Panasonic Grabs HTSA Awards for Margins, Product and Man of the Year

Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA) announced its eighth annual vendor awards, rewarding vendors for margin support, versatile product lines and reliability. The honors will be distributed at CES next week. Panasonic took overall vendor of the year honors for “outstanding product margins” and going “above and beyond to create a program that all could embrace.” The buying group, comprising specialty and custom dealers, tapped Lutron as custom vendor of the year citing its ability to “consistently manufacture and integrate high-quality lighting systems” and for “great training, bulletproof product and serious in-field representation.” Panasonic’s TC-P65VT25 plasma 3DTV was named product of the year, and Jim Sanduski, senior vice president of sales for Panasonic, was named man of the year for combining “industry intelligence with a soothing demeanor."

Savant Systems, which made a targeted push to the custom channel with its Apple-based home control and automation systems, grew its HTSA business by 586 percent in 2010, HTSA said, nabbing the highest percentage growth award for the year. Consumers can control all aspects of their Savant automation and control systems via iPad or iPhone, it noted.

Sony, which renewed its commitment to the custom channel last summer, received the “most supportive” medal. The company announced in June it had tightened distribution on its high-end ES line and would limit it to specialty audio/video and custom installation dealers capable of demonstrating and educating consumers about the benefits of advanced features. HTSA said Sony has worked to improve customer support -- including a “kind, gentle approach” to customer service -- technical data delivery, management direction and field service.

Sonance’s Visual Performance series of loudspeakers won custom product of the year for combining style with performance and versatility. The in-wall and in-ceiling speakers come in three shapes and quality levels allowing integrators to better match a speaker to the requirements of a project, HTSA said.

Universal Remote Control earned its second straight award for best training program. High margins netted AudioQuest the “most profitable vendor” prize, HTSA said.