EDGE Groups Electronic Lane Co-Sponsors New Consumer Electronics Expo in Dallas

Electronic Lane has announced it expects to see a full house for Consumer Electronics Expo 2005, a significant new regional tradeshow for custom installation and electronics dealers, beginning here today. The show, being held at the Marriott Quorum Hotel, runs through April 24.

Enjoying strong sales for its premiere event, Consumer Electronics Expo 2005 offers dealers information-critical seminars and training sessions, access to factory representatives, special show prices, and an exhibition of the newest innovations and top brands from 70 leading manufacturers of home and mobile electronics products. About 300 dealers are committed to attend, along with nearly 1,300 attendees.

Electronic Lane, a division of Dobbs-Standard Corp. and a member of The EDGE Group, is one of a trio of Dallas-area distributors jointly sponsoring the new Consumer Electronics Expo. The other distributors are Sunbelt Associates & Distributing and Southwest Electronix. The EDGE Distributors Group consists of 12 regional distributors primarily serving the premium custom installation market and select retailers.

“We’re very pleased to have this opportunity to show dealers the exciting lines that are available in their market, and to demonstrate the level of training and support we’re also able to provide,” said Woody Taylor, Electronic Lane’s Executive Vice President. “We sincerely hope everyone will want to come back, and we’re doing our best to make sure they do.”

Consumer Electronics Expo 2005 evolved from a series of smaller dealer shows presented in previous years by each of the individual sponsors. This year, said Mr. Taylor, “We decided to do it together to create a better value for our manufacturers and our dealers.” Electronic Lane distributes to and supports dealers throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

A major highlight of the show will be the exhibition area featuring hundreds of product displays and offerings. In the Home Electronics area, manufacturers exhibiting products include Atlas Sound, AudioSource, Boston Acoustics, Cascade Audio Engineering, CE Labs, Channel Vision, Circle, F-Conn Industries, Harman/Kardon, Isotec, Jamo, JBL, JVC, Kenwood, NEC, Optoma, Panamax, Parasound, Peerless, Pioneer, Russound, Zenith, Sonance, Sunbelt Speakers, TEAC, TechCraft, Terk, Ultralink Home Theatre, Vantage Point, ViewSonic, Xantech and Yamaha.

On the Mobile Electronics side, top exhibitors include AudioBahn, Boston Acoustics, Cerwin-Vega, Clarion, Delphi, Diamond Audio Technology, Dynamat, Earthquake, Infinity, JBL, Kenwood, Luxma, Metra, Monster, Pioneer, Precision Interface Electronics, ProBox, Rosen Entertainment Systems, Q Logic, Scosche Industries and Soundkase. Also present will be the Ford Bronco car audio competition rig created for the legendary Alma Gates and Team JBL.

Throughout the show, a variety of seminars and training sessions will be available to participants, including product trainings by Autotek, Boston Acoustics Car Audio, Clarion, Kenwood, Russound and Xantech. In the evenings, dealers will be invited to informal gatherings in distributor-sponsored suites.

Diversions include a Casino Night on Apr. 23, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, a global leader in the fight against breast cancer through innovative research and community-based outreach programs. In addition, a number of prizes will be given to attendees, including, as grand prize, an all-expenses paid trip for two to Cozumel, Mexico.

Dealers and attendees may still register for Consumer Electronics Expo 2005 by contacting Electronic Lane at 888-584-5678 or 214-956-0555.

About The EDGE Group
Founded in 1999, the EDGE Group (www.edgegroup.org) consists of 12 regional distributors that primarily serve the premium U.S. custom installation market and select retailers. EDGE Group partners sell and support products aimed at residential value-added installers and specialty retailers. They encourage growth by their members and customers alike by carefully evaluating, then bringing to market the finest installation products available — emphasizing those that are reliable, innovative and exciting. Product lines the EDGE Group distributes and supports includes Channel Vision, D-Tools, Focalpoint, Isotec, NEC, Peerless Industries, Optoma, and F-Conn Industries.