www.theaterxtreme.com

I was wondering if anyone else was seeing this or any other custom franchises popping up in their area and what it meant for the business.

They opened their first franchise down the street from where I currently work and they are really going after the low end theaters/media rooms. I've seen one of their installs and it was a fairly predictable slap it in and go affair. Their "custom" screen was really something to behold.

On the one hand, I could care less if they take this business price point from us. Most of their customers can't afford our rates or product lines. But, then again, neither can I. On the other hand, their business model depresses my enthusiasm for what I do and I'm not sure why.

Anyway, just thought I point out what was showing up in my neighborhood. Check out their website, they're expanding -- maybe to your neighborhood.

I just love how everything today is "extreme" or if you are really hip it is "Xtreme". It all makes me want to take an extremely large poop on those wild and crazy marketing guys that do it xtremely well!

I think it is the natural evolution of the turn-key basement remodeler idiots...

"You can have a theater in YOUR basement in 2 weeks!!"
"Six months same as cash financing, or we can assist you with a tax deductible home equity loan!!"
"Increase your home's value!!"
"More useful than an inground pool with a lot less maintenence required, for less money!!"

My friend and I thought this would be a good idea like 10 years ago...
If only I could clone myself, I could take advantage of every good idea I have...

Anyone want to buy my business plan??

Don't forget Home Depot and their Expo locations, they now sell "home Theatres"

Hey look! They are a CEDIA member!

Oh yeah, and I pay like $700 because we technically have two addresses...

Do you think Best Buy, Home Depot, etc. pay extra dues for all 12,000 (slightly exagerrated) locations they have??

I think there is a place for these people...and ultimately it will make us all look better!

That's what we retailers thought about the big box stores getting more serious about 10-15 years ago.

1) BB, CC, and the now defunct Electric Ave. started to apporach critical mass.
2) Large regional multi-store companies like Tweeter, United Audio, Douglas TV, Audio King, Ultimate, Good Guys, Magnolia, Hi-Fi Buys, Sound Advice, Harvey's, etc. started sharpening their business acumen and eventually buying each other and forming the Tweeter goliath of today.
3) TV & appliance giants like Nebraska Furniture Mart, American TV, HH Gregg, and Abt TV all started taking their electronics departments much more seriously and attaching electronics and speakers to their big screen sales. And the they got the lines that we created the demand for (see #4)
4) The reps and manufacturers saw a pot-o-gold at the end of the rainbow and sold every line in their folder into every National or Regional powerhouse seller that was in their territory.

I'm sure the Minnesota reps drive NICE cars and live in NICE homes because of the Best Buy deals. So what if the Audio King money goes to Denver now?... they have the Big Blue Box to make up for it.

Oh, as a small side note, what happened to the indie retailer that helped get the manufacturers off the ground, and developed the demand for these brands in each market across the country??

They got STOMPED INTO THE MUD but nobody really cared.

The ones who saw the ship was sinking started doing more custom, but then the bread-n-butter custom lines got whored out to anyone with a pulse that decides to stop washing cars or mowing lawns and be a custom installer.

Am I bitter??
Not really.
I really do love this industry, I would just like to see more integrity.

This message was edited by 2nd rick on 04/29/05 01:47 ET.

Maybe.

If it doesn't 'burn out' the client on the whole industry!!!

If they end up with a poorly setup system they may think that "I bought a great system and, it's a POS!"

"what a waste of money this 'home theater' scam is"!!!

Thank God for the positive 'word of mouth' Advertising a good installer can create!

I dont believe that these low end clowns are a threat at all. I believe the more exposure the industry gets, good and bad, is good for an industry as a whole. The guys that give a sh*t about finished product and happy customers will always come out on top in th end.

I had a similar situation many years ago. I company came in and tried to copy everything that I was doing. They had very deep pockets, but had no clue what people really wanted. They lasted about 6-8 months and did not affect my businees one bit!

This (and JBJ Systems post) is so true. I will, where possible, help someone out who has genuinely been caught out by all the hype, and there is a lot out there too, unfortuneatly there isn't enough hours in the day to go around for all of them. The people who go out to 'haggle' over price, get what they deserve, and as has been said before, as a C.I., once you touch it, you own it! Those people Never seem to lose your number. 'Word of Mouth', Good systems, Good reputation - Job Satisfaction
Iain

I wouldn't be so quick to look down your noses at this idea.

After all, not eveyone can afford those "stratospheric" systems!

Apparently there's a large amount of disdain for anyone who sells a system that doesn't have a 5k Creston touch screen remote?

I gather that the popular consensus around here is that the average Joe shouldn't have a home theater at all, since he can't afford to go to the max?

Think about this. There's a LOT more average Joe's in the world than there are filthy rich clients, so a "cookie cutter" systems idea like this should actually do quite well, as long as the plans are laid out in a simple straighforward manner.

Actually, I totally agree.
I was serious when I said I wish I could clone myself to pursue the ideas I have...

I'm not fond of the idea of "cookie-cutter systems". We try to design everything to best fit the needs of the client. With that said, we do systems from a few thousand to whatever the client is willing to spend. Don't look down on the entry level client, someday they just might be an extremely high end client.

We have a company here that won't touch a system unless it's $40k or more. That sure leaves plenty jobs for us to do. :)

Matt

Actually about 60% of the jobs I do are for the average Joe!
While it may not be as prestegious, turn-around is a lot quicker so it's possible to do more of them.Another bonus is the likely reduced amount of headaches.
I love to do the really big jobs but the average Joe is my bread and butter.