Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/284946
Bro a d c a s te r s S h o w D a i l y W e d n e s d a y, A p ri l 9 , 2 0 1 4 4 2 MONOPRICE CONTINUES TO BUILD MOMENTUM An interview with Monoprice CEO Ajay Kumar, CEO, Monoprice. BSD: Tell us about Monoprice. What's your main line of business? AK: Thriving for more than a decade, mostly through strong word-of-mouth of our devoted tech-savvy customers, Monoprice has quietly built a stellar rep- utation as an "in-the-know" e-commerce destination that delivers high-quality electronics and tech accessories at bar- gain prices. Our website more than 5,000 Monoprice branded products, including a wide variety of electronic cables, AV and home theater equipment, networking and IT gear, mobile accessories, PC acces- sories, pro audio equipment and other tech-related items. We're poised to capitalize on our recent rapid growth, as evidenced by our appearance on the Inc. Magazine 5000 list of America's fastest growing compa- nies for the fifth straight year. Monoprice plans an expansion into new product markets and an increased presence at industry trade shows in the coming year. BSD: To what do you attribute Monoprice's rapid growth? AK: Our traffic has grown 81 percent, and revenue has surged 141 percent in the past few years at the company. We are in the right place at the right time with our business model. Through working with manufacturing partners in Asia and selling directly to customers via the Internet, we have eliminated an entire layer of markup. This allows us to price our products 30 percent to 70 percent below the price of other famous brands, while having the same quality and fea- tures. We built our reputation through offering the best cable prices in the industry, but now Monoprice has expand- ed beyond our initial core set of products while continuing to keep our customers' pricing and quality expectations as the focus of our business. Customer service is another corner- stone of our business, and has led to our rapid growth as a company. This will continue as we strategically expand into new markets and increase our product offerings over time. BSD: How does your recent acquisition by Bluecora fit into your company's future growth plans? AK: Recently, Monoprice was acquired by Internet services provider Blucora, Inc. for $180 million. Upon completion of the acquisition in August 2013, Monoprice became a wholly-owned sub- sidiary of Blucora, and will continue its operations in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. as a stand-alone business unit led by the current Monoprice management team. Since Monoprice's founding and throughout our expansion, we have main- tained our focus on our mission to deliv- er the best quality products at the lowest price. Blucora brings decades of experi- ence managing and investing in digitally- enabled businesses. We believe this com- bination will help elevate the Monoprice business into a mainstream brand. This opportunity secures a bright future for Monoprice. For more information, go to ww w.monoprice.com. MAKE COMMUNICATION SIMPLE WITH EMPORIA An interview with Grey Foley, President and CEO, Emporia USA. BSD: Tell our readers about your compa- ny. What's your main line of business? GF: Emporia is a leading mobile device manufacturer focused on simplified com- munication. We have developed research-driven, high-quality, easy-to- use mobile products for more than 20 years. Our devices are available in more than 30 countries, including the U.S., through leading carriers and retailers throughout the world. BSD: Explain "simplified communica- tion." Who is your target audience and why are you targeting that niche? GF: We see a good deal of new technol- ogy designed to help improve our lives. However, many new gadgets come with a steep learning curve. We believe there are a number of segments in the market that can benefit from easy, simplified communication. Emporia began specializing in sim- plified mobile devices targeting the senior market in 2001 when our founder, Albert Filner, gave his mother a mobile phone as a gift – and then spent every weekend afterward teaching her how to use it. Eventually, Albert realized that the prob- lem was the phone, not his mother; it had so many additional functions and features that it was virtually impossible to use it for its key purpose – to make a call. The senior market is not alone in its need for simplicity. For instance, we have been successful at introducing simplified products for young first-time users as well as customized products for people with special needs. BSD: Give us an example of a special needs audience and how you have cus- tomized your products for that audience. GF: Recently, Emporia teamed up with Odin Mobile, a nationwide operator offer- ing mobile communications services to the blind and visually impaired. In collab- oration with Odin Mobile, we have enhanced the already simple, easy-to-use Essence to include such features as voice announcement for numbers entered or deleted, call initiation and completion, battery status, the user's position on the home screen and even the time of day – all with the simple press of a button. These features coupled with the Essence's large buttons with great tactile feedback, wide, easy-to-read screen and enhanced speaker phone have positioned the Essence as one of the most important communication tools for the visually impaired. Paul Schroeder, VP for Programs and Policy for The American Foundation for the Blind, said "I am very pleased to see Emporia and Odin Mobile step forward to offer affordable mobile phone service and accessible devices for this market. This is especially important in meeting a need for individuals with vision loss who are also often living on fixed income, and can benefit so dramatically from accessible and affordable mobile phones." For more information, visit www.empori- atelecom.com, call 201-962-5550 or email foley@emporiatelecom.com. PHILIPS INTRODUCES NEW SPEAKERS FOR HOME AND ON-THE-GO USE Last year, Bluetooth-enabled devices, including speakers, saw strong growth in the marketplace. Omnibus research reported 62 percent of surveyed users 16- plus years of age replied music is the top usage habit for smartphones—more than social networking, games and Internet surfing. Consumers want to have options when it comes to how they enjoy and share their music. "Streaming audio speakers are experiencing tremendous growth in 2012, approximately 140 percent YTD as reported in July's NPD," said Keith Michael, Vice President of Marketing for P&F USA, exclusive distributor for the Philips brand of lifestyle entertain- ment products in North America. "People want to share their music from their smart devices, and there are many options to do so, whether with Bluetooth, wifi or tethered. Not only are people looking for choices on the way they connect, but where they connect. We focus on offering consumers full immersive sound with portable music to go and home audio experience." Philips new range of Bluetooth portable speakers is perfect for music at home or on the go. Each speaker delivers great sound from clever designs that are highly portable and easy to use. The BR-1X speakers offer powerful sound, and with two-inch drivers the speakers deliver immense sound when you need it. The unique indoor and out- door modes mean they work for all occa- sions. The indoor mode offers deeper base and crystal clear details, while the outdoor mode drums out loud, heavy audio. These speakers can be daisy- chained together for maximum sound impact and unlimited music streaming for friends on the go. For enjoying music at home, specif- ically in the bedroom, Philips is introduc- ing the SB170 Bluetooth speaker with a built-in clock radio. Featuring one-touch Bluetooth pairing with NFC, this sleek Bluetooth speaker also offers FM tuning and a USB for fast charging of most devices. Dual alarm setting, gentle wake and a sleep timer allow consumers to fall asleep or wake up to a favorite track. "The industry has come a long way in enhancing sound from what was once considered a small speaker," said Michael. "The market is still in its infancy, and there are plenty of options and innovative features, from docking to Airplay, and Universal Wi-Fi and Bluetooth offering new features like NFC pairing, APTX for better customer experience." For more information, visit www.philips.com.