their business and digging in to find creative ways to help.  All of this so we can become a true partner and pillar to their success. Affecting customer-driven changes in not only sales, but throughout the entire AAMP organization giving customers a voice in product development, marketing support and more. We are really excited for Ken and Nathan to join the team, because these two guys embody exactly what a Team Phantom member is. They have the technical expertise, and unwavering customer-driven focus, that is at the DNA of why Team Phantom exists.”

Ken Wiseman

Wiseman has a long, successful history in the 12-volt industry, with four years of retail sales in the ‘80’s and ten years of servicing Southern California with Sony, then 17 years on a national level with the last six years being known as “the face of Phoenix Gold”.  Because of Ken’s relentless dedication to AAMP’s audio brands Phoenix Gold and Stinger, his responsibilities will be expanding into all categories. Leveraging his 32 years of mobile electronics experience and customer passion across all categories will scale his skillset and success to the entire brand portfolio to help improve retailers with their business. We are pleased that he will be able to educate the new generation on audio and integration along with the rapidly changing landscape of the modern vehicles.

Nathan Larson

With over 20 years in the 12-volt industry, Larson began his career in the bay, working as an installer, then moving into store management. His passion for quality was his motivation for opening his own store in Sonora Ca. For the next 7 years he provided honest professional service to his little hometown. Larson’s constant drive for learning and bettering the industry brought him to Polaris Sales and Marketing as a sales rep. Over the next 8 years he made relationships and connections in order to serve his clients with integrity, to provide information and constant support for their businesses. Not only has Larson demonstrated a passion for the customers he’s served, he has also been a key member of the in-field reps serving the AAMP Global brands, earning Phoenix Gold Rep of the Year two years. His off the clock passions are cooking, camping and spending time with his family. 

11-20-2017 -- Rep firm, Marketing Pros Inc. of Texas, is growing and expanding. It has recently hired seasoned veteran, Mark Sartain, to its already successful team of field representatives.

Mark has over 36 years in the 12 volt industry and is one of the most trusted and driven reps in the region. This reputation has led him to be chosen by Marketing Pros, which has been honored the past four years with Rep Firm of the Year by the Mobile Electronics Industry.

Pete Daley, President of Marketing Pros, is quoted as saying, “We have been blessed with long term success, along with some great retail and vendor partners that have driven this growth. As a rep, you only have so much time to provide better service in those partners, only thing we can do is invest to maintain our high standards. Mark already had a similar culture of representation to ours, so the decision was easy. We are excited to have him.” Mark will service North and West Texas, along with El Paso. He can be contacted at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..      

Marketing Pros Inc. represents AAMP Global, Alpine, Crossfire, Epsilon, Focal North America, and Orca Designs respectfully in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. www.marketingprosinc.com

BKGMK346TB and GMK346TB, a textured to match and painted satin black double DIN dash kit, are all set to hit the market soon - tailored specifically for select General Motors’ trucks and SUVs.

CLEARWATER, FL - (November 17, 2017) – PAC, a power brand of AAMP Global, has announced that the company’s upcoming Best Kits by PAC product BKGMK346TB is expected to be released soon. Company sources reveal that the textured to match and painted satin black double DIN dash kit will also to be made available under American International product number GMK346TB.

The new dash kit has been designed for select 1999 – 2002 General Motors’ trucks and SUVs. The OE matching double DIN dash kit covers vehicle applications with the message center in the factory dash cluster – designed for users to be able to retain access to their ventilation slots and temperature controls even after adding a double DIN radio into their vehicles. The double DIN dash kit is made of high quality material, and helps maintain the factory finished look of the interior, along with the aesthetic matching texture and satin black color. Top features of the double DIN dash kit include: 

• Installs one double DIN radio
• Retains access to ventilation slots and temperature controls
• High quality material and textured to match the GM dash
• Painted satin black
• Instructions, panel clips, and hardware included

Highlighting the intended purpose of the product, the Product Manager of Integration Products, Sam Hunt stated, “We designed our dash kit to have the unique texture for GM dashes to ensure a factory look and finish when replacing a radio.”

Dash Kit Texture Vehicle Applications include:
(Note: with the message center in the factory dash cluster)
Chevrolet Avalanche - 2002
Chevrolet Silverado 1500/2500 - 1999-2002
Chevrolet Silverado 3500 - 2001-2002
Chevrolet Suburban - 2000-2002
Chevrolet Tahoe - 2000-2002
GMC Sierra 1500 - 1999-2002
GMC Sierra 2500 - 2000-2002
GMC Sierra 3500 - 2001-2002
GMC Yukon - 2000-2002
GMC Yukon XL - 2000-2002

For more information about this upcoming product, please visit pac-audio.com.

