Distributor briefs

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Capitol Sales Company has been named by Panasonic as its national CEDIA distributor. The decision reflects Panasonic's strategy to “aggressively enhance its national dealers' coverage in the expanding flat-panel and digital category and reflects the shift in how and where consumers purchase consumer electronics, especially home entertainment systems,” the distributor said in a prepared statement. Capitol will stock and support all consumer models of Panasonic video products, from plasma and LCD to DLP and LCD projection. Audio components, such as A/V receivers and DVD recorders, will also be carried by Capitol.

CARSON, Calif. — New Age Electronics has expanded its relationship with Panasonic as its exclusive West Coast distributor covering California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. New Age's role will now be expanded across Panasonic's complete line and will specialize in its line of digital photo and entertainment products from Viera plasma and LCD digital TVs to Diga DVD recorders and digital cameras. New Age will also expand its retail training and vendor certification programs, the distributor noted. New Age also reports that it has signed new partnerships with EasyMount, a division of Elexa Consumer Products and Etheral Home Theater, a division of Metra Electronics. It will distribute EasyMount LCD and plasma television mounts into the retail channel nationally, and has been named the exclusive retail distributor of Ethereal cables and accessories for home theater.

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — Electrograph Systems, a value-added display technology solutions distributor based here, has bought ActiveLight and CineLight, both based in Poulsbo, Wash., from the Power Hill Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. ActiveLight is a value-added distributor of display technology solutions and CineLight is a value-added distributor of the same type products as well as a distributor of accessories to home theater designers and resellers. Electrograph said it expects that the acquisition of ActiveLight and CineLight will significantly enhance its size and scope while solidifying its market presence, specifically on the West Coast.

DES MOINES, IOWA — DSI Systems, a CE, home satellite and appliance distributor, reports it has experienced over 300 percent growth in its rent-to-own (RTO) business since it opened the division two years ago. DSI has over 150 account managers across the United States serving the RTO market from 30 sales and warehouse locations. The RTO division carries CE brand such as Toshiba, RCA, Yamaha, Pioneer, Proscan and Akai, as well as Amana and Magic Chef in white goods. DSI said it supports all major buying groups and offers 98 percent next-day delivery to most areas of the country.

EDISON, N.J.— The Advantage Group (TAG), the national value-added distribution organization, has added PDQ Distribution, Marblehead, Mass., to its lineup of custom installation distributors. PDQ covers Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Tad Green, executive director of TAG, said in a prepared statement, “Peter Lazarus [president of PDQ], PDQ and sister company, P.D. Lazarus & Co., are renowned for their knowledge, sales and support in New England's custom community.”

CARLSTADT, N.J. — BDI-Laguna, a CE and computer solutions provider and distributor, reports it is continuing its partnership with TomTom, a leading supplier of navigation products. BDI was selected to be one of TomTom's five authorized distributors. BDI-Laguna will continue to carry the full range of TomTom navigation products, including the new GO 510 and GO 910 in-car navigation systems and will also offer expedited credit arrangements to new resellers wanting to carry the line. For more information, call BDI-Laguna at (800) 559-6700.