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Jamiesons Audio/Video: A Multiroom Music Windfall
Integration company thrives by giving clients specialized treatment and leveraging Sonos systems as referral tools.
Most Custom installers think wireless systems aren't all that ... well, custom. Toledo, Ohio-based Jamiesons Audio/Video disagrees.
Co-owners David Jamieson and Ric Clark don't shy away from wireless multiroom audio. They're embracing it — and so are scads of customers.
Unlike many integrators, Jamieson says the wireless multiroom music system from Sonos makes a lot of sense. The integrator likes that it can install an eight-room system in a day or two, rather than a couple of weeks, because there's no need to rip walls or run wires.
Clients like it because it's simple to use and delivers a ton of music sources:
"I don't sell it for the technology," he says. "I sell it so customers have easy access to music."
"One of the best decisions we made was to become a Sonos dealer," Clark explains. "We've thrived in the last 18 months and are one of their top five dealers in the country. Sonos has brought customers to our store. They're actually buying music systems again, and with excitement."
Clark confesses that he was "starting to think that everything was going in the direction of television" or IPTV. He says that was especially disappointing since he got into the business because of his love for music. Sonos is changing all that.
"It's having a Pied Piper effect. People are telling their friends about it and they're following suit," he says. "It's great to see people so enthusiastic about music again."
Although Sonos makes for a good retrofit gig — there are no wires to pull — that's not why Jamiesons sells them. "It allows us to grow a clients' system beyond what they thought it could do," he explains. "We actually still run the wires, for the most part, anyway."
Jamiesons Audio/Video says even clients with high-end turntables and CD players prefer to use Sonos systems.
Clark says that clients often want music in a remote area or secondary building, like a barn or garage. With Sonos, he can tie the two buildings together, enabling them to play the same music in either or both locations. "The only time we won't run wire is if there's no economically feasible way to get it in," he says.
Wire or no wire, "Everybody that walks in the door, whether it's someone who has an existing system or someone who's never had one, you can blow both of them away," Clark contends. He says he has clients with very high-end systems that include turntables and expensive CD players.
"Sonos is what they listen to most," he says. "The likelihood is slim that they can find somewhere else the cool things we've shown them." Clark says Jamiesons, which has eight installers on staff, rarely has a day when they're not doing a Sonos install.
Co-owners David Jamieson and Ric Clark don't shy away from wireless multiroom audio. They're embracing it — and so are scads of customers.
Unlike many integrators, Jamieson says the wireless multiroom music system from Sonos makes a lot of sense. The integrator likes that it can install an eight-room system in a day or two, rather than a couple of weeks, because there's no need to rip walls or run wires.
Clients like it because it's simple to use and delivers a ton of music sources:
- Existing digital collections
- Streaming music services
- Rhapsody
- Pandora
- 15,000 radio stations and more
"I don't sell it for the technology," he says. "I sell it so customers have easy access to music."
Surprising Referral Base
Jamiesons Audio/Video
Jamiesons has been around since 1954 (David joined the family business right after college in 1977 and Clark came on board in '91), but they've only been installing Sonos for the last two years.- Location: Toledo, Ohio
- Co-owners: David Jamieson and Ric Clark
- Years in Business: 22
- Number of employees: 22
- FYI: "We've been around longer than stereo, and there's always been a Jamieson in the company."
"One of the best decisions we made was to become a Sonos dealer," Clark explains. "We've thrived in the last 18 months and are one of their top five dealers in the country. Sonos has brought customers to our store. They're actually buying music systems again, and with excitement."
Clark confesses that he was "starting to think that everything was going in the direction of television" or IPTV. He says that was especially disappointing since he got into the business because of his love for music. Sonos is changing all that.
"It's having a Pied Piper effect. People are telling their friends about it and they're following suit," he says. "It's great to see people so enthusiastic about music again."
Although Sonos makes for a good retrofit gig — there are no wires to pull — that's not why Jamiesons sells them. "It allows us to grow a clients' system beyond what they thought it could do," he explains. "We actually still run the wires, for the most part, anyway."
Jamiesons Audio/Video says even clients with high-end turntables and CD players prefer to use Sonos systems.
Clark says that clients often want music in a remote area or secondary building, like a barn or garage. With Sonos, he can tie the two buildings together, enabling them to play the same music in either or both locations. "The only time we won't run wire is if there's no economically feasible way to get it in," he says.
Wire or no wire, "Everybody that walks in the door, whether it's someone who has an existing system or someone who's never had one, you can blow both of them away," Clark contends. He says he has clients with very high-end systems that include turntables and expensive CD players.
"Sonos is what they listen to most," he says. "The likelihood is slim that they can find somewhere else the cool things we've shown them." Clark says Jamiesons, which has eight installers on staff, rarely has a day when they're not doing a Sonos install.
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