Additional compatible products include:
From Best Kits by PAC:
BHA1858 - Wire Harness: Plugs into factory harness for select 1986 – 2005 GM
BAA4B – Antenna Adapter: Barbless aftermarket radio to OEM antenna for select 1984 – 2013 GM
From American International:
GWH344 - Wire Harness: Plugs into factory harness for select 1986 – 2005 GM
GM6 – Antenna Adapter: Barbless aftermarket radio to OEM antenna for select 1984 – 2013 GM
From PAC:
OS-1 - OnStar retention interfaces without Bose
OS-1BOSE - OnStar retention interfaces with Bose
For more information about these products at pac-audio.com.

STILLWATER, USA – KICKER® announces the promotion of Joe Gross to the newly created position of Unit Director of OEM Automotive and Powersports, Sales and Product Line. Gross is tasked with developing and growing the Powersports category while continuing to push the success of OEM.

A 15-year KICKER employee involved in OEM, Gross has been “instrumental in the success of the company’s OEM initiative through sales and product development,” said Bart Deal, Director of Product Planning. “With the dedication Joe has brought to bear, KICKER has enjoyed significant success. His skill in both sales and development are the ideal combination to ensure KICKER becomes the industry leader in these channels.”

The new position will involve creating and developing relationships within the powersports industry, including product development and management of a dedicated team of KICKER employees and contractors.

“It’s my job to give my team the tools that they need to grow, so we all succeed together,” Gross said. “KICKER is family to me. It’s more than just a job.”

KICKER’s involvement in OEM goes back to 2003.

KICKER Performance Audio products, a division of Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc.®, are available for the mobile and home audio aftermarket at authorized retailers worldwide, and also as Original Equipment for automobile manufacturers. Consumers seeking more information on KICKER or Livin’ Loud® may call the Consumer Information Line at 1-800-256-5425 or visit the brand website at www.kicker.com. Follow KICKER socially at Facebook.com/kickeraudio, Twitter.com/kickeraudio, Instagram.com/kickeraudio, or Pinterest.com/kickeraudio.

Class Schedules Adjusted for Internships and Work

Holly Hill, FL - November  2017 –  Metra Electronics’ Installer Institute is changing the schedule for its 2018 programs. The school has shortened class days and extended the length of its programs to allow students additional time after class for internships or part-time jobs. While the total amount of instructional hours remains the same, the 5-week courses are now 6 weeks long, and the 23-week comprehensive installations course, which equates to 900 clock hours, is now 26 weeks long. “This new format will allow students to take an internship or part-time job after attending class,” says school director, Monica Anderson.

Installer Institute’s 6-Week Basic Installations program is offered at three different times throughout the coming year; February 12 - March 23, May 14 - June 25, and August 16 - September 27. This is an introductory course focusing on basic electrical knowledge, car audio enclosure design, proper installation techniques, integration of advanced security products such as GPS Navigation and remote starters – and the more complex installation skills that are required to obtain the Audio System Installer and Security Systems Installer certifications. Students in this course are encouraged to work on their own vehicles, and are given the opportunity to work with advanced security products.

The 6-Week Advanced Installations course can be combined with the Basic course or enrolled in separately for more experienced students. This program provides instruction on leather interior installation, custom fabrication and fiberglass, interior panel design and construction, custom painting and metal work, and even introduces students to the basics of home audio installation. Program dates are March 26 - May 4, June 26 - August 8, or September 28 - November 8, 2018. This course offers classroom instruction in addition to hands-on training, allowing each student to build their own pre-designed projects.

The 26-week Comprehensive Installations course includes all of the classes offered in each of the two 6-week programs – with the addition of hands-on workshops where students can develop their skills, learn to effectively market themselves to further their career, and learn the process for starting and operating a small business. The Installer Institute is offering two different start dates for this course. The earliest opportunity to begin this program is January 22, 2018 - with a completion date of August 3, 2018. The course will also be offered August 20, 2018 - March 15, 2019 for those students who wish to begin later in the year.  Students enrolled in this expanded program will not only learn all of the skills covered during Installer Institute’s 6-week Basic and Advanced Installations courses – they’ll also have the opportunity to participate in workshops to improve job skills, as well as learn the process of owning a business as an installation professional. MESA and MECP certifications are also offered through the school’s programs.

In 2016, the Installer Institute became accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training. Over the past 25+ years, the institute has graduated thousands of installers in their hands-on courses for mobile electronics, with a curriculum designed to maximizes a student’s learning ability. The school takes great pride in providing an environment where even novice students can thrive and start the trajectory to an exciting and profitable career in car audio and custom fabrication. The Installer Institute offers individual classes for continuing education or students who wish to focus on a specific topic in a week-long class, without enrolling in an entire course. Student housing, financing and VA education benefits are available.

