• 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 CEPro-iQ
Builders | Business Support | Markets | News | Research
October 26, 2020

CE Pro Mid-Year Market Report: 9.4% Growth in First Half of 2020

Exclusive research shows integration companies grew rapidly, led by home networks, outdoor projects and security/surveillance.
CE Pro Editors  
Article:
Builders | Business Support | Markets | News | Research
October 26, 2020

CE Pro Mid-Year Market Report: 9.4% Growth in First Half of 2020

What pandemic? That might be the question many custom integration companies are asking themselves after the first half of 2020. Despite a lull in March and early April due to the coronavirus lockdown, custom integration companies report an incredible 9.4% revenue growth for the first six months of 2020. Also, dealers report their number of installations grew 8.5% between January and the end of June, nearly in lock step with the revenue growth.

Digging into the data, 65% of integrators report their revenue increased during the first six months of 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019. Another 20% report flat revenues for the first half.

The data reflects the increased demand integrators are experiencing as clients are now stuck at home more and want improved home entertainment, networking and security systems. Likewise, dealers who are in areas where new construction is on the rise are reaping the benefits. New home permits and sales are way up, with The National Association of Home Builders reporting the highest confidence increase among its members since 2006.


On average, integration company revenues grew a strong 9.46% in the first half of the year (left), while the number of installations for both new clients and upgrades for existing customers rose 8.5% in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019 (right).

For integrators, that translates to strong revenue gains in the first half of 2020. A whopping 15% of integration companies say their revenues are up by 40% or more for the year. Among only those integration that have experienced revenue increases this year, the median rise is a very healthy 13.6%.

But not all is rosy. The pandemic is clearly hitting those less prepared to ride out the storm or those in hard-hit areas more disproportionally. Also, dealers who may have had a stronger portfolio of business from commercial offices, bars, restaurants and hotels have likely been hit hard. The data shows that 15% of dealers have lower revenues so far in 2020. Of those, 6.5% of dealers say business is down by more than 30%. And, among just dealers whose revenues have declined, the median decline is a hard-to-swallow 25%.

Cast Your Vote for the 2023 CE Pro Quest for Quality Awards!

CE Pro urges integrators to recognize their suppliers that go above and beyond to deliver premium support and service. Cast your vote today to recognize the services (not the products) from your favorite manufacturers and distributors.

Cast your vote today!

Meanwhile, 61% of dealers say the number of new projects and upgrade projects is up, compared to 30% who say the number of projects is down. About 9% of dealers are flat.

Which Equipment Areas Are Hot?

Not surprisingly, home networks are the No. 1 area for growth, according to integrators. Indeed, a staggering 67% of integrators report their home networking business is “up slightly or “up significantly.” As more clients work from home and have children who are distance learning from home, the need for a faster home network is imperative.

Right behind home networks is the demand for outdoor entertainment. When the pandemic first hit, many clients did not feel comfortable having tradespeople inside their homes, so outdoor entertainment upgrades skyrocketed because customers were OK having technicians on site outside. In the first half of 2020, 58% of dealers said their outdoor business was “up slightly or “up significantly.”


When asked to gauge the state of their local new home construction market and residential remodeling market, integrators overwhelmingly report that the housing market is doing well in their area.

Security/surveillance systems were the No. 3 growth area from January to July this year. Just over half (52%) of all dealers said their video systems business was “up slightly or “up significantly.”


A staggering 67% of integrators report their home networking business is “up slightly or “up significantly,” while 58% say the same about their outdoor entertainment business.

Other areas where a high percentage of dealers reported a strong first half are video upgrades (49% of dealers), multiroom audio (44%), motorized shade control (40%)) and dedicated home theaters (40% of dealers report “up slightly or “up significantly.”)

“It’s Christmas,” says Azione Unlimited president Richard Glikes speaking during the CEDIA Expo Virtual keynote. “We were down 32% in April, we were down 20% and flat in June. But the clients finally got fed up and said, ‘Come into my home. I wanted done now.’ In July, we were up very nicely. It was our fourth best month ever. Everybody’s very busy. Business is good. Whether it stays good really depends on what happens with the virus.”

Jon Robbins, executive director at the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), echoes that sentiment.

“Our guys are as busy as they’ve ever been. We anticipate we’re going to be busy through the end of the year and going into 2021. We have completely full pipelines throughout our membership for the next 120 days at least.”

Dave Workman, president and CEO at ProSource, says he has never seen anything like the current situation. “I’d never seen an increase across the board as high as I saw in June, and again in July. There has been clearly an emphasis on the home with the travel industry being largely shut down. Those leisure dollars have been refocused around the house,” he says.

Hank Alexander, director, Home Technology Specialist Network/Nationwide Marketing Group, says for some HTSN members, “it was like … a pandemic what pandemic? We’re so busy.’”

He says Nationwide members expect to maintain strong business throughout 2020 and for the entire year in 2021.

Housing Market Remains Strong During Coronavirus Pandemic

While the U.S economy is still finding its footing after weathering the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there is still plenty of good news for integrators on the housing front.

