CEDIA Launches Inventory Exchange Program

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 3/17/2010

Indianapolis - The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has unveiled a new members benefit program that will help dealers better manage their inventory.

The new Inventory Exchange program creates a forum where CEDIA electronic systems contractor (ESC) members can arrange to buy and sell excess inventory, the association said.

Manufacturers, however, "have the ability to approve which dealers are eligible to sell their products and which brands can be sold," CEDIA marketing director Jamie Riley told TWICE.

The program is free and open exclusively to CEDIA members. It is designed to enable members to list excess inventory or other products they wish to unload from their shelves and browse listings from fellow members to make up for shortages.

Members can easily post products with a minimum asking price. Product listings are searchable by brand name, keyword or category, CEDIA said.

Members may post products from participating manufacturer companies that have agreed to allow their products to be listed. Participating manufacturers may restrict those who buy or sell their product, CEDIA said.

Participation in the CEDIA Inventory Exchange is free for all CEDIA member ESCs and manufacturers. Purchase agreements and payments are conducted directly between the buyer and seller.

"CEDIA's Inventory Exchange program will allow members to better manage the flow of inventory on their shelves, helping to maximize efficiency," said Cathy Lane, CEDIA membership development director. "The more participation we receive from manufacturers, the more powerful the program will be."

CEDIA welcomes ESCs to contact non-participating manufacturers and encourage them to participate.