Retailing Briefs

By TWICE Staff On Jul 18 2011 - 12:01am

HTSA Adds 60th Member

BOZEMAN, MONT. – Custom installer and systems integrator Studio AV, here, has joined the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA). The sixyear- old business, which also maintains offices in Missoula, Mont., and Jackson, Wyo., becomes the buying group’s 60th member.

HTSA executive director Richard Glikes called Studio AV “a natural choice” for the group due to its design and installation services for residential and professional environments, and its “design/build solutions that balance innovative technology with utility and simplicity.”

He added that the group is “working diligently to fill in states where there are currently no HTSA members,” and expects to announce a 61st member shortly.

World Wide Stereo Hosts Earth, Wind & Fire

MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA. – Philadelphia-area A/V specialty dealer World Wide Stereo welcomed members of Earth, Wind & Fire to its Montgomeryville showroom this month courtesy of Monster Cable. More than 300 customers and other guests attended the meet-and-greet, which included a wine tasting, in-store specials and a preview of the band’s new inear Gratitude headphones by Monster. World Wide owner/founder Bob Cole also moderated an hourlong chat with band members Phillip Bailey and Ralph Johnson about the group, its 40-year history and the future of music and CE.

“These guys are true audiophiles, they are brilliant musicians, and are passionate and steadfast in their belief that the sound is still important,” said Cole.

World Wide Stereo was one of only three retail stops on the Monster-sponsored tour.

Tweeter Workers Win Court Decision Over Backpay

WILMINGTON, DE. – A federal bankruptcy court here has determined that Tweeter failed to give its employees adequate notice before shutting down the business in violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), and that majority owner Schultze Asset Management is liable for back pay and benefits.

Tweeter, the first and only national A/V specialty chain, filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and liquidated soon after. Schultze plans to appeal the court’s decision in the nearly three-year-old labor case.

Anderson Joins AisleBuyer Board

BOSTON – Former Best Buy CEO and vice chairman Brad Anderson has joined the advisory board of Aisle- Buyer, a mobile shopping and self-checkout platform. In his new role, Anderson will provide strategic guidance on market dynamics, strategy and product vision, the company said.

“Mobile devices are changing the retail paradigm as they unify the shopping experience across all selling channels,” Anderson said in a statement. “Consumers armed with smartphones have access to the world’s prices, product information and reviews at all times, and AisleBuyer has developed a multichannel commerce platform that enables retailers to reach customers through this new medium.”

Anderson, a 35-year veteran of Best Buy, served as its CEO from 2002 to 2009 and stepped down as vice chairman last year. He is currently a member of General Mills’ board of directors.

BrandSource, PSA Form Partnership

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — BrandSource’s services arm and the Professional Service Association (PSA) have formed a new partnership that will enable their members to share in a wide assortment of programs and benefits. The offerings include standards-based technical training and certification for the buying group’s servicing dealers, and insurance programs for PSA.

BrandSource Service provides a large portfolio of business services including referrals, extended-service policies, and insurance to help members operate a successful service business. PSA, formed in 1989, provides educational training for the appliance service industry and collaborates with top vocational and trade schools to help prepare graduates for a career in the appliance service field, and offers the only internationally accredited certification program for appliance service technicians.