Those interested in enrollment should speak with the admissions department to learn more about early registration pricing, by contacting the Installer Institute at 1-800-354-6782. 

11-16-2017, Mobile Electronics -- It was the middle of winter. The temperature was 10 degrees below zero. Two men were outside in a dirt parking lot, working on a remote start install with a blanket draped across the door to keep out the snow. An electric heater was pumping warmth into their makeshift cave to offer the only sliver of comfort they'd get on this cold, cold day. The two men had no experience with remote starters, their only guide being a printed installation manual. Nineteen years later, those two men—owner Ben Larson and his brother John—would see their store, Sound Connection, Inc., become Mobile Electronics Retailer of the Year, Store Chain.

"The moral of the story is that every day I come to work, I'm kind of amazed that we've made it this far. It really did start from absolutely nothing. We had no prior experience in car audio or business and we just fumbled our way through it," Larson said. "If anybody ever wanted to start a business and was worried they didn't have enough money or knowledge, I can tell them otherwise. All you really need is grit."

Since 1995, Ben Larson has been in business as a retailer, but his journey really began when he moved to Minnesota with his parents at age five, witnessing their journey as small business owners. "My parents were in retail for as long as I can remember. They had a little tchotchke store called Soup and Save. They sold tools and trinkets," Larson said. "One day I saw an ad for amps and speakers in a catalog they used to order. I tried to put amps and speakers into my car. I had no idea what I was doing. I jig-sawed a doghouse for a speaker box and it looked like a beaver chewed through it. It was awful. Then I started reading articles in a car audio magazine and a friend asked me to do one for him. With each install, I got a little bit better. So I thought there might be a market for this and opened my first store."

With only 300 square feet, no cash register, no accounting system and no install bay, Larson knew he had a long way to go, but pressed on regardless. "I bought $1,000 worth of product from M&M. I kept growing the business, read every car audio magazine and did as much research as I possibly could. In 1998, I brought my little brother on. He had just graduated high school," he said. "That was my life. I ate, slept and breathed car audio forever and just kept getting better and better. I invested every penny I had and it grew from there."

Today, the two-store chain, which has locations in Waite Park and Brainerd, Minn., is doing better than ever, having just moved to Waite Park earlier this year from a location in St. Joe. The move was caused by a leasing issue, but the company is all the better for it.

"Business is great right now. We ended up buying a building, completely remodeled it, and moved in less than 60 days. Now we own a building in a very busy part of town. Our other store is in another fantastic part of town in Brainerd. We're working on building our second building," Larson said. "Business has been consistently up since 2010 when we joined M.E.S.A. and started doing Black Friday events. We're looking to expand to a third store and are getting into different revenue streams like window tinting, PDF and truck accessories."

All in the Process

With trial and error comes a world of experience that Larson and his team have taken to heart by crafting detailed written procedures, which include how customers are to be treated. On the company's website, visitors are given a detailed explanation of what to expect from the customer experience at Sound Connection.

"We hold ourselves to a higher standard than most. The Sound Connection standard.

The policies and procedures we have painstakingly implemented and follow every day on every install ensure you are getting the highest standard of work completed anywhere," the policy states. Thanks to this and other detailed information provided on the company website, customers are well-educated prior to entering the store, according to Larson who knows his customer base well. 

Read the rest of the story HERE. 

ELKHART, IN. – ASA Electronics is seeing an increased demand for our RV products as it continues to expand its offerings. In an effort to further that growth, it has added Stacey Black to the RV sales team as an RV OEM Account manager. Black comes to ASA Electronics with over a decade of experience working with RV manufacturers, selling tools and supplies for the industrial side of the business.

“Stacey is going to be a great asset to us as we continue to grow our sales team,” said RV Industry manager, Jim Hess. “Her experience and knowledge of the industry put her in an excellent position to be able to dive right in and work with our customers.”

Black credits her work experience as well as past internships with helping her to build strong, lasting relationships with her customers and giving her the skills to confidently close sales.

“My goals for my new position are to help ASA and its customers grow within the industry. I hope to be able to make the customers and distributors aware of all the great products that ASA has to offer,” Black said.

When Black isn’t at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. She keeps busy as the team mom for their travel and high school soccer teams as well as cheering on the Notre Dame men’s and women’s basketball teams.

ASA Electronics® has been designing and manufacturing mobile electronic products for the Marine, RV, PowerSports, Agricultural, Construction, Commercial Vehicle, and Bus industries since 1977. Their proprietary brands are JENSEN®, JENSEN Marine®, JENSEN Heavy Duty®, iN∙Command®, Marine Audio®, Voyager® and ADVENT® Air. ASA is also a distributor in specialty markets for SiriusXM® Satellite Radio, Polk Ultramarine®, Klipsch®, and XKGLOW® products. For more information, please visit www.ASAElectronics.com.

