CEDIA Study Looks To Define Market Scope

By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 9/19/2011

INDIANAPOLIS — Preliminary findings from CEDIA’s first annual research study to track the size and scope of the residential electronic systems market put the number of residential installation companies in the U.S. at anywhere from 17,500 to 18,500, each with annual average gross revenues of $1.6 million.

The companies include 10,500 to 11,500 electronics systems contractors, which focus on installing home A/V and home-control systems.

The industry also consists of 2,500 to 3,500 security/ alarm dealers, 2,000 to 3,000 home-network/IT installation companies, and 1,250 to 2,250 electrical contractors.

The number of installers was compiled from the customer lists of 43 suppliers and distributors.

Separately, a survey of 1,286 installation companied determined that installation companies generate annual gross revenues of $1.6 million each. With the number of installation companies ranging from 17,500 to 18,500, combined installer-level revenues range anywhere from $28 billion to $29.6 billion in product sales and labor and service charges.

Preliminary findings also reveal the percentage of the responding 1,286 installers involved in such key product categories as distributed audio and video systems, home-theater/media-room equipment, lighting controls and the like.

Final results will go beyond these numbers when all data is collected, compiled and analyzed sometime in the fourth quarter by Parks Associates, said CEDIA market research manager Erica Shonkwiler. The numbers will include channel-wide unit and dollar shipments based on sales data supplied in confidence by suppliers and distributors. The shipment data will be broken down by product category and distribution.

Additional data will also include the number of people employed by installation companies

In 2012, CEDIA will expand its research efforts to include consumer research and building-trades research, Shonkwiler added.

CEDIA is undertaking the research effort to quantify the industry’s economic impact and employment levels to enhance its position with government regulators and politicians, help industry members make better business decisions, and provide greater value to CEDIA’s stakeholders, including better member services, said CEDIA CEO Utz Baldwin.

For CEDIA, Parks is conducting the surveys, collecting shipment data, interviewing industry players and providing analysis.