I'm a Brit learning the custom install trade in America right now, but I'm thinking about going home again soon.

So, does anyone know of custom installers based in the Birmingham area? Preferably in Brum itself?


(and before you tease me, I don't have a Brummie accent, but I do love Brum :) )

WHY ARE U WANTING TO GO BACK WHERE ARE U NOW

hi mate, im based just up the road in sheffield.

i cant get access to the cedia.co.uk page from work, but there are some links with company listings. i know there's a bloke from manchester on here too... he maybe able to assist?

oh ... if any uk company would like to take on an IT bod wanting to get into the CI industry - give me a shout!

there's also www.avjobs.co.uk.

hope this helps.
Jonathan.

Cheers Jonny, I'll check that out.

Milkman, I was here because I got married, but that's over now, so I'm going back.

so, who on here is in the UK AND a CI? as all the usual posts are from the ladies and gent's accross the pond.

Fisher, if you're back in the UK soon-ish (before June) there is the cedia UK show (in brum), and the smarthome show also in brum next weekend (with cedia hosting some seminars..- for free!)

as far as im aware, this post has had over 100 viewings (less than some of the techy stuff) but yet there's only been two posts from the UK guys and gals.

where abouts in the uk are any of you based?

Regards,
Jonathan.

Yes, I can understand that British house construction doesn't leave much room for cabling and so on, but CEDIA is alive and well in the UK- so someone must be out there!

Someone must be doing this kind of thing in Brum, Solihull is just down the road, plenty of money there.

I think I might make it for CEDIA in Brum, maybe we can meet up jonny, and try to find some CI's in our area?

Hi Guys,

There is at least one other CI from the UK in here.

Cmo, know of any West Mids CI's?

Down in the SE there seems to be a few, but the rest of the country seems bare (which I know is pretty much how Londoners think, but there is life outside of the SE lol).

I've only seen the American side of the market, is the UK side doing well? Are there any specific differences I should know about? What products sell well to the UK market?

Before emigrating to the US, I was in the South West of Scotland and was always kept very busy. I got most of my work referred by an electrical contractor who was involved in high end residential homes.

Biggest problem I found was that homeowners were really ill informed, and I'd be a rich man if I got a penny for every time I heard "Ooh, I didn't know that was possible".

Specific differences?

1 .Space! - None of the homes I was involved with in the UK had any kind of basement, so theater installation was fairly non-existent. Most of my work was in distributed audio.

2. Weather! - Too darned cold over there for me to go back for anything other than a short vacation.

hi fisher,

yeah, if you're going to be about for cedia UK, let me know (feel free to email me on: jonathan.tawn 'at' gmail.com)

as far as im aware (and being a fulltime IT bod doesnt give me anywhere near enough time!) the UK market is on a steady boom, there's a lot more spare cash around in the cities. and there is a LOT of regeneration going on (especially in sheffield, infact, anywhere!!!) i had a chat with a guy who runs a bems (building energy management systems) co' not too far away, he seems to be getting more offers of work for HA stuff.

as dadio mentions, the biggest problem here is people know NOTHING about HA. they still think cinema means widescreen tv in the corner of the room and a HTIB. but, this is changing, footballers wives (godawful tv program) and the like are now featuring smart homes - all in the bid to promote this upcoming technology.

on a lighter note, ive just been shopping around for clipsal cbus kit (online) and if i buy a couple of saturn switches, an 8ch dimmer and a pc interface, its going to bust my bank out of: £1017. however, if i choose to buy from aus, i can pick it up for £614 + shipping. i cannot beleive how much cheaper it is!!

the biggest boom in sales has to be plasma & lcd tv's.

regards,
Jonathan

Cheers again Jonathon, I'll be emailing you soon.

What I think I may have to end up doing is finding a TV retailer / installer in Brum, and trying to expand their install business. I can make it happen, but I'd rather find someone who already sees the CI market potential for themselves.

When you get back email me. we have a custom install business in the birmingham Area. we have an excellent A/V and multiroom business although i have to say we have nothing to do with CEDIA
regards

David Stephens

Thanks David, will do. Any particular reason you don't have anything to do with CEDIA? Just wondering.