STU’S VIEWS: PART 7 Column


March 2025 ertonline.co.uk


Everybody loves the sunshine!


Everybody loves the sunshine! Top tips for selling outdoor AV


• Start your campaigns early. In the UK people flock to garden centres at the first sign of Summer to upgrade their outdoor areas – make sure your services are on their radar;


• Focus on the service they can’t get elsewhere, such as professional installation;


• Just like smart home projects, a pair of outdoor speakers can quickly turn into a bigger installation. Package up all the options, from connecting to a home automation solution, to adding exterior smart lighting – it provides scope for them to return to you for an upgrade; • Create a portfolio of work to inspire customers.


These systems include mounting options that can be tailored to various Stealth Stingray By Stuart Tickle, Managing Director at AWE Europe W


e’re only a few months into 2025 and it’s already proving to be another unpredictable year. The political landscape is unsettled, and this continues to have a negative impact on the economic outlook. With the government’s Spring budget due in the next few weeks


(at the time of writing) – and predictions around a stagnating economy and rising taxes – it raises questions about how best to focus our business efforts in these challenging times? Well, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. While there will likely be ups and downs, there can also be warm rays of sunshine ahead for electrical retailers. For example, in times of economic uncertainty people spend their money differently, opting to cut back on holidays and travel and spending more time at home and in their garden. According to professional smart home industry research by CEDIA, outdoor audio is a key area of growth, and with Summer on the horizon, now is the time to bolster marketing campaigns to drive your seasonal sales in this direction. At AWE, we have recently taken on new brands that cater to this


growing trend. Electrical retailers can take advantage by accessing these ranges, expanding their product and service offering to include outdoor speakers that can be sold to and installed for the customer. Moreover, by offering a premium range of outdoor AV products and services, electrical retailers can differentiate themselves in a competitive market, develop a deeper customer relationship and build on their reputation as trusted experts.


environments, from gardens and balconies to patios and pool sides. It can be as simple as connecting a pair of outdoor speakers to an amplifier located indoors, through to a bigger system connected to a simple home control solution, such as URC (also supplied by AWE). By providing high-quality outdoor audio or audio-visual solutions,


retailers can attract a broader customer base and increase revenue streams. Additionally, the ability to offer design, installation, and optional maintenance services gives you an edge over larger chain and online retailers, who can’t provide the same level of personalised service. All-weather loudspeakers and subs are a great gateway product for selling more comprehensive outdoor AV services. Recently, AWE was appointed UK distributor for Polk Audio, which includes the popular and affordable Atrium range of all-weather options, including loudspeakers that can be staked into the ground or wall mounted, supplemented by outdoor subwoofers for rich, space filling audio. By offering a well-known yet affordable range such as Polk Audio,


you’re setting a high, professional standard for outdoor audio while making the service accessible to a wide range of customers. The Bowers & Wilkins AM-1 is a premium option with superb sound and beautiful design. The differentiator between this offering and cheap alternatives is professionalism, quality and reliability, which is a reassuring selling point for clients looking to invest in a long-term solution. For your customers,


a professionally installed outdoor AV solution is a sound investment during challenging economic times and a great alterative to expensive holidays, providing lasting benefits, summertime memories, entertainment and value.


Polk Audio’s Atrium range of outdoor speakers 13


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