STILLWATER, USA – KICKER® and SSV Works™ earned the 2018 SEMA Global Media Award for their true plug-and-play, PRZ35 5-speaker audio kit for Polaris® RZR®, as determined by international judges at the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas November 2.

Compatible with two- and four-seat models of the Polaris RZR 900S, 1000 and 1000 Turbo, the kit includes an SSV Works receiver, a pair of KICKER compact amplifiers with 800 watts of power, KICKER powersports speakers, a 10-inch KICKER powersports subwoofer and vehicle-specific SSV Works enclosures. A custom under-dash, radio processor/amplifier bracket is also included, as is all mounting hardware and pre-terminated wiring harnesses with quick connects.

The SEMA Global Media Awards Program recognizes those companies that manufacture specialty equipment products and accessories that would have mass appeal to consumers in countries outside the United States. The products are voted on by a prestigious group of international journalists who serve as judges.

“The idea of customization and personalization has been growing throughout the world,” said Linda Spencer, SEMA Director of International and Government Relations. “Our goal is to have media experts from around the world determine which new products are likely to succeed in their home markets. The automotive specialty-equipment market is made up of enthusiasts who are passionate about the hobby, and so it’s exciting to see how their love for cars, trucks and SUVs is impacting those throughout the world.”

This year’s program included 30 judges from 19 countries. Each judge carefully reviewed and evaluated nearly 3,000 product entries at the SEMA Show before selecting the products that they felt would resonate and appeal most to consumers in their home countries.

During the SEMA Show, KICKER and SSV Works announced the addition of new kits to the powersports line in the upcoming months, for Can-Am® Maverick X3™ and the Polaris GENERAL™ models.

KICKER Performance Audio products, a division of Stillwater Designs and Audio, Inc.®, are available for the mobile and home audio aftermarket at authorized retailers worldwide, and also as Original Equipment for automobile manufacturers. Consumers seeking more information on KICKER or Livin’ Loud® may call the Consumer Information Line at 1-800-256-5425 or visit the brand website at www.kicker.com. Follow KICKER socially at Facebook.com/kickeraudio, Twitter.com/kickeraudio, Instagram.com/kickeraudio, or Pinterest.com/kickeraudio.

SSV Works is a trademark of SSV Works, Inc.

Polaris and RZR are registered trademarks of Polaris Industries Inc.  GENERAL is a trademark of Polaris Industries Inc.

Can-Am and X3 are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., or its affiliates.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

New 2018 Applications Add a SiriusXM® Satellite Radio Tuner through the Factory Radio.

November 14, 2017 - VAIS Technology has released a new satellite radio adapter specifically designed for 2018 Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat and Jeep models. This adapter allows select vehicles to add the SiriusXM® SXV300v1 satellite radio tuner to their existing factory stereo, without compromising any functionality.

“Since 2003, VAIS Technology has been developing satellite radio adapters for vehicles that aren’t equipped from the factory with SiriusXM® tuners,” Dennis Hopper, Vice President of Sales, says. “While satellite radio is more popular than ever, many vehicles don’t offer an easy way to listen to it. Our company develops simple, easy to install adapters that add satellite radio but preserve factory functionality.”

The integrated solution connects directly to the original factory stereo, via the USB port and allows the vehicle owner to listen to satellite radio through the existing factory stereo system. The VAIS adapter kit also allows for full control of satellite radio functions - changing stations, setting presets, etc. - with the standard factory radio controls.

“We design our satellite radio adapters to operate just like the factory satellite radio systems,” Hopper explains. “While it takes more work on our part, our customers really appreciate the fact that they can control their satellite radio just like they would regular FM radio - the same knobs and buttons, the same steering wheel controls, etc. That’s what really separates VAIS products from the rest of the industry”.

To learn more about the complete line of GSR’s from VAIS Technology, contact them at 720-733-2348 or visit http://www.vaistech.com.

Egersund, Norway – Navico – parent company to the leading marine electronics brands Lowrance, Simrad and B&G – has expanded the range of options for marine-based reporting and connectivity, with the all-new Track HD telemetry system.

Historically, Track has provided instant access to marine-vessel location and status through a mobile app and online dashboard. Now with Track HD, users can take remote control of lights, pumps, HVAC or other systems. Track HD also enables cloud storage for key vessel documents, and TripReplay to capture and share details of previous trips. With multiple connectivity options including WiFi and cellular and satellite connectivity coming soon – consumers can choose the option that best meets their needs. These new plans are available now, and existing customers can upgrade their subscriptions online.

To learn more about the Track HD telemetry system, please visit track.gofreemarine.com. For more information on the Navico brands, visit www.lowrance.com, www.simrad-yachting.com, www.navico-commercial.com/ and www.bandg.com. To find out more about the Navico Group of companies, visit www.navico.com. 

