Hear that whooshing sound? That’s Northern car audio dealers from the east coast to the mid-west exhaling with relief now that the weather has finally cooperated and remote starters are flying off the shelf.
Car audio dealers from Maine to Michigan reported significantly higher sales over last year, as winter favored them with the ideal remote start scenario—an extended cold snap early in the season.
Remote start supplier Compustar said, “You’re seeing customers that held off on buying a starter last year because of the warm weather showing up in droves at our dealers’ stores. The growth isn’t concentrated either, as we are selling through our entry-level and high end products,” noted Marketing Manager Justin Lee. He said the company is up significantly this year over last.
Audiovox said remote start sales are up by high single digits over last year.
Retailers such as ABC Warehouse in Pontiac, MI, which claims to be one of the largest Directed remote start dealers said its sales are up “a lot.” The gains are enough to bring the whole car audio category for the retailer up slightly for the season (excluding portable navigation devices), said buyer Bob Frazier.
John Samp of ABT, Glenview, IL said, “We’re killing it with remote start. We’re doing anywhere between 30 and 40 a day.” He expects car audio will be up for the season as a result.“ It’s definitely a good end to the year.”
Sound FX of West Warwick, RI is up by 30 percent compared to this time last year. “Last year as of December 26th I was booking [installation appointments for remote start] through the first week of January. We’re already backed up to January 17 and we have 6 more days left of selling,” said Mark D’Elia.
Sanford Sound in Sanford, Maine said sales are up 20 to 25 percent and KustomEis Car Audio of Regina, Canada said sales are up by double digits.
One Northeast retailer said the slower economy overshadowed the weather and sales are tracking below last year.
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