06.17.2009 — Preliminary numbers show that attendance for InfoComm 09 in Orlando, Fla. (June 17-19) is expected to increase by as much as 4,000. There's also likely to be more residential installers at this year's commercial audio/video show.

With the number of new-construction and retrofit residential projects declining, CE pros have been migrating to the commercial space. The 2008 CE Pro Readership Study shows 77 percent of integrators vying for commercial jobs, up a whopping 20 percent in just two years.

In order to get a grip on the commercial market, integrators will likely flock to the show. Traditional residential manufacturers are expected to increase their focus on the commercial market, too.

Universal Remote Control (URC) is essentially following its dealers to InfoComm 09. "Our customers are already installing our products in commercial applications," says Jon Sienkiewicz, URC's director of marketing.

URC will launch two products at InfoComm — a remote and a base station — design with commercial venues in mind. URC will also show InfoComm attendees a beta version of an IP keypad designed for the commercial market.

Distributor AVAD is looking to explore new opportunities and commercial A/V is among its top priorities.

Even Stewart Filmscreen, which has always had a strong commercial presence, is diversifying somewhat by introducing the AcoustiShade window treatment that blocks both light and sound.

There seems to be an industry-wide focus on diversification.

What are you doing to diversify and strengthen your company?