Best Buy/Magnolia Staff Up for Commercial Integration

Best Buy and its Magnolia specialty stores are taking CE installation to a whole new level. Instead of just hanging TVs on a wall and fixing home networks, they’re now going after the commercial market.

The Best Buy organization, including Magnolia and Geek Squad, are not new to the commercial space.

Best Buy for Business today services small- and medium-sized businesses, but the new commercial group has grander aspirations.

“We’re talking really big, like stadiums,” says Brian Krisko, the newly appointed director of commercial integration for Magnolia.

Earlier this year, Best Buy/Magnolia installed Control4 automation and related electronics in the Aria Resort and Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter in Las Vegas.

In the largest Control4 deployment to date, Best Buy/Magnolia equipped several high-roller suites with energy management, lighting controls, audio/video, motorized drapery and more – all of which integrate with the “city’s” technology infrastructure including guest services and communications.

Krisko, a former home systems integrator, tells CE Pro that Best Buy’s new Commercial Integration division already has scored other sizable wins.

Now the group is staffing up for the business.

In its five largest markets – Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago and Seattle -- Magnolia Audio Video is hiring commercial integration account managers (description below).

The positions are largely sales related, with the design and installation handled by integrators from Magnolia. In addition to audio, video and networking, they will offer automation (currently Control4 and AMX), digital signage and other commercial-centric solutions.

The organization itself does not employ electrical contractors; however, the commercial integration division is establishing relationships with local providers, according to Krisko.

Job Description

Commercial Integration Account Manager, Magnolia Audio Video

This position will manage and conduct Outside Sales (OS) Sales activities surrounding business-grade consulting, design and installation, as well as lead installer store level support for Commercial Installation assignment and referral. Activities to include: conducting cold calls for leads, using network of contacts to seek out new leads and generate referral business, acquiring leads through internal and external partners and qualifying those leads to the appropriate department within the enterprise.

Will also conduct sales presentations, design of system recommendations, assignment/conducting and review of site surveys, customer consultation management, job estimating, overall Territory project management, customer satisfaction inspections, and relationship management from an sales view point.

Examples of key customers include; Small Businesses, Chain Businesses, builders, architects, remodeling contractors, commercial contractors, hospitality, healthcare and government projects. Also acts as the SPOC for Magnolia to other divisions within the enterprise including BBFB, BBY Retail, MHT Retail and MAV. Ability to read blueprints and understanding of commercial subsystems such as HVAC and electrical. Also knowledge of building construction.

The Commercial Account Manager's primary duty is outside sales, meaning sales activity at customer locations. The requirements of the position include:

* Employees must spend over 50% of their time outside in making sales. "Outside" means outside of Best Buy facilities and outside of any other "home base" the employee might use.

* Employees must spend at least 80% of their time in activities related to their own outside sales.

Basic Qualifications:
High School Diploma or equivalent
3+ years of technical Audio/Video sales or installation experience
1+ year of proposal and bid creation experience

Preferred Qualifications:
Associates or Bachelor's degree in technical field
3+ years Outside Sales experience
CEDIA or like certification

Job: Magnolia Audio Video

Organization: Magnolia Audio Video

Job Type: Regular/Full-Time