A newcomer to the event is the brand
new, high-end car audio company, Audiof- rog, led by CEO Andy Wehmeyer. “What we’re after are the best specialty deal- ers in markets all over the world who are hungry for great-sounding products, straightforward tech support and involve- ment from the people who design and develop the products,” he said in his Q&A interview with ME in the June 2014 issue. “It’s all about helpful support for spe- cialists who cater to car lovers, car audio lovers, and enthusiasts everywhere.” Audiofrog is looking to release its first
products at this year’s event and will have a booth on the trade show floor.
Te Bottom Line Strong product training and openness from manufacturers has helped grow the training aspect of the event, accord- ing to Cook. “Attendees learn from other successful retailers how to improve their stores. We have a retailer peer-to-peer interaction and we want them to share great ideas with others. That’s the beauty of KnowledgeFest. We’re using the collec- tive knowledge of our industry to shape our industry.” As with past years, changes to the
event have proven necessary to entice future installers and skeptical retail- ers to lower their guards and make the investment in their shop’s future. Thanks to higher attendance and the help of a new venue, the event has achieved some its most affordable rates of past years, with registration fees costing $69 per person for groups of three or more attending and special MERA member discount hotel rates for guests of the Hilton Anatole starting at $139.00 per night for those who met the deadline for reservations.
Considering the overall consensus top
industry veterans have conveyed, the reasons for not attending KnowledgeFest seem to be shortening as the event con- tinues to grow. “I honestly think anybody who doesn’t
attend KnowledgeFest is missing out,” said Piper. “I hadn’t been for many years. I saw guys going and I was on the fence. Then I went and I honestly can’t see myself missing it again.”
me-mag.com 23
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