Integrators all know that if you can conduct a demo with a prospective client, the chance of closing the deal and earning a higher ticket on the sale greatly increase. But most CE pros don’t have the time, energy or money to build a dedicated home theater in their showroom? Or, for that matter, have a showroom at all?
Well, Structured Cable Products (SCP) just solved that dilemma. The company, which manufactures cable, racks, Current Audio speakers, structured wiring enclosures and other low-voltage accessories along with distributing the new Pulse 8 by Neo multiroom A/V system, opened a brand new six-seat theater at its new Fort Lauderdale, Fla., headquarters that is for use by integrators exclusively to host clients … for free!
“Eight out of 10 integrators down here in Florida do not have a showroom,” says Dave Spiller, president of SCP. “The theater has a completely separate entrance on the side of the SCP facility, so dealers can bring their clients through the side door without having to go through the main entry.”
Integrators are given a unique four-digit code to enter the theater from the parking lot. All SCP asks is that integrators give the company 24 hours’ notice via phone call or email when they plan to use the theater.
The theater itself has a $225,000 value. It features a 120-inch Screen Innovations’ screen, Marantz receiver and amplifier, Current Audio speakers in a 15.2 Dolby Atmos configuration, Apple TV, LG Blu-ray player, Epson 4K laser projector, Texas Theater Seating Co. seats, and SCP cable, of course. The entire system is controlled via RTI.
One the most unique elements in the theater is that the in-wall and in-ceiling speakers can be illuminated behind the acoustical treatments so customers can see the placement of the object-based surround sound.
Spiller does not credit for that idea. “The team at CDGi had the vision. Brad Bergoine and his team at Boca Theater and Automation designed and built the entire theater,” he notes. The acoustical panels themselves reflect a gambling theme with horse racing and poker chips printed on the fabric. As a special touch, even the poker chips in the image have the SCP logo printed on them.
The setup is pre-loaded with several great movie clips for use in demos, but dealers can simply bring in the own demo material if they wish and hook into via an HDMI port.
Oscar Herrera, owner of Elite AV Homes, is a brand new integrator who just started his custom installation business. He was excited to check out the theater. “I will absolutely use this theater,” he said while getting a demo from Sammy Garber of Higher Fidelity Sales and Marketing, a local rep firm. “My customers will expect to see a room like this versus just bringing them into a conference room to talk about home theater.”
The theater is only one small portion of SCP’s new headquarters, which has 23,000 square feet of warehouse space and 5,000 square feet of office and showroom space. The company's previous facility was 17,000 square feet and SCP had simply out-grown it.
SCP actually moved into the new facility back in January 2016, but held off on the grand opening celebration until October. In addition to the Fort Lauderdale location, SCP has warehouses in Texas and California.
“We moved the entire inventory of the facility without missing a single day, a single order,” says Spiller proudly.
At the grand opening, dealers, reps, distributors and manufacturers gathered for a giant Latin-style pig roast in the parking lot.
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