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Inside Eli Manning’s Automated Condo
Paul Austi (left) doesn’t pose for many photos with his celebrity clients. His company, Audio Video Crafts, treads carefully with customers, like New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, in order to nurture its network of high-profile referral-based clients. In this case, Manning was happy to help out, posing for photos at his Hoboken. N.J. condo with Manhattan views. PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVE HULBERT
How to Handle Long-Distance Installations
It's no surprise that a lot of AVC's high-profile clients have additional properties around the continent.
The company developed a unique system for providing its standard of service on the road, says Austi.
All design and engineering for long-distance jobs is done at AVC's Long Island City, N.Y. office. Assuming the project is a new-construction or a complete remodel, AVC enlists contractors working on the remote project to "do most of the grunt work," Austi says, including pulling wires.
"All terminations are still done by us."
AVC, therefore, sends a crew to the site and Austi says his men stay there as long as it takes to make the installation "bulletproof." In order to minimize travel and installation time, the design of remote projects is extremely important, he adds.
Providing post-installation service for long-distance projects is another challenge. In some cases, AVC finds a local CEDIA member to roll trucks if necessary.
"Of course, we have to make it worth their while."
Austi sees these relationships with local CEDIA members as a good way to stimulate the integration industry. He also suspects it "could work both ways."
If one of those companies finds work in the New York City area they may call upon AVC for similar service, perhaps providing a recurring revenue stream.
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9 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
I love how they talk about how discrete they are then give us every celeb they have worked for in the next sentance.
They said: “We never publish our work. We don’t take photos of work. We respect privacy. We never give references without authorization.” Oh… and how do you spell sentence?
“We have worked in homes with Picassos on the wall,” Austi says.
Big deal… I’ve got a cleint with a Picasso in there bathroom. I wonder if they have worked in homes with Porsche’s in the garage yet.
Paul and Team,
The fact the you have established yourselves as the go to brand for the ultra rich says wonders about you ability to please clients. Disregard the digs at people trying to put you down. Ya, you are a bit cocky and you deserve it! You do great work and the whole SpeakerCraft team is proud of you. Keep it up babe. Thw Manning job is great and takes your marketability to a new level, pounce now, pro players contracts are not being reduced! Proud of ya.
Jeremy
Haters
Jeremy, Thanks for typing your name in all caps so we don’t miss it.
ITS OFFICIAL..
JEREMY IS A D I C K .
Listen to what he is saying to us.
*Avoid his company at all cost.
I am telling you to look to a leader like Paul and either innovate, imitate or do whatever it takes to survive. Paul has a great niche. What do you think I am saying? I want the whole industry to grow and evolve so we have a larger pie and better dealers to service it. Paul and his team deserve props. Hey man, my suggestion for you is that you hit your local book store and read about self help, business and marketing. If you want personal coaching maybe Paul could help. Much love, Jeremy
Nice Project! Good Job AVC. I love the irony in the concept presented of ‘discreetly’ nuturing clients only to have them hold a touchscreen on the front of a magazine though. I has a good laugh for a few minutes before getting into this article. Thanks!