Clarion Returns To Specialty Retailers
By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 1/28/2002
LAS VEGAS— Clarion announced it will return to its former strategy of selling a limited distribution line to the 12-volt and A/V specialist, after leaving Best Buy and Circuit City last year.
Clarion VP sales Frank Pearce said, "We strayed off from that, but our focus and future is on the mobile specialist." The company has re-established a select distribution and the brand's "departure from Best Buy was an amicable and mutual decision."
"We've been a tough company to deal with the past couple of years but management is now focused on the specialist and every facet of our business has been reviewed and numerous changes are taking place," said new manager of technical marketing Jeff Abrams. These include a new volume incentive rebate program for dealers.
The company also said it is pushing its Pro Audio line, which now offers a two-year warranty when installed by an authorized dealer. All the new Pro Audio units are Sirius Satellite Radio-capable and two of the units use 24-bit D/A converters. They range in price from $250 to $600. Clarion is also pushing a six-disc DVD changer at a $999.
