As the Partnerships Business Development Manager, Somfy, Maryellen Oswald has done a considerable amount of work for the motorization brand in her short two-year tenure at the company. She’s no newbie to the CI industry, however, as prior to her work at Somfy, Oswald led roles in rep firms and magazines catered specifically to integrators.
In fact, much of her 20 year work experience has been spent in service to the custom electronics industry, so, in retrospect, her relatively new role at Somfy just represents her latest push to help connect integrators with the latest and greatest technology categories in the industry (which shading definitely qualifies at this point).
With the tradeshow rush winding down, CE Pro had an opportunity to sit down with Oswald to talk more about her role at Somfy, how dealers can better position shading in a smart home system, and what it is that makes Somfy stand out over others in the category.
CE Pro: For those who might not know, can you briefly explain what Somfy offers the market and dealers specifically?
Oswald: At Somfy, we believe that “what’s inside matters most” when it comes to motorized shading solutions. That is why we offer a wide range of high-quality motors and technologies designed for seamless integration. We partner with preferred third-party control systems for direct integration.
As a leader in motorization and control, Somfy connects integrators with direct access to a vast network of fabricators, giving them the flexibility and power to choose their perfect shading solutions.
CE Pro: Besides the obvious method of pressing a button to operate shades, how can dealers present motorized shades to clients as part of an entire smart home ecosystem?
Oswald: Motorized shading powered by Somfy can benefit homeowners in many ways. Somfy’s smart shading systems are designed to make life easier by enhancing privacy and home security, protecting furniture from harmful UV rays, providing sun control and helping reduce energy consumption while increasing energy savings.
CE Pro: Is the outdoor category underrepresented by the smart home industry? What are some of the usage scenarios that dealers could present for motorized awnings?
Oswald: The outdoor living category continues to grow. Homeowners want to extend the comforts of their indoor experience to the outdoors and Somfy provides a variety of motorization solutions to maximize comfort and convenience for outdoor living spaces. Our goal is to make these solutions easy to install, and easy to operate.
We offer motorized control for retractable awnings as well as sun and insect screens for pergolas. We can also help motorize exterior hurricane shutters to protect homes during severe weather events.
CE Pro: What makes Somfy motor products stand out in a category that is expanding with more interest and competition?
Oswald:Somfy is unique in that we do not make the finished products. We aim to make these products better to help integrators – from the planning stage to the installation and commissioning process – and make the consumer experience as simple as possible. In addition to interior window coverings, you can find Somfy motors in projections screens, motorized awnings, pergolas, roller shutters, and skylights.
CE Pro: How does Somfy see the motorized shade and smart home industry evolving over the next few years and how its products and dealers fit into this changing marketplace?
Oswald: We continuously improve our products to enhance the user experience keeping sustainability in mind. Home automation is a standard now, and Somfy’s motorization products are designed and built to work and play well with others.
We have partnered with many of the leading names in smart home technology and integration, including consumer platforms and brands as well as third-party professional brands. And as members of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) board, Somfy is well positioned to remain at the forefront of emerging smart home technologies for years to come.
Keep Reading:
See how SoundVision caters to its VIPs (Very Important Partners)
Listen to Krissy Rushing Tomlin tell her AV story
Or check out Chandrima Deuri Sikka’s journey through the CI Channel
