The 11-member Catalyst AV distributor network announced a cumulative 23 percent business growth for year-end 2016.
“Catalyst AV had a terrific year, we opened two new warehouses, we hired 10 people, we had a group increase in business of 23 percent and by far it was a record year,” says Helge Fischer, executive director.
Fischer cites Internet products and the introduction of Eero as being a key part of the group’s success. Ongoing training webinars, and streamlining the group’s logistics all helped in reaching this new plateau.
Continued Fischer, “Our members have different territorial sizes, but they all have a strong commitment to the market. They have been in business for decades and share the same commitment to training, instruction, and developing a strong knowledge base of the future of the custom installation industry. We only have lines from very solid and financially reliable companies; the vetting process is fierce. Strong financials, reliable products, superior distribution setup, service and training, have all led to Catalyst AV success.”
Steve Presti, owner/president of Easy Access Distribution and Catalyst AV board member, adds, “We are the leading source for system design and first-tier tech support in the networking category. We focus on three tiers of opportunity: Legacy products, IoT and light commercial. Utilizing ongoing training, we demystify how these products integrate together and how to increase your bottom line with new technologies. New product introductions create great opportunities for growth and profitability and continue to be a major focus. Onsite system design and first-tier technical support makes us the one-stop shop for everything integrators need in a challenging technical environment.”
Catalyst AV-branded wire and cable, Rapid Mounts and Lyric speakers are three brands of which the team is particularly proud.
Fischer adds, “Due to the size of the Catalyst AV network, we have been able to develop products and lines that have created great value and profitability for the custom integrator, while outperforming industry standards.”
Marketing in 2016 was another factor that contributed to the group’s success.
“Catalyst AV's marketing approach for 2016 built upon the existing vision and values held by each of its members. Our success came from boasting our commitment to the custom integration channel, and advertising our unique ability to satisfy its needs,” says Dan Haight, Catalyst AV board member and Pioneer Music Company owner. “Basing everything on customer service, Catalyst AV spent the past year perfecting our ability to do this, and molded our marketing approach to compliment our customers' business model. The more we understand and identify opportunities to grow our customers' business, the more we can focus our own strategies to make that happen. Our consistency in upholding our mission, while remaining cutting-edge in our ability to communicate it, will undoubtedly carry us forward into an even better 2017.”
Catalyst AV was founded in 2012 and has 24 locations serving more than 16,000 professional integration specialists. The Catalyst AV Board of Directors consists of Haight, Presti, Wally Whinna (Allnet Distributing) and executive director Fischer. Member companies are:
- AHA Distributing (www.ahadistributing.com) (Florida and Southeast)
- Allnet Distributing (www.allnetdistributing.com) (Midwest)
- Audio Video Warehouse (www.av-warehouse.com) (Nevada, Arizona)
- Custom Partners (www.custompartners.com) (Metro-NY)
- CustomPlus Distributing (www.customplusdistributing.com) (No. CA/ Pacific NW/ AK)
- Easy Access Distribution (www.easyaccessdistribution.com) (Northeast)
- Electronic Lane Distributors (www.electroniclane.com) (Southwest)
- HCA Distributing (www.hcadist.com) (Rocky Mountains)
- Pioneer Music Company (www.pmcav.co) (Plains States)
- SPD (www.soundproductdistributing.com) (Upstate NY)
- Tech Source Distributors (www.techsourcedist.com) (Mid-Atlantic)
