Bang & Olufsen have announced an expansion of their relationship with Origin Acoustics at CEDIA 2022; Origin has been named the U.S. Brand Manager for Bang & Olufsen’s full range of products; which includes BeoPlay headphones, BeoVision televisions, BeoSound speakers and soundbars, and BeoAmp amplifiers.
The Bang & Olufsen announcement comes only a few days after a disappointing “preliminary” financial statement from the Danish manufacturer which saw sales decline over the past 12 months due to supply chain issues and inflationary pressures.
The upside for Bang & Olufsen is that they get to tap into Origin Acoustics’ network of custom integrators, who will gain access to sell Bang & Olufsen’s full product line; extending their existing relationship beyond architectural speakers.
What consumers may not be aware of is that Origin Acoustics has been the designer of Bang & Olufsen’s Celestial in-ceiling speakers and Palatial in-wall speakers since 2016.
“Not every Origin dealer will be signed up. We don’t want to dilute the market,” says Origin Acoustics CEO Nick Berry, adding that dealers will be vetted, first by Origin and then by Bang & Olufsen, for this opportunity to be labeled as Bang & Olufsen Custom Technology Integrators (CTI).
Berry says the selected integrators will be those that serve high net-worth individuals with a certain level of service. Those integrators will also receive additional training and marketing support.
Moreover, the selection criteria will also be cognizant to not bring on too many new dealers that are geographically close to existing Bang & Olufsen Monobrand retail stores in the U.S. where the market does not warrant it. After that initial round of selections, Berry says Origin Acoustics will be looking for potential soft spots in the market, if any, to fill in any gaps.
The two brands will continue to collaborate on new product development opportunities and additional verticals within the U.S. market.
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ORT
October 8, 2022 at 1:17 am
I must admit that the ONLY thing I find attractive by B&O is their beautimus Beoplay HX in the tan colour. They are pretty but not nearly so “Myrna Loy” as are the stunning Focal Bathysfears…Talk about “Classic” good looks on those ‘phones! Style is back in style. Now if only we can lose Harry Styles…total gnu. Yuck. But…I digress.
I know…I know…B&O are Avante-Gardeners but if they want to grow their customer base might I suggest looks more flower than fertilizer?
How was that for my take on Cashew Haggis?! HUZZAH!! And thank you for the help, Sir Brian of the House of Mitchell! I very much appreciate it.
Enough ramblin’…
ORT
Ian White
October 8, 2022 at 5:55 pm
ORT,
B&O is making some really nice products right now — minus the TVs which are rebadged products in a fancier box. We’ve heard some of their wireless speakers and they are both very attractive and quite solid performers. I was shocked to see one the wireless speakers in my local Verizon phone store.
Ian White
ORT
October 8, 2022 at 9:30 pm
Hi Ian –
So then, would you say they are getting better all the time? 🙂 I trust your judgment as it is far more sound than my own but as I often say, I have my druthers…
So long as B&O discontinue teh Design by Yoko Ono looking look, I may give them a looksee. One day. When they become affordable to a non-bespoke individual such as I.
ORT