EDMOND, Okla. — Petra Industries, the consumer electronic industry’s accessory authority, has added AO Coolers to their ever-growing product line.

AO Coolers have been in business for over 25 years, offering a remarkable lineup of soft-sided coolers that are ideal for boating, off-roading or any other outdoor activity. Made of high-quality thermoplastic polyurethane and high-density closed-cell foam, these innovative, leak-free coolers hold ice for 24 hours in up to 120-degree heat.

“As a distributor for AO Coolers, Petra presents thousands of retailers the opportunity to gain access to some of the best coolers on the market,” said Tate Morgan, Petra President. “There is a great demand for coolers that go the distance, and these coolers have been proven to go that extra mile. We are excited about this opportunity to team with AO Coolers, and I am eager to watch us grow as partners.”

Petra has added 13 SKUs of AO Coolers products, including 12-, 24-, 38- and 48-can soft-sided canvas coolers. For more information about these products and others, please visit www.petra.com.

ELKHART, IN. – ASA Electronics is growing our RV sales team to support our expanded product line and increased sales. Christina Garvey joins the team as our newest RV OEM Account Manager. Garvey is no stranger to the sales world, with several years of experience as a pharmaceutical sales representative as well as experience as a retail district manager.

“We’re introducing a lot of new products to the market and it’s generating a lot of excitement which means more business. We want to be sure that we’re giving all of our customers the kind of support and attention they deserve as we continue to grow,” RV Industry Manager, Jim Hess, said. “We are excited to add Chris to our growing sales team. She brings a wealth of selling experience with her and will be a great addition to the future of ASA.”

In her previous work, Garvey has honed her skills building lasting relationships with her customers across the Midwest and intends to put that same ability to work at ASA Electronics. She says her focus right now is on getting to know her new clients well enough that she will be able to anticipate their needs and goals.

Garvey’s selling career has spanned much of the heartland, covering states from North Dakota all the way to Ohio. In her new role, Garvey will be working with RV OEMs in Indiana and Ohio, keeping her closer to her family and her home in Elkhart. When she isn’t working, Garvey enjoys spending time with her husband of 23 years and their daughter and giving back to her community.

“Elkhart is home. I was born and raised here and my husband and I decided to raise our daughter here,” Garvey said. “We want to invest in her future and the future of Elkhart so we recently started a volunteer organization in our family’s name that has a focus on art education and STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education for the kids in the community.”

Garvey also enjoys reading, yoga, snow skiing, and running 5Ks, both for charities and for fun!

ASA Electronics® has been designing and manufacturing mobile electronic products for the Marine, RV, PowerSports, Agricultural, Construction, Commercial Vehicle, and Bus industries since 1977. Their proprietary brands are JENSEN®, JENSEN Marine®, JENSEN Heavy Duty®, iN∙Command®, Marine Audio®, Voyager® and ADVENT® Air. ASA is also a distributor in specialty markets for SiriusXM® Satellite Radio, Polk Ultramarine®, Klipsch®, and XKGLOW® products. For more information, please visit www.ASAElectronics.com.

Holly Hill, FL - November 2017 – Metra Electronics® to receive a 2018 SEMA Global Media Award for a new Replacement Mirror Monitor and Camera Kit by iBeam Vehicle Safety Systems®. An esteemed panel of international media judges chose this product based on its level of international consumer appeal, and selected it as one of the best products at this year’s SEMA Show.

The new Replacement Mirror Monitor and Camera Kit by iBeam, the TE-CMC-K3,  includes a rear-view mirror with an integrated 4.5 inch LCD screen that displays backup camera footage, but only when the vehicle is in reverse. Two temperature sensors display the inside and outside temperature on the mirror, along with an integrated compass. Two video inputs allow for a rear-view camera and secondary video feed. The kit includes a behind the license plate backup camera with night vision featuring four LED lights and a 170 degree viewing angle. It shows active parking lines when the vehicle is turning in reverse to help avoid objects. The square camera housing is water resistant.

iBeam’s new Mirror Replacement Kits have 20 different camera and mirror monitor options available, which can also be purchased separately. The TE-CMC-K3 is a universal kit that maintains the factory look. The most widely used windshield mount is included for easy mirror installation. Optional, vehicle specific mirror mounts are available for Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Kia, Subaru, VW, Mercedes, Fiat, Iveco and Peugeot models, which make installation even easier as the factory base mount does not need to be removed from the windshield. Visit iBeamUSA.com to learn more about these products.

11-13-2017, EDMOND, Okla. — Petra Industries has announced its partnership with Poof. Poof makes pet activity trackers that are designed to work seamlessly with a smartphone and track where pets are at all hours of the day or night. They also help monitor fitness and activity, ensuring that pets stay active enough to keep a healthy lifestyle for long, happy lives.

