Distributor of Custom Home Electronics Bringing Unique Blend of Best Brands, In-Depth Training and Superior Service to Growing Market of Canadian Custom Installers
Van Nuys, Calif. — September 6, 2007 — AVAD, LLC, the industry’s leading distributor of custom home electronics, announced today that the company is officially expanding its operations to Canada. With this launch, AVAD will service a growing community of Canadian custom installers and retailers — two groups poised to service one of the fastest growing CI markets in the world, according to industry analysts. The grand opening of the first AVAD facility in Toronto is slated for November 2007, with an additional branch in Calgary scheduled to open in 2008.
Unlike other distributors on the Canadian CI scene, AVAD brings the industry’s most respected and recognized brands, in-depth product and category training, the widest selection in various disciplines (audio, video, lighting controls, home automation and more) and an expert sales staff to give live integration, system design, application and technical support.
“AVAD’s Canadian market entry is something we’ve had our eye on for some time,” said Bob Gartland, president of AVAD. “We are committed to serving Canadian installers with our unique business model that includes the best brands, regular dealer training and facilities that help our customers grow their businesses — the same advantages we’ve given the industry for the last nine years.”
AVAD’s Toronto location is a 26,728-square foot facility, which will include approximately 6,000 square feet of showroom space. It will house a classroom training facility, multiple display areas, a dedicated theater room to display AVAD’s latest technologies and products and ample warehouse space — all advantages that are AVAD’s trademark. These are attributes that made AVAD the number one choice for custom installers across the United States. The same is expected for Canada.
Another focal point of AVAD’s new Toronto facility is the accessibility it will provide to dealers. Local dealers will have a convenient pick-up area, and AVAD will also be able to ship products to dealers in the eastern Canadian markets from there.
To spearhead this effort, Deena Ghazarian, a sales and marketing powerhouse who has driven the growth of companies like Monster Cable and Replay TV, has been named Project Director for AVAD-Canada. Ghazarian will lead AVAD’s market entry and execution, focusing on building strong B2B relationships with dealers, while affording AVAD vendors the ability to expand their presence in the Canadian marketplace.
Jake Bailey, who formerly managed the AVAD Chesterfield, Mo. branch in the U.S., has been named Branch Manager for the first AVAD-Canada Toronto location. With many years of AVAD experience, Bailey will apply his expertise in launching new branches for the debut of the Toronto facility. He plans to build a team that will serve Canada’s custom installation community with the same attention to service displayed throughout other North American locations.
AVAD’s Toronto facility is located at 205 Courtney Park Drive, Suite 103 in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information, visit www.avadcanada.ca.
In Brief: Release Summary
• AVAD is expanding to Canada to service the country’s growing community of CI installers.
• The first AVAD location will open in Toronto in November 2007.
• Deena Ghazarian, a sales and marketing powerhouse who has driven the growth of companies like Monster Cable and Replay TV, has been named Project Director for Canada.
• Jake Bailey, who formerly manned the AVAD Chesterfield, Mo. branch in the U.S., has been named Branch Manager for the new AVAD-Canada Toronto branch.
• AVAD will bring to Canada the industry’s best product and category training, the most respected and recognized brands in the industry, a variety of product disciplines, a knowledgeable sales staff and robust facilities.
About AVAD, LLC
AVAD, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ingram Micro, Inc., is the most complete home integration solutions provider in North America, now expanding to Canada. Its in-depth technology offering of the most trusted brands and progressive continuing education programs provide all the support necessary to design and implement complete home electronic systems solutions. AVAD stocks products for home theater, lighting controls, distributed audio/video, central vacuum and more. AVAD also provides just-in-time delivery from each of its locations nationwide.
AVAD is dedicated to dealer education, training and skill advancement, as evidenced by AVAD University’s over 450 online and classroom continuing education classes held each year.
By partnering with CEDIA for key industry training courses such as Installer Level I and II Certification, Designer Boot Camps and Home Theater Workshops, AVAD is unparalleled in its commitment to the betterment of the industry and the dealer’s bottom line.
AVAD exemplifies this concept with the Dealer to Builder (D2B) program, which links highly-trained and qualified members of its 9,000+ dealer corps with homebuilders to outfit new homes with in-demand, cutting-edge electronic systems.
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 North America.
For more information about AVAD, visit www.avad.com. For more information about AVAD-Canada, visit www.avadcanada.ca.
