Re: How Many Years Have You Been in the Industry?

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've been doing this for over 20 years...if I counted my NY
sound/jobs/inventions/experience it'd be closer to 32.

I've also done my share of cabinet design too, but presently have no time
for that so I work with a couple of good cabinet makers. The one we're doing
now is birds-eye maple and cherry and will go out the door for about 26K to
the buyer (I don't get any of that except for design consultation fees).
This one's gonna be awesome. I will post a pix of it when we're done.



"Robert L Bass" <sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:u8rf02dgt1i6621sc3rmkfqj1rpui2tnrl@xxxxxxxxxx
|> We've been doing this for  years. Much more profit
| > than with security except there's no RMR.
|
| We took a different approach.  One of my techs had been designing
| and building high end, custom speaker systems for years as a
| sideline to installing security systems.  He's also an
| accomplished musician.  I also worked on FOH sound systems in
| various venues over the years so I had a working knowledge of
| audio system design, a basic understanding of acoustics, etc.
|
| I started installing whole house audio when a few wealthy clients
| asked me to wire their homes for entertainment  systems during
| construction.  There was a decent margin to be made on parts and
| labor.  We would suggest to the client several respected brands
| and models of receivers, projectors, etc.  I would supply the
| speakers, cabling, volume controls, etc.  Most of those early
| systems were single zone -- the same music would play in every
| room.
|
| After a while we were also asked to do some home theater
| installations.  I established relationships with Vidikron,
| Draper, Stewart Filmscreen and a few other manufacturers.  Most
| clients bought their own RPTV's or projectors but we would supply
| as much as they wanted us to.
|
| If the client didn't have his own builders we would hire a local
| builder and a cabinet maker to customize the space as desired.
| Mark on their materials and labor was 10-12% (about what some
| GC's were netting at the time).
|
| I built a fairly nice HT system and installed a multi-zone audio
| system in my own home and used them as a demo when we weren't
| enjoying them ourselves.  Entertainment systems were a small, but
| profitable part of my business for about 7 or 8 years until the
| stock market went sour, all but killing sales of optional, big
| ticket items.
|
| When I built my first online store I decided to offer some whole
| house A/V systems as well as security, fire, access control,
| intercom and CCTV systems.  That has always been and continues to
| be a fair portion of our online sales.  We don't try to compete
| with big box stores for sales of source equipment, receivers,
| etc.  Instead, I concentrate on multi-zone audio and video
| systems, in-wall and in-ceiling speaker systems, impedance
| matching volume controls and accessories.
|
| --
|
| Regards,
| Robert L Bass
|
| Bass Burglar Alarms
| The Online DIY Store
| http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com
|
| --
|
| Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large
| groups.