Petra carries both the Pea and the Bean activity trackers from Poof, offering wearable technology that’s not just for humans. Wearables have improved the lives of many people, helping them track their fitness and health more accurately than ever before—the same benefits are now available for their furry companions. From fitness to location to health, these trackers are a multipurpose solution that can help pet owners stay abreast of everything that’s happening with their pets.

“We’re happy that we can partner with Poof to bring this kind of technology to pet owners,” said Tate Morgan, Petra President. “Poof is an important part of our expansion into the pet owner market.”

To see the full line of Poof products and the rest of Petra’s product lines, visit www.petra.com/.

San Luis Obispo, CA (November 2017) — Slime, the leader in tire repair, has announced its new Cordless Inflator has won “Best New Product” in the Tool & Equipment category at this year’s AAPEX show in Las Vegas.

“It’s such an honor to have a newly released product win such an esteemed award,” said Patrick Mallon, Slime’s Director of Marketing and Innovation. “We worked hard to create this new innovation; the fact that our Cordless Inflator was recognized this early on surely is exciting.

Slime will be releasing the Cordless Inflator in February 2017 and it retail at $69.99

It will feature:

·         Easy-read Digital display

·         Automatic shut-off when set pressure is reached

·         Long-lasting rechargeable lithium ion battery

·         Quick Connect hose

·         USB port to charge your personal device

Pictured in attached photo: Patrick Mallon, Slime Marketing Director, and Bill Hanvey – President and CEO of the Auto Care Association, the organizer of AAPEX

11-8-2017, Mobile Electronics -- Back in 2010, there was a collective mindset bubbling in the minds of 12-volt retailers across the country. Margins weren't sustainable at their previous levels due to challenges with educating the general public about all products and services available. The buzz soon built into a roar, resulting in the formation of the Mobile Electronics Specialists of America, known best as M.E.S.A. 

"It was formed by a handful of retailers that were looking to be part of a buying and marketing group. They all had the same marketing needs in trying to get customers in the door and all ran similar sales," said Ryan Gunter, executive director of M.E.S.A. "As long as you don't have overlapping territories, why can't we all just share? The goal was to maximize their efforts and spread across the country to match the high tide, raising all boats."

The group began with a core group of 10 members and has grown to include 135 members today. With only one retailer allowed per territory, growth is limited, but continues with over $269 million in sales to date and 261 store locations covering 43 states. Membership is broken into different levels, with the Platinum level requiring sales of $1.8 million a year and above, while the Gold level requires a minimum sales of $700,000 per year.

2017 marks the sixth year of the M.E.S.A. Summit, which took place in Denver, Co. The event began in the organization's second year with two primary goals, according to Gunter. "For all of us to get together to share best business practices. 'What are you doing different from what I'm doing?' The second was for our member partners to have face to face meetings with our members and bring opportunities for Q4 buys for the year," he said. "A lot of our retailers in the past were not very promotional because they assumed they couldn't compete with big box and online retailers. But with the marketing materials we provide members, they are now more involved in Black Friday sales. It gets people really engaged just before you go into Q4, gets them loaded up with product for the holidays, then leads into tax season. It's become the place that our members go. The majority of them don't go to CES anymore; they get more out of the summit than they get from CES."

This year's event featured its first ever show floor to allow vendors to feature new products in the hopes of both educating retailer partners and selling the latest product to them in time for the holiday season. Having been in the business since the 1980s, when he started his career as a product specialist for Kenwood reps, Gunter has a deep understanding of what both retailers and vendors need from each other.

"I noticed the retailers were looking to put together a buying group and I knew all the guys because I called on most of them, except the east coast as I was mainly a west coast guy. Manufacturers needed someone who's been on the vendor side of things and understood their point of view in working with a retailer," Gunter said. "The thought was, 'If we want this to be a success long-term, it has to be a win-win for both vendor and retail partners. Otherwise, someone will not feel they are getting their fair share. It's been a great blend to make it a win for both sides."

Meeting of Minds

Unlike other trade shows, the M.E.S.A. Summit is unique in how attendees interact. Rather than use classroom settings, the majority of the educational opportunities are one-on-one, vendor-to-retailer or retailer-to-retailer. Attendees would gather in a meeting hall that housed around 150 people, which was filled with round tables, where they could interact freely with each other. The structure, while loose, offered topics to discuss based on a universal theme, which changes each year.

"The main thing we focused on in general this year was reminding our members to work on their business because we get caught up working in our businesses and not on them," Gunter said. "Make the time to work on your business and not get caught up so much on the day-to-day."

