Day 4 - IFA International

Trade Talk Meeting the

Trade Talk Meeting the World @IFA US retail giant ProSource leverages IFA as a key meeting point With retail sales of more than .5 billion, ProSource is the largest specialty and consumer-electronics merchandising group in the United States. We asked company CEO and President David Workman how business has been going… The business has continued to see increases strength in 4K TV, specifically in the premium segment for our channel of retailers. In addition we have seen growth in wireless multiroom audio, specifically with Sonos; and are looking forward to share increases in the next 12 months from the DTS and HEOS platforms with our membership. The largest trend is in the area of networking. What are the sweet spots? For our group, the sweet spots continue to be anything related to audio, 4K TV and home automation and control. What’s different in the way business is being done these days? The biggest change for us has been recognizing we cannot be all things to all people and as such we have become very focused on what we consider our core competencies as a group. This includes legacy audio, step up video, home automation and control and new audio which is embracing the shift into the digital world of music and all devices designed to maximize the performance of this media. You completed the merger of the two organizations PRO Group and HES in April of 2014. Please tell us more about that. This in part helped us grow in the market as we have added almost .5 billion in new retail revenue to our group, both through organic growth and new member acquisition. Looking forward, we are completing a partnership agreement with the largest commercial buying group in the US so that we can become even more complete in our service to the membership by offering programs and services to both the commercial and residential segments of the market. This is your audio committee’s first trip to IFA. What are you looking for? We have come here to learn how European dealers are addressing some of the challenges and opportunities in the market as well as expose ourselves to brands that we may not see in the US. For us this is a learning David Workman CEO and President, ProSource opportunity and an efficient way to meet with many of our core partners here in the US. Normally we would travel to Asia to conduct many of these meetings and we have instead taken the opportunity to meet in Europe at the IFA show. We have come here to learn how European dealers are addressing some of the challenges and opportunities in the market THE CRITICAL EYE – AND COMMENTS OF THE MEDIA AT IFA Each day in IFA International, we will be bringing you feedback from media at the show, helping buyers and manufacturers get a better understanding of how they work at IFA. Erik Derycke Founder and editor-in-chief, Shoot magazine Erik Derycke, the founder and editor-in-chief of Shoot, a Belgian magazine for photo enthusiasts, has more than decade testing and reviewing imaging products for various publications. Each issue of Shoot contains portfolios and interviews with international photographers, articles about photography and post-processing, and reviews of new equipment. Shoot is a member of EISA, the European Imaging and Sound Association. What for you is the most important trend to follow this year at IFA? The rise of 4K-capable cameras bringing ultrahigh definition video capture to a larger public. As a photographer, I'm also interested in the camera capabilities of the latest smartphones. What are your key reasons for coming to IFA? At IFA you can visit the booths of all leading brands and meet their representatives, but there is also the chance to discover something new and unexpected. What do you appreciate most about the show? IFA is well-organised and it’s very easy to find the areas of interest. And of course the location - Berlin is one of my favourite cities in Europe and there's always something going on. What tips or advice would you give to international journalists visiting for the first time? Wear comfortable shoes, because the Messe is huge and you'll do a lot of walking. If you do get sore feet, go outside and relax in the Sommergarten. And if you need a shot of caffeine, head to the Home Appliances section where you can sample the best coffees. 22