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TOP GLOBAL MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIERS SALES RANKINGS ,> PERFORMANCE Q PROFILES es, lmtlate rentals, or check on an demand, Tri-Tech has also updated its every single cLlstomer who has come instrument's repair status directly package with an automated phone noti­ onboard," says Acton. "When someone through a website portal. fication system to alert customers when suggests a new feature, chances are Rycent developments have made it repairs are completed or special orders someone else could use it too. More possible for users to interface AIMsi have come in. The company is in the often than not we add that feature and it with eBay and Amazon, allowing the process of setting up touch-screen capa­ just makes our product that much more dealer to either send product and pricing bilities and an automated system to con­ attractive." ttl-low about information to the website or retrieve tact customers by text message. (800) 670-1736 information about products already list­ "Our software could not have become www.aimsi.biz ed on the site. In response to user what it is today without feedback from a~~E BBE SOUND, INC. with that?" A leading audio innovator's diversification is helping to build a global, cross-market brand. technology. Developed by inventor Bob Crooks, the technology addressed the phase and amplitude distortion inherent to loud­ speakers. Crooks' circuit automatically compensated for these problems, allow­ a o.~g '~"'" o •• \.)v •• ' 'a'" " 'a'"" . C. II .'"'. '"~o a ing speakers to more faithfully repro­ • ,. ," 'N aUT ·a· .\Q V duce amplified sound. "I went to hear a CHANNEL A 1()(,)r~IOUn I'llllf~~ DBEPROCESS til! t{J~l)rJrCJLJR PH()lI"~ CHANNELS POWER BBE's new D82 Sonic Maximizer plug-in for computer recording applications. demonstration of the circuit, not expect­ ing much," John recalls, "but the clarity and detail in the sound made the hairs on l-iere:~ tip-~top IN AUDIO, A FEEDBACK loop is typi­ sioned with the parent company's appar­ my neck stand up, As a musician, 1knew a leaVing money on the tabl cally viewed as a situation to be avoided, ent lack of passion and dedication to its immediately that this was something but that's precisely the goal at BBE m.i. businesses, and on his 50th birthday special." "Sonic Maximizers are great P~ofitabl~ restaurants pump up the average meal tab and fatten margin' Sound. Located in Huntington Beach, he quit CBS. Following a brief interlude By then the company had already con­ because making the sale is as Wlth,lu~clous dessert treats. Profitable music dealers do it wi.th SSE Sonic California, BBE Sound has created a of publishing the McLaren Report, an sumed nearly all of the venture capital easy as the pushing a button. " ~axlmlzers. T~eY're irresist!ble to customers once they hear the big unique promotional feedback' loop industry newsletter, John was introduced funds originally invested, but John took Clay Bailey, owner among its signal processing products for to Barcus Berry Electronics. A spin-offof over the company in 1985, renamed it Improvement In sound quality that only a Sonic Maximizer can provide. Bailey Bros. Music musicians and studios, its G&L electric the original Barcus Berry transducer BBE Sound to better distinguish it from Montgomery, AL It's, easy as pie. Have a Sonic Maximizer on demo in every department: guitar line, and its audio technologies manufacturer, the company was formed the Barcus Berry company, and invested licensed to consumer electronics manu­ in 1984 to license sound enhancement his own money while raising additional "I love Sonic Maximizers gUitar, bass, keyboards, recording, PA and OJ. Don't let a customer le8v facturers whereby the company's brand outside capital. John's son, Dave, who because my average sale goes the store without a demo, and make sure you've got good stock of SOil (, image in each market compounds and joined BBE in 1993 and is now execu­ up every time I sell one. " Maximizers, 'cause YOU'll be selling them like hotcakes. fortifies its marketing impact in the other tive vice president, recalls, "It was a Larry Fischer, owner commercial sectors. tough period, as the company didn't Metro Sound and Lighting BBE PROFIT FACTS: A music products industry veteran since have a chip small enough for licensing St. PaUl, MN 1959, BBE Chairman and CEO John and there was only a home audio proces­ • Sonic Maximizers are the best "plus sale" item in your store McLaren left his native Manchester, sor sold through a direct mail campaign "It's the only product I sell by • Everybody is a customer for a Sonic Maximizer England, to work at Steinway Hall in with ads in the back of aUdiophile mag­ turning it off. It's so easy" New York before relocating to California azines." John reasoned that the people Evan Sheely, owner • Easy to demo: Just punch the "SSE Process" button to join Yamaha. After rising over the next who would embrace the technology's Bass Northwest and get ready to ring the register 16, years to senior executive vice presi­ concept were musicians, so he had the Seattle, WA dent, in the 1981 he left Yamaha to device repackaged into two rack-mount • POW~rfUI national advertising and editorial coverage in major accept a challenging appointment as models, With his extensive network of "BBE makes any gear sound musIc and pro audio magazines. better, but more importantly, president ofthe CBS Musical Instrument contacts in m.i" he was able to get the ~reat Division, which at the time included products established fairly quickly, every customer who walks • word-of-mouth references from your customers help you Steinway, Fender, Rhodes and other By 1987 there was finally a single­ through my front door is a nng up even more sales of SSE Sonic Maximizers illustrious brand~. Among the noted channel chip ready to be licensed. With potential BBE sale. " Yamaha executives' who would follow dogged persistence John convinced Ryan Clement, Manno r ({) 800-233-8346 him were Bill Schultz and Ed Rizzuto. BBE has a fast-growing line of gui­ Aiwa, then a part of Sony, to incorporate Grandma's MUIlI,: But within a few years John grew disiJlu­ tar effects pedals. the BBE High Definition Sound circuit Albuquerque, NM www.bbesound.com 126 MUSIC TRADES APRIL 2009 5381 Production Drive, Huntington Beach, California 92649, USA ,. ~ ....J,L__C.___::..a l1:........us at (~--- TOP GLOBAL MUSIC & AUDIO SUPPLIERS SALES RANKINGS ¢ PERFORMANCE ¢ PROFILES into its mini-component stereo systems. esoteric, device, but Rob showed them remains honorary chair of G&L. als around the world love what BBE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS making the sound richer and fuller. This Per John's advice, Aiwa marketed the how it could be one of the easiest high­ "For years Leo had been injecting cash does for their sound, and these people COMPANIES ARE technology will be of particular interest feature aggressively in its print and tele­ margin add-on sales a dealer can make." to keep G&L going," Dave recalls. have wide spheres of influence. to the growing number of mobile and vision advertising, stressing that BBE Rob's success, however, presented chal­ "Though we were thrilled at the opportu­ Undoubtedly, the synergy with G&L has IMPRESSED THAT BBE IS nightclub DJs who are working with technology, used by musicians and sound lenges of another sort. "The technology nity, it was a daunting challenge because played an important role." IMMERSED IN THE MUSIC MP3." He adds that today's car Ilidio professionals around the world, was now was still in its infancy," Dave explains, we couldn't continue to absorb the loss­ Dave adds, "Managers at consumer COMMUNITY, BUILDING market is influenced by hip-hop 'ulllll , available to consumers in home audio. "and the early pro m.i. units had some es as Leo had. We had to move fast." But electronics companies appreciate that " BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENTS so the DJs and remix artists wh< II l Aiwa's sales, profits, and stock price performance and reliability issues." with diligence and marketing savvy, BBE is immersed in the music commu­ WHICH INSPIRE MUSI­ BBE sound enhancement processors w; II soared, and its annual report cited BBE Fortunately, in 1990 Paul Gagon, who G&L became a success for BBE Sound nity, building beautiful instruments that inspire musicians, making equipment CIANS, MAKING EQUIP­ be significant to the brand's car audit, High Definition Sound as a major con­ brought engineering experience from on many levels. BBE gained sales vol­ licensees. tributor to the company's turnaround. CBS and Fender, came on board and dra­ ume and strength with reps and dealers that heightens the thrill of live perform­ MENT THAT HEIGHTENS Several years ago BBE's managemenl Consumer electronics companies licens­ matically improved the products." because G&L guitars were sold largely ances and captures more nuance and THE THRILL OF LIVE team resolved to grow the BBE brand in ing BBE sound improvement technology Though sales were growing, so were through the same distribution channels detail in recorded works. By the nature PERFORMANCES the m.i. market by venturing into areal'; now include Alpine, Clarion, JYC, expenses. Faced with the difficulty of as BBE's m.i. products. of our activities, the message heard by that, in Dave's words, "are a significant Samsung, LG, Panasonic, Sony, Philips, supporting the company with just two Economies of scale were realized in the licensees is, 'Who would know more anywhere there is amplified sound. The departure from BBE's high-tech prod­ Pioneer, Sanyo, Sharp, and Toshiba.

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