For further information contact:
David Levy
Merchant Mechanics, LLC
603-643-5454
dlevy@merchantmechanics.com
The Sound Of Sales
Merchant Mechanics and Stiernberg Consulting Team Up to Provide the Commercial
Sound Industry with Groundbreaking Research on the Impact of High Quality Sound
Systems on Shopping Behavior.
West Lebanon, NH - October 1, 2003 - Merchant Mechanics, the pioneer of Retail Forensics®, today announces a collaborative research program with Stiernberg Consulting, the Sherman Oaks, California based strategic planning consultancy. The objective of this collaboration is to provide the commercial sound industry (comprised of audio equipment manufacturers, audio content/programming providers, systems contractors, and trade associations) with never-before-seen empirical data on the impact of high quality sound systems on in-store shopping behaviors.
As part of the collaborative agreement between the two firms, Merchant Mechanics will manage the planning and execution of the in-store research program, to be conducted in select retail locations that are representative of mainstream commercial sound applications. Multiple store formats within each of two market sectors will be tested. Stiernberg Consulting will serve as the primary liaison to the electronic systems industry, provide pertinent industry-centric interpretation of final results, and direct the educational and marketing components of the research initiative. The research is scheduled to begin in the 4th quarter of 2003. Top line results of the history-making study will be made available throughout 2004 at major retail and audio industry trade events including SPECS, GlobalShop, NSCA Expo 04 and the IBMA annual conference.
"We are very excited by the keen interest the commercial sound industry has displayed toward our forthcoming research program. The resulting report will fuel significant education and exposure for the industry regarding the application of premium sound systems in retail settings, " states Matthew Tullman, President of Merchant Mechanics. "Retailers will benefit greatly from a better understanding of the ROI generated from the use of high quality audio systems to improve their customers' in-store experience."
John Stiernberg, president of Stiernberg Consulting remarks, "This groundbreaking research will provide the hard evidence this industry needs to support its case for the benefits of high quality audio in retail settings. Up until now, there has only been anecdotal evidence that investment in premium audio systems pays off for the retailer. Results of this project will reinforce the use of quality audio as a key design tool for retailers. We aim to prove unequivocally that progressive retailers can confidently offer a better, differentiated brand experience in their stores and restaurants by upgrading their systems."
"This study is long overdue", says Dan Hart, president of the International Business Music Association (IBMA). "Our members--including both business music contractors and equipment suppliers, have seen a groundswell of demand from retailers for better quality systems in recent years. With the kind of additional data that this study will provide, our industry will be in a better position to not only sell more systems, but serve our customers at the high level that they deserve. We're behind this 100%."
Chuck Wilson, executive director of the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) comments, "We're excited to be supporting this research on quality audio systems in the retail market. We feel that when retailers understand the bottom-line benefits of quality electronic systems, there will be increased awareness and demand for what our industry can provide. We believe that this project will help spawn increased market opportunities for the low voltage systems industry."
To learn more about participation or publication opportunities, please contact David Levy of Merchant Mechanics (dlevy@merchantmechanics.com) or John Stiernberg of Stiernberg Consulting (john@stiernberg.com).
About Merchant Mechanics
Merchant Mechanics is a leading observational research firm serving retailers,
retail fixture manufacturers and consumer product manufacturers throughout North
America. Merchant Mechanics is the pioneer of Retail Forensics®, a proprietary
research service used for precisely evaluating and explaining in-store customer
behavior. Founded in 2000, the company specializes in empirically testing the
detailed interactions between shoppers, merchandise, and selling environments.
Merchant Mechanics is on-line at: www.merchantmechanics.com.
About Stiernberg Consulting
Founded in 1993, Stiernberg Consulting provides strategic planning and market
intelligence services to the converging entertainment technology and electronic
systems industry worldwide. The company specializes in serving the needs of
a highly unique client base consisting of manufacturers, trade associations,
manufacturers rep organizations, systems integration firms, and trade publishers.
Recognized as one of the leading strategic planning consultancies servicing
the industry, Stiernberg Consulting works with clients to self-sufficiently
diversify, seek new opportunities, and thrive in all economic climates through
the implementation of its Applied Strategic Planning and Competitive Market
Intelligence Systems (CMIS). Stiernberg Consulting is on-line at www.stiernberg.com.
About IBMA
The International Business Music Association (IBMA) was founded as a trade association
in 1971 by a group of business music operators as a forum for assistance and
exchange of ideas in the day-to-day operation of the business music industry.
Membership in the IBMA opens the channels to direct, two-way communications
with other top professionals in business music and sound contracting.
About NSCA
The National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) is the leading not-for-profit
association representing the commercial electronic systems industry. With a
slate of more than 2,500 member companies worldwide, the NSCA is a powerful
advocate of all who work within the low-voltage industry, including systems
contractors/integrators, product manufacturers, consultants, sales representatives,
a growing number of architects, specifying engineers and others.