The Home Technology Association has another slate of 'Mind Share' webinars designed to make HTA Certified integrators even more successful in 2024. These series of webinars are exclusively for HTA Certified integrators and HTA supporting brand members, except for "The Benefits of Buying Groups". If you are a well-qualified integrator, apply for HTA Certification here. These one-hour webinars are at 11 am PST / 2 pm EST. 2023 webinar topics here. 2022 webinar topics here. 2021 webinar topics here. All webinars are archived and available to HTA Certified integrators and supporting brand members.
The Benefits of Belonging to a Buying Group (February 15)
As a small business owner, you don’t sell enough volume to get the best pricing from most vendors. Making more profit from selling the same amount of goods is a great benefit of joining a buying group, but is that all? Tune into this webinar to learn the following:
- How buying groups equip you to adapt to technology trends
- The variety of ongoing education they offer
- How buying groups make you more profitable, beyond vendor discounts
- How buying groups help with employee retention
Note: This is the only HTA webinar of 2024 that is open to all integrators.
Panelists:
Richard Glikes - Azione Unlimited
Jim Pearse - ProSource
Jon Robbins - HTSA (Home Technology Specialists of America)
Watch the recorded webinar here
Direct View LED: Applications, Pros & Cons (March 13)
Direct View LED (DVLED) is the cool kid on the block. We’ve all witnessed how far they have come in a short time. At the same time, this is a more nuanced display category, and the installation process is different. Tune in to this webinar to learn how to sell this exciting category profitably. You will learn:
- What applications does DVLED excel in?
- What misconceptions do integrators have about this technology?
- What are common pitfalls integrators are running into on DVLED installations?
- How should you price installation labor on these projects?
- What are the downsides to DVLEDS?
Panelists:
Dave Cusick - LG Business Solutions
Marcus Baniahmad - C SEED
Daniel Nilsson - Barco Residential
RP22: Making it Easier to Sell Higher-End Theaters & Media Rooms (April 24)
Home Theater and Media Room design is now both easier and more complicated. The newly released CEDIA/CTA RP22 document (titled “Immersive Audio Design Recommended Practice”) will be your best friend…if you let it. Attend this webinar to learn:
- An overview of what the RP22 document is and how it provides vital design guidelines for immersive audio systems
- How to use RP22 to help align your clients' performance goals
- How RP22 unifies differing immersive audio formats through well-researched speaker placement guidelines
- When to bring in a dedicated designer/consultant and how to sell this service
Panelists:
Peter Aylett - Officina Acustica
Anthony Grimani - Grimani Systems / PMI
Jon Herron - Trinnov Audio
The DVLED Sound System Conundrum: What About the Front Channels? (August 14)
DVLED displays are making a big impression on commercial and high-end residential cinemas. The elephant in the room…how do you address the front channel speaker layout? What audio solutions exist to create the best illusion of sound coming from the onscreen action when you can no longer locate speakers behind an acoustically transparent screen? Tune in to this webinar to learn from professional sound gurus on how to tackle this issue. You will learn:
- Solutions from some of the top speaker manufacturers
- DSP’s role in shaping the sound
- Room design considerations
Panelists:
Nick Fichte - L-Acoustics
L. Paul Hales - Pro Audio Technology
A Key to Profit & Happy Clients: Standardizing the Sales, Design & Installation Process (September 18)
A speedy, efficient installation process makes your projects more profitable and ensures you don’t annoy your clients with a lengthy installation plagued with faulty products that further delay completion. And, standardizing key products and system design approaches minimizes the time-sucking black holes of labor when a new product doesn’t live up to the sales sheet promises. Tune into this webinar to learn:
- Methods to burn in and program systems ahead of installation
- How to do the final installation in less than a day, even on massive projects
- Why it’s not wise to sell too many brands
- Hear from fellow HTA Certified integrators about their experiences on this topic
Takeover Projects: Run Away or Embrace Them? (October 9)
Oh boy…the takeover project. Due to the plethora of crummy integrators plaguing our industry, clients asking you to come in, fix the system they bought from someone else, and be their technology hero is an ongoing issue. Some integrators thrive with takeovers; many do not want to take on a client who comes to you already feeling taken advantage of. Tune into this webinar to learn:
- How to make takeover projects profitable
- Managing client expectations
- Hear from fellow HTA Certified integrators about their experiences on this topic
How to Put on an Effective Trade Partner Event (November 13)
Every successful luxury-focused integrator knows creating strong, profitable relationships with trade partners (builders, architects, interior designers, landscape architects, etc.) is important. A great way to create and maintain these relationships is by hosting an event these trades will actually want to attend. And you don’t need your own showroom to produce one. Tune in to this strategic webinar to learn:
- What theme/topics attract trade partners
- When to host events and how to pay for them
- How best to follow up and turn these trades into referring partners
- Hear from successful HTA integrators on what they’re doing on this topic