iWired offers a broad selection of smart lighting, heating, security, air-conditioning, and other systems that can be remotely controlled via a smart phone, computer, or voice command. Some of these devices can also operate on an automated basis. Smart HVAC systems, for example, self-adjust heating levels to avoid wasting energy. Smart water valves monitor the flow of water into a home. If water flow suddenly spikes due to a leak, the smart valve shuts off the water main before damage occurs to the home.

Smart devices “enhance the quality of life [and offer] ease and simplicity within the home,” says George. “Imagine window shades and lighting moving in tandem as your home theater or home audio comes on. Imagine, at the click of a button, changing the color of the lighting in your home to set certain moods. Imagine the ability to really feel safe and secure because you’ve got AI-embedded camera technology that tells you when there’s someone suspicious walking up your driveway.”

iWired also sells and installs home audio and theater systems, central vacuum setups, and programmable shades and blinds which can be lowered or raised at set hours. To run these smart systems, the company offers Control4, a user-friendly platform that amounts to an “operating system for the home,” explains George.

A full-service company, iWired installs the high-tech systems it sells, along with all associated infrastructure. “We do it all,” says George. “We do everything from running wiring in the pre-construction phase [of a new home]. As soon as 2×4’s are up, our team is out there running data lines and cables and conduit… We provide all the hardware, we do all the programming, and we provide ongoing continuing service once the homeowner has moved in and taken over the system,” he explains.

In addition to its head office, iWired has a branch in Prescott, Arizona and two locations in neighboring Colorado (in Denver and Colorado Springs). At present, the company primarily serves the Arizona and Colorado markets and deals with a very specific demographic: “Our primary customer tends to be an upmarket consumer,” says George. “They tend to be business executives or professionals. [The projects] we are most proud of are the ones where we’re able to really work with the homeowner to design the home of their dreams and integrate as many technologies as possible.”

To this end, the aforementioned merger with a Colorado Springs custom tech integrator called HomeRun Electronics took place a little over a year ago. “Our intention was to bring together these two great companies with the idea that we’re better together than we are apart,” George explains. “In doing so, we have really refocused our energy on the sales and service teams and used our combined purchasing power to streamline and create efficiencies in the back office.” For instance, the two companies’ accounting, HR, and operations divisions have been centralized.

The acquisition of TekServ, which monitors fire alarm systems to protect properties, has enabled the team to grow their service offerings and horizons (as George notes, most commercial properties are mandated to have a monitored alarm system). At present, the residential sector accounts for about 90 percent of the group’s business, and the goal is to diversify, increasing the commercial share to 30 percent.

If automation and high-tech systems for private homes tend to be based around convenience and fun (think home media centers with comfy couches and an array of audio/visual options), commercial systems are more pragmatic. Popular solutions for commercial buildings include automated lighting and HVAC systems, and advanced security. Increasingly, the latter includes video verification—an emerging category and a new iWired offering. In a video verification system, security cameras relay images back to a central station where they are monitored 24/7. If a person who is not verified to be on a specific property is spotted, an individual at the central station can issue a verbal warning to the trespasser.

While eager to grow into new markets or areas (perhaps through more corporate acquisitions), iWired approaches growth mindfully. “Our philosophy has always been to grow slowly so that we aren’t taking on any projects that exceed our capabilities,” says George.

Founded in 2000 as a local subsidiary of a telecom firm, iWired initially focused on putting high-speed data lines in private homes. The business grew quickly, and new services were added as the company expanded.

At present, iWired and HomeRun have 112 employees and prefer applicants with “a capacity to learn… We don’t expect that they come in with the knowledge base to do what we do, because we work on niche technology products. [Instead] we look for someone who is a team player that enjoys interfacing with customers and colleagues and has a general sense of humility and a hunger to grow,” explains George.

Asked what sets this group apart from other companies, he says, “Our three unique offerings are people, products, processes.” People-wise, the team “works really hard to hire, train, and retain best-in-class talent,” he says, pointing to the loyalty and long tenure of many company employees.

“From a product standpoint, we keep our selections really narrow. We focus on a really small basket of vendor products, and we work collaboratively with our vendor partners to ensure that customers have best-in-class service experiences.”

And when it comes to processes, the company “spends an inordinate amount of time” documenting and detailing its actions “so all of our core processes [are] repeatable.”