Among the attendees this year was Dean Magnesen, owner of Sound Warehouse of Utah, former Mobile Electronics Retailer of the Year. Being one of the first members of the buying group, Magnesen has a deep connection to the organization and belief in its core values and benefits to 12-volt business owners.

"The original enticement was it being a buying group that was independent. We were built by the factory—whatever discounts we earned, we took. The entity didn't take the profit, the dealer did," Magnesen said. "Then it got to the buying group with best practices, with only one member per market. I thought that was a great idea. We're all willing to share with each other. As a group it grew into a very powerful marketing arm too. We're not just a buying group. We're a buying, best business practices and marketing group."

Read the rest of the article HERE.

11-8-2017, Information-Age.com -- It’s hard to believe that Ford introduced the Model T more than a century ago. Switching to an assembly line manufacturing technique completely transformed the automotive industry and made car ownership a possibility for the mass population. Since then, there has been little in the way of truly disruptive automotive technology.

As some of the biggest innovators of our generation – Google and Apple – set their sight on the connected car, it’s clear that the wind may be about to change. Modern-day innovators are joining forces with established automotive manufacturers, and their vision – powered by the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) – could revolutionise travel beyond recognition.

The transformation

The majority of the time, a personal vehicle is parked. In the sharing economy, a connected car could broadcast itself as being available for use at various times of day.

IoT connectivity is key to enable that vehicle to be remotely opened by the person reserving the car, to track where the car is and provide reminders about return time, etc. Now that car becomes a source of potential revenue for its owner, just like Airbnb for dwellings.

Automakers – such as Volvo, Daimler and GM – as well as the likes of Uber, Google and Apple, are already looking at what it takes to get to autonomous vehicles. And small fleets are already being deployed in controlled environments.

That said, truly autonomous cars becoming a mass market reality will take years according to most experts. But once they are mainstream, and the technology is blended with ride sharing, it will deliver unprecedented levels of disruption to the car industry.

Accelerating the need for 5G

High-speed/high-bandwidth mobile networks will play an absolutely critical role in the car of the future. Cellular networks already underpin the ride sharing revolution, and without IoT there can be no truly connected car. At present, smaller fleet of autonomous cars can easily be handled by an LTE network. And the advent of 5G networks and technology will help make sure that when connected vehicle numbers hit critical mass, the networks will still be able to handle the load.

Cisco Jasper provides a platform that enables the control of that connectivity, working in partnership with the world’s mobile operators to enable automakers to not only manage their vehicles’ connectivity, but to deliver myriad connected services. One of the advantages of connected vehicles is that automakers can constantly introduce new connected services that help evolve the driving experience over time. And as more of these connected services are introduced, the greater the need for 5G networks that can support the increased network demands.

Navigating connectivity in the here and now

In Europe, the basic services that will come to market first – due to eCall – will be safety and security in the form of automatic crash notification. This is not new in other markets like North America, but a majority of the OEMs in Europe are yet to launch eCall.

Beyond consumer applications, there are also safety implications for fleet drivers, with new services that help prevent them from falling asleep while driving. Electronic log books will keep track of the number of hours a fleet driver has been awake and driving, providing alerts when it is time to rest to help prevent potential accidents due to drowsy driving.

Over-the-air software/firmware updates are going to play a crucial role in a world where cars are digitally controlled. A connected car designed with upgradeable electronic component units will bring forth a revolution on what is considered a new car versus a new-feature car.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

11-8-2017, Entrepreneur.com -- Are you feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks you carry out as an entrepreneur? The reality is that you can automate more than you think. By taking advantage of the right tools, you can take tasks off your plate, automate the ones that remain and either delegate or eliminate tasks altogether -- to start working smarter -- not just harder.

More times than not, a SaaS solution is available to help with these goals. Here are several that will make you and your business more productive.

1. Work on conversion-rate optimization: GrooveJar.

You're probably already driving traffic to your website but the problem may be that most of that traffic isn't converting. GrooveJar notes that most websites have a conversion rate of less than 3 percent. That means 97 percent of your traffic is leaving your site without buying. But, what if you could lower that rate and convert 4, 5 or even 6 percent of your traffic? Just think how much of an impact that would have on your bottom line.

GrooveJar is a tool that helps you optimize your conversion rate. It offers several tools that can aid in email collection, highlight social proof and promotions and determine why your customers are leaving your site without buying just to name a few.

A/B tests are a valuable tool, and an easy way to free up your time and resources as you test to see what doesn't work and what takes your conversion rate even higher.

2. Share notes and documents remotely: Evernote.

Evernote is like a digital file cabinet. Unlike what you do with the physical real thing, Evernote lets you search and find your documents in seconds. You can also share them with your team members or contractors, collaborate on projects and keep the lines of communication open. Notes can be viewed on any device from any place with internet access by using the tool's app, website and desktop download.

