New CEDIA Leadership Looks To Establish Membership as 'Synonymous With Technology'
CEDIA is in talks with Coldwell Banker to involve integrators in the sale of homes valued at $1 million or more, CEO Vin Bruno said on a webcast Tuesday. Bruno met with Coldwell Banker executives in New York this month to discuss what he called “a big deal” for CEDIA integrators. The real estate franchisor sold more than 21,000 $1 million-plus homes last year, Bruno said, and CEDIA’s strategy is for members to work with Coldwell Banker to install automation in premium-level homes before the for-sale signs go up.
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Bruno said CEDIA will finish 2015 with 3,700 members worldwide, with a target of 5,000 members under a CEDIA Everywhere campaign. CEDIA added 600 members this year. Its projected 2015 revenue is $11.5 million, said Dennis Erskine, chairman-elect, with just over half coming from CEDIA Expo, 23 percent from international operations, 13 percent from membership dues, 7 percent from education programs, 4 percent from investments and 1 percent from other income.
CEDIA has a renewed goal for its members to be the contractors to whom homeowners turn for design, installation, repair and upgrade of technology. Bruno cited a prospective CEDIA member in the U.K. who finished a Nest thermostat installation that a plumber had started and in the process took an order for a five-figure automation project. Bruno sees opportunity for CEDIA members at the do-it-yourself smart home level because “even a Nest thermostat is not a do-it-yourself product.” With plumbers now installing technology, CEDIA has to "welcome anybody working with technology so that we deliver the exceptional experience,” he said.
One of Bruno’s goals is to make CEDIA “synonymous with technology” and that will involve more consumer awareness, he said. The group has discussed having CEDIA direct-to-consumer events in U.S. cities with NFL teams, where integrators and manufacturers will exhibit to homeowners. That’s an extension of CEDIA’s role as a trade show producer. “We want to bring the trade to the clients and create that awareness.” First up is London in 2016 and possibly New York, he said.
CEDIA is also contacting other industry associations to build awareness, Bruno said. He has met with the National Association of Home Builders, the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to discuss opportunities for CEDIA alliances. Appliances are increasingly connected, he said: “When all those connected appliances don’t behave properly, it slows down the adoption of what we do for a living.”
CEDIA also linked with Butler University to launch an online training and certification program for CEDIA members to address the shortage of qualified installers. The 10-course, 20-hour-plus program will run $299 for what Dave Pedigo, senior director-learning and emerging technologies, called $750 worth of course work. Integrators will be trained and certified for particular disciplines within custom installation, and new designations will indicate certified specialties including design, technology and networking.