In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), total existing-home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, jumped 20.7% from May to an annual rate of 4.72 million in June. While the total number of sales dropped a bit compared to 2019, economists are still largely optimistic.

“The sales recovery is strong, as buyers were eager to purchase homes and properties that they had been eyeing during the shutdown,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “This revitalization looks to be sustainable for many months ahead as long as mortgage rates remain low and job gains continue.”

According to Yun, significantly low inventory was an issue for the housing market even before the coronavirus pandemic, which can lead to inflated home prices overall. “Home prices rose during the lockdown and could rise even further due to heavy buyer competition and a significant shortage of supply,” adds Yun.

Even with inflated pricing affecting the market, first-time buyers are battling through higher-than-normal pricing and are responsible for 35% of sales in June, up from 34% in May 2020 and about equal to 35% in June 2019.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Offers More Reasons for Optimism

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, alongside the U.S. Census Bureau recently released data reporting sales of newly built, single-family homes rose to their highest level since the Great Recession, up 13.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 776,000 units in June, which is 6.9% higher than the June 2019 pace.


Related: NAHB: New Home Sales Reach Highest Pace Since 2006

The same report suggests total housing starts increased by 17.3% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.19 million units, while sales of existing homes jumped 20.3% in June.

This emphasis on new construction by homebuyers has also led to an uptick in activity for builders, even if lumber prices have caused projects to become more expensive to complete on average.

“While Wall Street may have been expecting a smaller gain, anyone following the NAHB/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index would know these numbers are in line with what we are hearing from builders,” says Chuck Fowke, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from Tampa, Fla. “Builders are moving to ramp up production to meet growing demand.”

Builders Prepare for Post-Coronavirus Surge of New Homebuyers

While the current housing inventory shortage has some realtors worried, builders are using the opportunity to expand into growing markets like suburban and rural areas, which may present more opportunities for savvy integrators.

“Along with rising builder sentiment, we are seeing increasing consumer demand in the suburbs, exurbs and rural areas,” says NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz. “At the same time, builders are dealing with supply-side concerns such as rising material costs, particularly lumber, which surpassed its 2018 price peak this week. Nonetheless, low inventory levels point to construction gains ahead.”

Integrators might want to reach out to local construction companies and try and develop a working relationship that is mutually beneficial, as there’s currently a boom in construction across almost the entire country.

According to the NAHB, on a regional and year-to-date basis (January through June of 2020 compared to that same timeframe a year ago), combined single-family and multi-family starts are 2.2% higher in the Midwest, 0.2% higher in the South, and 2.9% higher in the West. The only region to see a dip in housing starts is the Northeast, which reported a 5.4% loss in starts.

ARTICLE TOPICS

Builders • Business Support • Markets • News • Research

ARTICLE TAGS

Business Resource • coronavirus • Housing • NAHB • Total Tech Summit

SHARE

Share On Facebook
Share On Twitter
Share On Linkedin
Share On Whatsapp
Share Via Email
Copy URL
← Previous Article Next Article →
Article Amplifiers/ReceiversAV AccessoriesCablingControlDevices/EquipmentDisplaysEnergy/PowerEventsHome TheaterHVAC/IAQInterfaces/DevicesISELightingMotorized ShadesMultiroom AVNetworkingNewsProductsProjectors/ScreensResimercialSlideshowSpeakers/SubwoofersWhole-House SystemsWireless

2023 Top New Technology (TNT) Awards Announced at ISE

This year’s batch of Top New Technologies (TNT) Awards@ISE honored winners in the Residential segment, unveiled in conjunction with ISE 2023.
Article ControlInterfaces/DevicesNetworkingWhole-House SystemsWireless

Beyond Matter: The Past, Present and Future of Home Standards

Dave Kaufman reflects on the potential standards have to benefit consumers, professionals and the smart home industry at large.
Article Amplifiers/ReceiversAV AccessoriesCablingControlDevices/EquipmentDisplaysEnergy/PowerEventsHome TheaterHVAC/IAQInterfaces/DevicesISELightingMotorized ShadesMultiroom AVNetworkingNewsProductsProjectors/ScreensResimercialSlideshowSpeakers/SubwoofersWhole-House SystemsWireless

2023 Top New Technology (TNT) Awards Announced at ISE

This year’s batch of Top New Technologies (TNT) Awards@ISE honored winners in the Residential segment, unveiled in conjunction with ISE 2023.
Article Amplifiers/ReceiversAudio/VideoDistributors/RepsHome TheaterMediaMultiroom AVProductsSpeakers/SubwoofersWhole-House SystemsWireless AV

I Previewed the New 8K Sony ES Receiver Lineup (and Was Blown Away)

The latest models of Sony's professional grade receiver line offer range, versatility, and most importantly to installers, simplicity.

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

© 2023 Emerald X, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • TERMS OF USE
  • PRIVACY POLICY

McIntosh Labs

McIntosh Labs