Every note within Evernote can also be tagged with specific keywords, so they never get lost. Some users prefer to add acronyms within the title of their notes, to categorize them. There's no right or wrong way -- only methods that suit your specific style.

Related: 7 Tools to Increase Productivity and Efficiency

If you're still relying on handwritten to-do lists, whiteboards, sticky notes and other physical or paper-based tools for productivity and collaboration, you might find it useful to move your documents to the cloud for quicker and easier access -- especially if you're working with contractors or remote workers.

3. Keep track of your team's capacity/tasks: ToDoist.

Project management can be a hassle, especially if weekly meetings are still your go-to for disseminating information and delegating responsibilities. Things almost always fall through the cracks, even if everyone on your team has the best of intentions.

That's where a tool like ToDoist comes in. If you've tried project-management systems before and failed, don't worry, ToDoist's interface is clean, simple and free of distractions. It's also straightforward to use, which means that whether your is a team of one or many, you won't need to spend hours training on it before deriving results.

Managing projects manually is a burden on you and your managers, because you have to keep track of multiple tasks assigned to multiple employees, and follow up for updates. Lengthy weekly meetings can waste time and kill productivity. Try a different approach, and put project management on virtual autopilot to relieve yourself of that duty.

Read the rest of the article HERE.

CLEARWATER, FL – (November 8, 2017) -- PAC, a Power Brand of AAMP Global, is pleased to announce the formal launch of their new Amplifier Integration Solution, AP4-FD11, for select 2010 – 2014 Ford and Lincoln vehicles. A part of the company’s AmpPRO product line, this new vehicle application solution will simplify the audio performance enhancement process for amplified sound systems by adding aftermarket amplifiers.

With factory radios now offering more advanced features that the customers want, AmpPRO enables the ability to drastically improve audio sound by adding aftermarket amplifiers while retaining the fit, finish, and features of the original radio. AmpPRO is a recently released product line from PAC that simplifies the installation of upgraded amplifiers in data-bus controlled sound systems. The new AP4-FD11 is a key addition to this product line as its plug-n-play harness and module makes the process easier and saves time on amplifier integration. The product is compatible with select 2010-2014 Ford and Lincoln vehicles with 24-pin Connector.

“We want to cover the entire range of popular Ford and Lincoln vehicles featuring the Ford Sony or Lincoln THX sound system. The AP4-FD11 extends our AmpPRO coverage from 2011-2017 currently to 2007-2017,” said Nathan Wincek, Senior Product Manager of Integration Products. “Now all owners of Ford and Lincoln vehicles featuring the Sony or THX sound system can save time and money while getting greater audio performance!” 

AP4-FD11 features:

• Variable volume, fade, balance, bass, mid, and treble audio settings
• Front, rear, sub preamp outputs (5 volt RMS)
• Provides flat audio output for a solid audio foundation
• Customized OE bass, mid, and treble center frequency selection
• No need for summing and audio correction devices
• Retains Sync, Bluetooth audio, and all warning chimes
• Plug-n-play installation
• Sub level controller
• Optional TOSLINK optical output (APA-TOS1 sold separately)

AP4-FD11 is currently available at a suggested retail price of $299.95 including:

• AmpPRO module
• 24-pin harness (MS CAN)
• Bass knob
• Knob harness
• Instruction manual

Vehicle applications include:

Additional AmpPRO products include:

AP4-FD21 – Select 2013 – 2017 Ford vehicles with 8.4” radio and Sony system

AP4-CH41 – Select 2013 – 2017 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM with amplified sound systems

AP4-CH31 – Select 2011 – 2015 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM with amplified sound systems

AP4-CH21 – Select 2007 – 2017 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM with amplified sound systems

APA-TOS1 – Optional add-on TOSLINK fiber-optic audio output

Find more information, please visit pac-audio.com.

ELKHART, IN. – ASA Electronics continues their commitment to providing quality observation equipment to the heavy duty and commercial markets. Safety is a top priority with the Voyager VOM43HD. The new 4.3-inch observation monitor utilizes programmable graphic overlays to show the vehicle’s distance from objects in real time making maneuvering easier than ever. The monitor’s programmable auto scan of the cameras and built-in speakers let the driver not only see, but hear what is going on around them.

The LCD screen features anti-glare and scratch resistant lenses and is LED backlit. This monitor is designed specifically for compact equipment and will fit virtually anywhere. The VOM43HD is also expertly engineered to weather the elements with an improved, rugged, IPX6-rated waterproof enclosure. Tactical control buttons along the right-hand side add to the robust design.

These controls allow the driver to easily select between 3 wired camera inputs and control a number of other menu selectable features. Menu options allow the user to manually adjust the color, contrast, brightness, and tint of the monitor. The VOM43HD also has three manual dimming modes for increased ease of use in daylight and at night.