Parent Company’s Support and Resources Have Contributed to Significant Growth While AVAD’s Personal Approach to Business Remains the Same
Van Nuys, Calif. — September 14, 2006 — One year after being acquired by Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the world’s largest technology distributor, AVAD, America’s leading distributor of custom home electronics, has dramatically expanded its product offerings, locations and services as a direct result of the acquisition — while maintaining the local flavor and personalized approach to business that has always been an AVAD trademark.
Three new AVAD distribution centers have been opened in Woburn, Mass., Austin, Texas, and Tampa, Fla., with six more locations slated to open by October 2006, bringing the total to 36. The new AVAD facilities slated to open in October are: Las Vegas, Nev.; San Jose, Calif.; downtown Chicago, Ill.; Raleigh, N.C., Richmond, Va. and Philadelphia, Pa.
Expansion has not been limited to the increase in the number of distribution centers – AVAD has grown and refined itself throughout all aspects of operation. Substantial increases to total staffing have enhanced dealer service; a large number of important new brands have been added to the available product line-up — including Toshiba, JVC, iPort, Niveus Media, Gefen, Niles, Goo Systems and OmniMount. AVAD’s Dealer to Builder program — which brings together builders and system integrators for their mutual benefit to address the burgeoning demand for sophisticated home technology systems — has been expanded substantially, with thousands of new installations underway.
Additionally, AVAD has been able to offer more educational training to the industry, such as CEDIA installer classes, designer ‘Boot Camps’ and more overall product training classes on a day-to-day basis to AVAD dealers in locations across the United States.
Coupled with the growth in all areas of the company, there has been a refinement of structural and operating systems that have increased efficiency and allowed the company to function as a more unified distribution unit. The service and underlying philosophies of AVAD, such as selective distribution, extensive professional training and certification, and personalized service has remained the same — continuing to distinguish AVAD from other home technology distributors.
The acquisition by Ingram Micro has only enhanced AVAD’s resources and their ability to respond to dealer’s needs.
“Our first year under Ingram Micro has proven to be everything we had hoped for, and the synergy between parent and subsidiary has been of great benefit to our employees, affiliates, customers and manufacturer partners,” said Bob Gartland, president and principal founder of AVAD. “AVAD has continued to operate as a separate business unit, maintaining its previous value proposition and brand, while Ingram Micro has provided enhancements in key support areas, such as finance, human resources and information systems. The rate of expansion of our capabilities and reach across the electronic systems contractor base would not have been possible without Ingram Micro’s support and we here at AVAD could not be more pleased and optimistic going forward.”
In Brief: Release Summary
• AVAD celebrates first anniversary of acquisition by Ingram Micro.
• First year under Ingram Micro has been one of dramatic growth in all aspects of AVAD’s operation.
• Ingram Micro has enhanced finance, human resources and information systems.
• The service and underlying philosophies of AVAD, such as selective distribution, extensive professional training and certification and personalized service has remained the same.
• Three new distribution centers have opened with six more slated for this year.
• Many important new brands have been added to the AVAD roster
• Significant increase in total number of AVAD employees.
• AVAD’s D2B program has substantially expanded.
• AVAD’s training programs have substantially expanded.
About AVAD, LLC
AVAD, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ingram Micro, Inc., is the most complete home integration solutions provider in the United States. Its in-depth technology offering of the most trusted names and progressive continuing education programs provide all the support necessary to design and implement complete home solutions. AVAD stocks products for home theater, lighting controls, distributed audio/video, central vacuum, and more for just-in-time delivery from each of its 31 + locations nationwide. With complete technical training and certification for industry hallmarks like CEDIA’s Installer Level I and Level II Certification, AVAD is unparalleled in its commitment to expanding dealers’ bottom line.
AVAD exemplifies this concept with the Dealer to Builder (D2B) program, which links members of its 9000+ dealer corps with homebuilders across the United States to outfit new homes with in-demand, cutting-edge electronic systems.
AVAD is dedicated to dealer education, training and skill advancement, as evident by AVAD University’s over 450 online and classroom continuing education classes held each year.
Product lines that AVAD distributes and supports include: Acme Brackets, APC, Aprilaire, Artison, Atlantic Technology, Belden, Bose, Carlon, ChannelPlus, Coleman Cable, H-P Products/Dirt Devil Central Vacuum Systems, D-Link, Draper, Fujitsu, Gefen, Goo Systems, Harman Kardon, InFocus ScreenPlay, iPort, JVC Professional Products Company, Key Digital, Lutron, Marantz, Middle Atlantic Products, Inc., NetStreams, Niles Audio, Niveus Media, OmniMount, OnQ Technologies, OpenHouse,
Panamax, Panasonic Phones, Peerless, Philips, Polk Audio, PROconnect, ProFlex, RTI, Samsung, Sharp, SharpVision, Spaun USA, Terk, Toshiba, Universal Electronics, Universal Remote Control, and more.
In July 2005, AVAD was acquired by Ingram Micro, Inc., making its parent company the leading distributor for solution providers and custom integrators serving the fast-growing consumer electronics and home automation markets in the United States.
For more information about AVAD and its services, visit its website at www.avad.com.
