Zulte, Belgium, April 24, 2006 – Tom Vanthuyne and Wim De Vos, combining 30 years of experience with leading brands such as BARCO, BANG & OLUFSEN, CineVERSUM and the Image Science Foundation, joined hands as T+W Marketing to supply marketing services to premium Consumer Electronics manufacturers that want to serve the specialist reseller/custom installer channel in Europe.
Said Wim De Vos, founding partner and Director of Marketing & Sales : “Every CE manufacturer trying to maximize profitability, brand equity and customer satisfaction is looking at the custom channel. Custom installers and specialist resellers themselves embrace these visionary manufacturers that focus on custom install in terms of product, sales and marketing. Through this perfect match, premium brands are born and built.”
While still relatively small in Europe, the custom installation industry in the US has blossomed into a multibillion dollar industry the last 10 years. As the industry’s size changed, so did key players and distribution channels. More companies and installers entered the market, new distribution channels opened up, and ever more Asian manufacturers produce exquisite CE products, all creating new opportunities and new challenges.
T+W Marketing sees a similar scenario happening in Europe but with some important differences. Said Tom Vanthuyne, founding partner and Director of Technology: “An almost excessive demand for HDTV and flat-screens in Europe, combined with an increasing digital convergence in the home will result in a much more exponential growth in a market everyone is trying to capture first.”
Adds De Vos: “Europe now really works as one single economic zone albeit with important language and cultural differences. This new European reality, together with the recent advantages in communication and internet tools allow for a new and more competitive business model for companies wanting to cater the European custom install market.”
Marketing strategy, accuracy in implementation and a strategic fit between manufacturing and channel partners will decide on winners and losers. T+W Marketing aims to make Europe accessible to those visionary companies that want to capitalize on these trends by supplying services that include Distribution Strategy and Set-up, Sales & Marketing Management, Product Management, and Technical & Commercial Training.
Contact: press@tw-marketing.com