• CEPro_logo_blue-new
  • TOPICS
      • News
        • People & Places
        • Product Briefs
      • Projects
      • Events
      • Control
        • Central Vac
        • Energy/Power
        • HVAC/IAQ
        • Interfaces/Devices
        • Lighting
        • Motorized Shades
        • Whole House Systems
      • Audio/Video
        • Audio/Video
        • AV Accessories
        • AV Racks
        • Cabling
        • Displays
        • Furniture
        • Headphones
        • Home Theater
        • Media
        • Mounts/Lifts
        • Multiroom AV
        • Projectors/Screens
        • Speakers/Subwoofers
        • Wireless AV
      • Security
        • Access Control
        • Alarms/Sensors
        • Services/Platforms
        • Surveillance/Cameras
      • Business Support
        • Associations/Buying Groups
        • Cell Phone Boosters
        • Distributors/Reps
        • Operations
        • Recurring Revenue
        • Research
        • Sales/Marketing
        • Software Services
        • Tools/Testers
      • Networking
        • Cellular
        • Devices/Equipment
        • Wireless
        • Wired/Installation
      • Markets
        • Builders
        • Commercial
        • Design
        • Europe
        • Outdoors
        • Resimercial
        • Wellness
      • CE Pro Hub Pages
        • Bose
        • Savant
        • Inside Sound United
  • PRODUCTS
  • RESOURCES
    • Reports/Downloads
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Webcasts
    • Podcasts
    • Integrator Jobs
    • Digital Edition
    • CE Pro-iQ
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • CEDIA SHOW UPDATES
    • CEPRO PRINT EDITION
    • CEPRO DIGITAL EDITION
    • CEPRO NEWSLETTERS
  • DISCOVER
    • CEDIA Expo
      • September 29 – October 1
        Dallas, TX
      • VISIT SITE
    • KBIS
      • February 8 – 10
        Orlando, FL
      • VISIT SITE
    • Total Tech Summit
      • October 26 – 28
        Orlando, FL
      • VISIT SITE
    • Commercial Integrator
      • VISIT SITE
    • Security Sales
      • VISIT SITE
    • Tech Decisions
      • VISIT SITE
    • Campus Safety
      • VISIT SITE
    • Design Well
      • VISIT SITE
    • KBB Online
      • VISIT SITE
    • AV-iQ
      • VISIT SITE
    • CE Pro-iQ
      • VISIT SITE
  • Search
  • TOPICS
    • News
      • People & Places
      • Product Briefs
    • Projects
    • Events
    • Control
      • Central Vac
      • Energy/Power
      • HVAC/IAQ
      • Interfaces/Devices
      • Lighting
      • Motorized Shades
      • Whole House Systems
    • Audio/Video
      • Audio/Video
      • AV Accessories
      • AV Racks
      • Cabling
      • Displays
      • Furniture
      • Headphones
      • Home Theater
      • Media
      • Mounts/Lifts
      • Multiroom AV
      • Projectors/Screens
      • Speakers/Subwoofers
      • Wireless AV
    • Security
      • Access Control
      • Alarms/Sensors
      • Services/Platforms
      • Surveillance/Cameras
    • Business Support
      • Associations/Buying Groups
      • Cell Phone Boosters
      • Distributors/Reps
      • Operations
      • Recurring Revenue
      • Research
      • Sales/Marketing
      • Software Services
      • Tools/Testers
    • Networking
      • Cellular
      • Devices/Equipment
      • Wireless
      • Wired/Installation
    • Markets
      • Builders
      • Commercial
      • Design
      • Europe
      • Outdoors
      • Resimercial
      • Wellness
    • CE Pro Hub Pages
      • Savant
      • Bose
      • Inside Sound United
  • PRODUCTS
  • RESOURCES
    • Reports/Downloads
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Webcasts
    • Podcasts
    • Integrator Jobs
    • Digital Edition
    • CE Pro-IQ
  • SUBSCRIBE
    • CEPRO PRINT EDITION
    • CEPRO DIGITAL EDITION
    • CEPRO NEWSLETTERS
    • CEDIA SHOW UPDATES
  • DISCOVER
    • Cedia Expo
      VISIT SITE
    • Commercial Integrator
      VISIT SITE
    • Security Sales
      VISIT SITE
    • Tech Decisions
      VISIT SITE
    • Campus Safety
      VISIT SITE
    • Design Well
      VISIT SITE
    • Total Tech Summit
      VISIT SITE
    • KBB Online
      VISIT SITE
    • AV-iQ
    • CE Pro-iQ
M
POPULAR SEARCHES
News
Projects
Control
Audio Video
Security
Business Support
Markets
SUBSCRIBE CEDIA EXPO
Business Support | Distributors/Reps
October 8, 2021

Industry Tech Sales Uses Smart Ordering, Shipping Processes to Stand Out in Midwest Distribution Market

Sensing a distribution opportunity in the midwest during the COVID-19 pandemic, two CE pros decided to start a new business together despite supply chain and cash flow concerns.
Fred Harding  
Article:
Business Support | Distributors/Reps
October 8, 2021

Industry Tech Sales Uses Smart Ordering, Shipping Processes to Stand Out in Midwest Distribution Market

There’s a new distribution team in the Twin Cities that’s growing stronger every day. Industry Tech Sales (ITS) is headquartered in Mendota Heights, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minn., and their journey from a simple plan to a booming business is one aspiring integrators can learn from.

Industry Tech Sales’ story starts in the fall of 2020 when manufacturers were facing challenges in getting products to market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Distributors were dealing with cash flow issues, as the pandemic clamped down hard on shipments of equipment from overseas suppliers.  Adding onto the problem, ports of entry into the country were experiencing tremendous backlogs, and truck drivers were exiting their jobs.

