11.03.2009 — Almo Corp., in the first 100 days after launching its Professional A/V division focused on the custom electronics installation market, has set some impressive milestones, including:

• Signing 800 dealers
• Opening two new offices
• Distribution agreements with 17 new vendors
• Launching a new Web site
• Setting up a deal with InfoComm to launch a E4 AV Tour
• Getting its entire sales staff certified by the Digital Signage Experts Group (DSEG)

"The best time to launch a new venture is in a down market," says Warren Chaiken, the distributor's president and COO.

Chaiken is the third-generation president of Philadelphia-based Almo, which was started in 1946 by Albert Margolis and Morris Green. Combining their two names gave Almo its name. Chaiken believes the division will represent $100 million in sales by the end of Almo's fiscal year in April 2010.

The privately held company currently has 11 warehouses nationwide, 260 employees, and is one of the largest distributors of:

• Major appliances
• Consumer electronics
• Wire and cable products

The company distributes for Amazon, Target and QVC and products that consumers earn in premium incentive channel programs like American Express Rewards and Marriott Rewards.

About three months ago, Chaiken hired Sam Taylor, former head of Electrograph, to launch a new custom electronics installation division at Almo. Taylor has brought on 25 members from Electrograph to set up the Professional A/V division.

"We looked at investing in Electrograph, but it wasn't right for us," says Chaiken. "After [Electrograph] failed, we talked with Sam and started mapping out a plan. Obviously, Electrograph had challenges, but the concept at Almo is the same that they wanted to do: provide integrators with an individual needs analysis and don't treat them like a number."

Chaiken says the Pro A/V division leverages the strength of Almo, which is its strong financial situation. "We pay our bills on time, which is extremely attractive to manufacturers right now," Chaiken says.

Among the new vendors with Almo are:

• Samsung
• Panasonic
• Sharp
• Chief
• Premier Mounts
• Furman
• Da-Lite

Almo had a previous foray into the pro A/V channel about eight years ago working with Philips TVs, but closed it about three years ago.

"We knew just enough about pro A/V to be dangerous," jokes Chaiken. "We wouldn't have done this without the ability to get the Electrograph team."