This methodical approach is exemplified by iWired’s robust Quality Assurance process. A project manager reviews sales orders for accuracy, scope, and inclusivity before the client signs off on them. Once a project moves into production, a QA manager accompanies teams in the field to coordinate with the home construction manager and ensure all goes to plan. iWired staff members also work closely with the homeowner during installation.

“They walk the homeowner through exactly what they bought… We take our customer service very, very seriously,” says George. In the same vein, two years ago, iWired implemented a management program called EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) to enhance company-wide efficiency and accountability.

Challenges come in the form of new home standardization; iWired works with large national home builders who typically construct thousands of new dwellings a year in master-planned communities. But faced with rising interest rates and construction costs, some of these builders have trimmed expenses by reducing the amount of customization in their new builds. “This presents a challenge because it [makes it harder] for us to meet with our homeowners and provide a truly customized, tailored approach to their technology solutions,” explains George. It’s important, he says, for general contractors to recognize that technology integrators such as iWired play a hugely important role in the design and construction of new homes.

As for the future, “We are starting to dip our toes into the world of drones, which is really exciting,” he adds. The potential AI represents is strong as well, with its ability to augment electronic building security. Lighting, meanwhile, “represents a new frontier for us in the residential space. To be able to provide great lighting design and then utilize great lighting infrastructure in conjunction with the electrician changes the home. You can make an average home feel exceptional with great lighting.”

The integrated Vangeo Technology Group’s overall vision for the future is also exceptional: “Our goal is to build a world-class integration organization that our competitors look at with a deep and profound respect, that our customers love, and that has the ability to continue to grow because we’ve built a sustainable foundation with systems, processes, and people that allow us to scale up within our current market and new marketplaces alike.”

The post Automation and Connectivity Solutions for Homes and Businesses<p class="company">iWired/HomeRun Electronics</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

“Our stores are similar to Apple stores. You walk in; you can touch; you can feel; you can experience what you’re getting. We have knowledgeable staff who can direct you on how to use the solution,” explains Joseph Akhtarzad, co-owner and Vice President of Video & Audio Center and President of Just One Touch.

Notable products include frame, flat-screen, and wall televisions. ‘Frame’ televisions resemble a painting when not in use. One year ago, the company sold and installed a massive Samsung wall television measuring over 200 inches wide, with a price tag of $800,000. Such gargantuan sets make a stunning impression.

The enormous project required “a lot of meticulous planning and coordination with Samsung engineers,” states Walden Caballero, Director of Operations at Just One Touch. The client was delighted with the results and promptly ordered two more large Samsung televisions, he adds.

Video & Audio Center has also embraced ‘transparent’ televisions from LG Electronics, which utilize organic light emitting diode (OLED) panels to present a see-through screen when turned off. The company is partial to Sony projection televisions due to their reliability and quality and claims to have the largest selection of Sony products in the country.

The company’s audio products include all manner of speakers, radios, cables, karaoke systems, receivers, headphones, remote controls, and more, while its home technology category encompasses everything from air purifiers and grills to bread makers and voice assistants. Outdoor technology includes wearables, GoPro systems, and Segways.

The company also sells elaborate home automation and security systems that enable clients to remotely lock or unlock doors, greet visitors, and control their lighting in addition to their HVAC systems. Clients can turn off their sprinklers remotely in case of rain and view visuals from security cameras on their phones. Another home technology function can automatically raise and lower window blinds when residents are away, letting would-be burglars believe someone is at home. Other services include video transfers, media duplication of DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and CDs, and television rentals.

Indeed, Video & Audio Center is more than just a source for consumer electronics. The Just One Touch segment excels at installing home theaters, media centers, automation systems, audio systems, and household technology networks, with an integration process that begins with a one-on-one discussion with the client to determine their needs and budget. Based on these specifications, Just One Touch comes up with a proposal and presents it to the client. Once the proposal is accepted, staff members develop a design using CAD software and other tools, and company technicians use the design to plan the installation.

“A lot of my friends rely on me,” says Akhtarzad. “When they buy a new house or remodel a house, [we offer] a turnkey solution. If you want to do a home theater, you give us the space, and we will turn it—within eight to 12 weeks—into a home theater for you. We’ve done home theatres from $50,000 to $100,000; we’ve done many home theaters for over $500,000 to $1 million.”

