For Hagan Kappler, CEO of Daisy, CEDIA Expo isn’t just another industry trade show. It’s part of the company’s origin story.
From meeting the company’s first franchise partner on the show floor to introducing customers to the latest smart home technologies, Kappler says the annual event has played a meaningful role in Daisy’s growth. As CEDIA Expo returns this September, she reflected on the networking opportunities, technology discoveries and business milestones that continue to bring the company back.
CEDIA Expo Helped Launch Daisy’s First Franchise Partnership
Kappler first attended CEDIA Expo in September 2023, just months after she and co-founder Dion Persson began building what would become the national smart home services company.
“I first attended CEDIA in September 2023,” Kappler recalls. “Dion and I had decided to start building Daisy in June, and by September we had met with dozens of companies.”
One of those meetings proved especially significant. Kappler connected with Matt Walin and Steve Stary, founder of Brilliant AV in Costa Mesa, Calif., a company that ultimately became Daisy’s first franchise.
“We would tour the floor and see the latest technology, and then meet for a quick breakfast or pizza with Matt and Steve while we worked out the details of how this partnership would come together,” Kappler says. “We even had a potential investor meet us at the show. The energy was palpable.”
That experience helped cement the value of CEDIA Expo for Daisy. Today, Kappler says the event remains one of the company’s best opportunities to strengthen relationships throughout the industry.
“Networking with other leaders, manufacturers and to meet other integrators,” Kappler says. “It is a nice opportunity to reward techs and teammates with a visit to the Expo and to get some training.”
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Lighting Became a Turning Point for Daisy’s Business
Unlike many longtime CEDIA attendees, Kappler entered the industry with little experience in custom integration. One of her earliest moments on the show floor left a lasting impression.
“I was a little different as I was so new to the industry during my first visit as I was building Daisy, but when Dion and I first toured the Lutron booth, we were blown away,” she says. “We had no idea the impact of lighting.”
In the years since, Daisy has expanded rapidly. According to Kappler, the company has grown to more than 40 locations, employs more than 300 people, has built what she describes as a first-of-its-kind end-to-end technology platform, established supplier programs with dozens of manufacturers, increased investment in marketing, and launched DaisyCare, its ongoing client support program.
“Since that first CEDIA, Daisy has grown to over 40 locations,” Kappler says. “We have built a first of its kind end to end technology system. We employ over 300 people. We have invested in marketing tactics to increase awareness of the brand and industry. We have secured programs with dozens of suppliers. And we have successfully launched DaisyCare, our ongoing support for clients, which has always been the company’s raison d’etre.”
Daisy Returns to CEDIA Expo with Customers and a Bigger Vision
Last year’s CEDIA Expo represented another milestone for Daisy. The company transformed its large booth into a three-day networking destination where attendees could meet the team and learn about the company’s culture, systems and vision.
“We wanted to make sure people in the industry could learn about Daisy — our culture, our systems, and our vision — directly from our team,” Kappler says.
The booth featured blackjack, roulette and slot machines, along with prizes including a Louis Vuitton handbag and a trip to Las Vegas. The company also offered food, smoothies, a latte bar and cocktails throughout the event.
“It was a blast and we loved getting to meet so many new people in the industry,” Kappler says. “After having just been an idea on a piece of paper in 2023, it was incredibly special to show up in this way just two years later.”
This year, Daisy plans to once again bring its team to CEDIA Expo, while also inviting builders, architects and interior designers to experience the technologies firsthand.
“We are excited to get back together with our team,” Kappler says. “Although, this year we are bringing our top customers — builders, architects and interior designers. We are excited to bring them face to face with the technology.”
Looking ahead, Kappler expects lighting and AV technology to remain two of the industry’s biggest areas of innovation.
“We’re excited to see how lighting evolves,” she says. “We are also curious to see how AV continues to advance.”
For Daisy, CEDIA Expo has been more than a venue to discover new products. It has served as a place to forge partnerships, grow the business and reconnect with the people helping shape the custom integration industry.
