CEDIA has announced the launch of CEDIA Propel, an affinity program designed to connect members to new brands and products in emerging categories. CEDIA’s integrator members will receive preferential pricing and product training across all brands enrolled in Propel. The Propel program will enable current CEDIA manufacturer members to drive adoption of their most innovative products and services, while also attracting new brands to the CI channel. Propel is open to all manufacturer members, existing and new, providing a whole new platform to connect and engage with CEDIA Integrators.
CEDIA launches Propel with both leading and emerging brands in the world of IoT and the explosive growth category of health and wellness: Amazon, Ring, Bryte, and Immersive Gym. The intentional mix of products provides opportunity across all project types, including small residential projects, mid-sized smart homes, and high-end luxury estates. The roster of brands participating in Propel will grow over time, with the focus on positioning new and innovative products for the custom integration marketplace, and driving adoption with compelling incentives.
“Since we rolled out our CEDIASTRONG campaign, which we launched in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve been interacting with our integrator members at a whole new level,” says Giles Sutton, SVP member success and sales, CEDIA. “A recent survey found that 47 percent of our members are seeking new products and services to add to their portfolios to bolster revenue potential, but more than 50 percent were struggling to make those connections and negotiate new deals. We prioritized creating a business affinity program that will connect manufacturer members, as well as new brands, with our CEDIA integrator members, aiming to raise the tide across the industry as a whole. When Propel is coupled with CEDIA’s vast education and workforce development initiatives, we see significant economic opportunities that can impact the entire channel.”
Tapping into increased demand for residential technology to help homeowners live, work, play, and stay safe and healthy, the Propel program offers a broad array of new opportunities for CEDIA integrators. In the coming weeks, CEDIA will be showcasing each brand individually via webinars to dive deeper into their solutions and how best to market and sell them.
“Propel is the right program at the right time for our industry,” says Gordon van Zuiden, founder and president, cyberManor, Inc. “At cyberManor, we know we need to think beyond core applications like AV, lighting, and security to remain competitive. Propel will provide new vendor relationships and expertise in emerging categories. These are the kind of relationships that allow us to be whole home integrators, anticipating and fulfilling all of our clients’ technology needs.”
Propel Brands
Currently Available Only in the United States
Amazon is offering CEDIA US integrator members access to preferred pricing on select Echo and Ring devices, with deep discounts of up to 25 percent off when ordered through Amazon Business. As these products have soared in popularity in recent years, integrators have seen increasing demand for professional installation and integration with custom smart home systems. Through the Propel program, CEDIA members will benefit from additional savings on select Echo or Ring products in their customer projects. Amazon also recently launched Amazon ProPortal (www.amazon.com/proportal) to provide a one-stop shop for information on their devices.
Bryte contends that sleep is the foundation of health and has designed an AI smart bed to optimize restorative sleep. Through Propel, CEDIA integrators can add a smart sleep solution to their offering. As part of the program, CEDIA integrators in the U.S. will receive 20 percent commission of the retail price of the Bryte Restorative Bed purchased. Additionally, member customers will receive free shipping and white-glove delivery by Bryte, which is not included in general online orders.
Available Globally
Immersive Gym has developed a way to deliver ultra-wide content dynamically to users as they train on rowing machines, treadmills, and stationary bikes — offering dealers a way to create immersive training experiences for their customers. CEDIA global members are the only group of integrators that have access to the Immersive Gym product in the residential channel and, additionally, Immersive Gym is offering a free WaterRower to CEDIA members as an offer to their clients to promote the concept of connected content and exercise equipment.
Propel is designed to be a growth accelerator across the entire custom installation channel. “The pandemic introduced some of the biggest challenges our industry has seen in years,” says CEDIA chairman of the Board, Rob Sutherland. “Strategically, we believe over time Propel will bring new brands and members from different segments into the industry, fueling growth and opportunity for all our members. There’s strength in numbers, and with more companies and integrators embracing CEDIA standards and touching a whole new set of homeowners, our industry will enjoy a massive lift in awareness and influence.”
Participation in the Propel program is open to all CEDIA members. Companies interested in learning how to participate in the program should reach out to the CEDIA membership team at [email protected] or by phone at 800-669-5329. Visit the CEDIA website to register at cedia.net/propel.
This article originally ran on residentialsystems.com.
See also: CEDIA Board Announces 2021-2022 Director Positions