Just One Touch provides 24/7 support and has crews prepared to act in all manner of emergency situations. For instance, the company contacted clients whose homes were destroyed in the recent fires that ravaged the Los Angeles area, sending “numerous messages to make sure they know we are here for them.”

The company traces its roots to the early 1980s. After completing a master’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Nottingham in the UK, Akhtarzad decided to join his older brother Mayer in Southern California. He worked for a satellite dish firm for a few months, and then the brothers teamed up to launch Video & Audio Center in 1981. Mayer remains President, although he is largely retired these days.

From the start, “The vision was to bring the latest and most innovative technology to market,” and over the decades, the business has helped introduce the Walkman, Discman, flat-screen televisions, and Blu-ray players. It has worked with celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor and corporate clients such as Disney and DreamWorks.

“We built a reputation as a trusted destination for cutting-edge electronics… but I knew customer service was also very important. I made sure all my salespeople were trained, and we went after the niche market, all high-end,” Akhtarzad explains. “I would say our success has come from having good employees. Some of them have been with me since the beginning. We’ve created an environment where the employees love to contribute to the business. They love working here.”

At present, roughly 150 people work here, with 100 employees at Video & Audio Center and the rest at Just One Touch. There is frequent overlap between these segments, however, with Video & Audio Center borrowing resources from Just One Touch and vice versa.

And Akhtarzad takes a keen interest in new hires. “Don’t be a salesman; always listen to a customer’s needs and give them the solution they’re looking for,” he tells new employees. Other rules for store staff: no upselling and no using incomprehensible technological jargon that leaves a customer baffled and frustrated. Also, a tidy appearance is a must. In his view, being poorly groomed suggests someone cannot take care of themselves, much less take care of an elaborate video or audio system.

Such concerns are understandable as, “We are a growing company. Every year we grow by 10 to 20 percent,” he shares.

In addition to its brick-and-mortar sites, Video & Audio Center and Just One Touch offer a comprehensive website. At first, the website primarily served as a platform for manufacturers to display their wares and a convenient vehicle for informing potential customers about what was in stock. Gradually, the site began to generate its own share of business as customers became more comfortable making online transactions. “Everything we carry is available for us to sell online, except custom solutions.”

The company has also benefited from its membership in the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) buying group, an “industry member-driven trade consortium” consisting of home technology retailers and custom integrators, to which Video & Audio Center has belonged for approximately 25 years.

Joining the HTSA “was the best thing for us,” states Akhtarzad. “We have group meetings, talk about the next technology.”

Indeed, staying abreast of developments in the consumer technology world is a point of pride. Roughly a decade ago, he sensed that voice-activated controls would become a huge trend and ever since, the team has provided products in this category as they became available.

This kind of attention to detail matched with excellent service has earned the firm kudos from industry peers. In 2022, the Akhtarzad brothers were inducted into the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame, which is organized by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), a trade association representing the U.S. consumer technology industry.

In 2023, Video & Audio Center was ranked number one on CE Pro’s list of 100 Top Custom Retailers in both California and the United States. CE Pro magazine is the self-described “leading trade publication for professionals involved in the custom electronics business,” and the company has repeatedly earned the number one spot for California custom retailers and been a top five fixture on the list of retailers across the entire U.S.

Indeed, doing big things remains a company staple. At the time we spoke, Video & Audio Center was gearing up for a huge Super Bowl party at a country club. This invitation-only soiree would welcome “high-end consumers from real estate, directors, producers, surgeons, doctors,” he says, with plans for valet parking, barbecue, drinks, a family atmosphere, and of course, an array of awe-inspiring OLED, wall, and frame televisions from sponsor Samsung to watch the game.

Akhtarzad is not currently pondering any new branches outside of the city, although he says, “I am open to franchising or to teaching other people who would like to get into this business to collaborate.” Any potential areas outside of Los Angeles would have to retain the company’s service-oriented ethos, he adds, offering a rosy forecast for the future. “Five years from now, I believe technology like transparent TV, and other technologies I’m working with manufacturers on, is going to flourish… Dedicated home theatres are on the increase.” Video & Audio Center will be there every step of the day.

The post Your Source for Consumer Electronics and So Much More<p class="company">Video & Audio Center</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.