Colorado vNet Reports Double-Digit Q1 Sales Growth

Not everybody is feeling the recession.

Colorado vNet reports some good sales news:

• Double-digit sales growth in Q1 2009 over Q1 2008
• It set its all-time shipment record in February 2009

Colorado vNet also reported record sales growth of 132 percent in December, helping the company increase its 2008 sales 111 percent over 2007.

The lighting control manufacturer and maker of the Vibe audio and video systems points out that it’s doing well at a time when custom electronics industry is suffering through a 30 percent decline.

In CE Pro’s annual State of the Industry report, meanwhile, custom electronics dealers show a 9 percent decline.

There is evidence that companies that cater to the highest end of the market are more insulated than others. A recent CE Pro survey of high revenue-per-installation integrators shows those companies with 2008 revenues ranging from flat to up 25 percent.

Crestron, a well-known high-end automation manufacturer, recently reported its “best month ever” with 26 percent month-over-month growth in Dec. 2008.

Colorado vNet has a different interpretation of its success. The company credits designing simple, pre-integrated home automation and digital audio/video solutions and keeping installation and support costs low, which increased the number of jobs dealers can execute, and ultimately, dealer profitability.

“With record shipments in February, we’re definitely seeing a thaw in the market,” says Mike Malone, Colorado vNet vice president of sales. “Installations that were put on hold late last year have been reignited, and many jobs that were originally ear-marked for high-end competitors have been converted to Colorado vNet because our systems are less time-consuming, less risky, and less costly.”