On top of everything, distributors, who live and die on inventory turns and cash flow, were being pinched. Some had the financial strength to make it, and some had the resources to acquire other distributors who couldn’t survive otherwise. Whatever the case, far too often integrators were seeing empty shelves, horrendous lead times and demoralized suppliers.

Amidst this disrupted market place two AV industry friends, Scott Wexler and Pat Schrantz, got together and decided to do something. They set to work building a new distribution company and named it Industry Tech Sales. They used the experience that both had gathered, Schrantz had 30 years of experience in distribution at Capitol Sales, and Wexler added a decade of experience in distribution and installation, to try and create something unique for the midwest market. 

ITS Tries to Make Ordering, Shipping As Easy As Possible During Pandemic

Understanding that product shortages were killing other suppliers and dramatically impacting installers, they set out to secure product lines from both residential and commercial-oriented manufacturers. They also understood the value of having redundant product lines; an example is commercial amplifiers, where the company offers LEA, Atlas, Dynacord, Kramer AV, TOA, and QSC as options for customers.

Join Us At Total Tech Summit 2022

Total Tech Summit is where the integration industry elite gather. It's your chance to build rock solid industry connections to grow your firm and advance your career. We invite you to apply today for a free trip to join us in Orlando October 26-28, 2022. Apply now!

“We may not have the exact model you’re asking for, but chances are very good we’ll have an option for you that will get you paid,” says Wexler. 

ITS also offers design assistance for those working on projects in the residential, commercial, educational and government markets. And if the scheduling gets too tight for your crew, they offer the programming services of CS Consulting on an hourly basis to handle control systems, digital signal processing devices and extensive video distribution systems.


Related: Using Lessons from Old Health Clubs to Feel Less Alone During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Other factors that are touted include free shipping for orders placed online that can ship via a parcel carrier like UPS or SpeeDee Delivery, with courier delivery also available locally with a corporately owned Sprinter Van. In addition, truck shipments are freight paid on shippable orders over $5000 for things like large displays, assembled racks, and large commercial speakers.

ITS says having a sales staff that includes many former employees of the now-defunct Capitol Sales helps, as experience and product knowledge is another huge attribute for customers as well as their manufacturer partners.

“Since we’re new to the market, we bring a spirit of agility and customer centrism to the table” says Schrantz.  “We strive to say yes when a request for something is made. That sort of attitude will, we think, build long-term relationships with our customers and our vendors.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fred Harding
Follow
Fred Harding:
Fred Harding is in sales and technical support at Industry Tech Sales in Mendota Heights, a full-service distributor of electronic installation hardware. He is a frequent contributor to CE Pro, writing hands-on product reviews and technical tips.
View Fred Harding's complete profile

ARTICLE TOPICS

Business Support • Distributors/Reps

ARTICLE TAGS

coronavirus • Distributor

SHARE

Share On Facebook
Share On Twitter
Share On Linkedin
Share On Whatsapp
Share Via Email
Copy URL
← Previous Article Next Article →
Article Audio/VideoCommercialHome TheaterNewsResimercialSpeakers/Subwoofers

ATC Loudspeaker Founder Billy Woodman Dies

ATC Loudspeaker Technology founder and owner Billy Woodman founded the Gloucestershire, UK-based company five decades ago.
Article ControlNewsSecurityServices/PlatformsWhole-House Systems

Alarm.com Reports ‘Solid’ 12.7% Q2 Revenue Gain

Alarm.com says security and mart home markets remain ‘healthy’ and increases its full-year revenue outlook to $518.5M to $519M.
Article Audio/VideoCommercialHome TheaterNewsResimercialSpeakers/Subwoofers

ATC Loudspeaker Founder Billy Woodman Dies

ATC Loudspeaker Technology founder and owner Billy Woodman founded the Gloucestershire, UK-based company five decades ago.
Article Audio/VideoHome TheaterMediaMultiroom AVNewsSpeakers/SubwoofersWireless AV

Sonos Q3 Revenues Dip; Drastically Lowers Outlook

Sonos cites an 'uncertain' economy and a dip in spending on in-home tech products in its Q3 revenues report.

SHOW NEWSLETTER

Sign Up

CE Pro

Subscribe Sign Up

Content Types

News
Products
Projects
Companies
Downloads
Webcasts
Podcasts
Events

Specials

IntegratorJobs
CEDIA EXPO
CE Pro 100
CE Pro Summit
Awards Programs

Company Info

About
Contact Us
Customer Service
Media Solutions & Advertising

Subscribe

Magazine
Newsletters
Digital Edition

Connect

Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
RSS Feed

Categories

AUDIO/VIDEO
AV Accessories
AV Racks
Amplifiers/Receivers
Cabling
Displays
Furniture
Mounts/Lifts
Multiroom AV
Projector Screens
Speakers/Subwoofers
Wireless AV
CONTROL
Central Vac
Energy/Power
Interfaces/Devices
HVAC/IAQ
Lighting
Motorized Shades
Whole-House Systems
NETWORKING
Cellular
Devices/Equipment
Wireless
Wiring/Installation
SECURITY
Access Control
Alarms/Sensors
Services/Platforms
Surveillance Cameras
BUSINESS SUPPORT
Associations/Buying Groups
Distributors/Reps
Operations
Recurring Revenue
Research
Sales/Marketing
Software/Services
Tools/Testers
MARKETS
Builders
Commercial
Design
Europe
Outdoors
Wellness
FOLLOW US ON
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

© 2021 Emerald X, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY