I
t’s the event that defines what it means to be in the 12-volt industry. It’s where rookies grow into veterans, boys to men, girls to women and where novice retailers obtain the tools they need to transform a struggling business into the envy of even the most renowned retailers.
Now in its 19th year, KnowledgeFest, presented by MERA (Mobile Electronics
Retailers Association), is considered by many to be the apex of events for the mobile electronics industry. The annual event presents 12-volt retailers, installers, sales people and enthusiasts with the opportunity to speak to their idols, learn new methods, get the latest product info and manufacturer trainings and effectively learn more in a few days than one could learn in a year on their own. However, the event didn’t begin as the peer-to-peer connection experience it has become. In 1992, the closest thing to KnowledgeFest was when two retailers would connect via telephone or meet at a local coffee shop to vent about their 12-volt shop troubles of the day. Eventually, as the group increased in numbers, so did the interest in giving it an official name. With that, MERA came into being, and shortly after came the first KnowledgeFest at the Lake of the Ozarks resort in Missouri in 1996. Needless to say, from its humble beginnings, the event has grown by leaps and bounds, now requiring a large convention center for its hundreds of attendees. This year’s event will be held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. The location, new to the event this year, was chosen for its business-friendly set-up and close proximity to the city, according to MERA President Chris Cook. “We knew that, when considering new venues for our event, we wanted to stay in or around Dallas,” said Cook. “Since we moved KnowledgeFest here in 2011, attendees and exhibitors have told us they like the central location and transportation options. The move to the Hilton Anatole gives us a more versatile location with rooms priced to allow more retail professionals to attend, while staying within the Dallas locale.”
Fresh Perspectives In addition to a new venue, there will be some new faces presenting seminars this
year. Among them is Michael Betts, owner of Audioworkx in Pittsburgh, Pa. Betts will be paired with Jason Ewing from ADS. The duo will be discussing old versus new tech- niques for remote start installation.
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