PMC has entered into a strategic alliance with Prism Media Products Inc.(PMPI), the US distribution arm of Prism Sound group. As a result, PMPI will be taking on the combined US distribution operations for PMC Speakers and Prism Sound group, including the recently acquired Imerge media server brand. The new arrangement will provide US customers of PMC and Prism Sound with better access to sales and support across the country, and a single source for a wider range of solutions for music or sound recording & production as well as both speaker and server solutions for the home entertainment market.
The change in USA distribution drives forward PMC’s global expansion plans following recent enhancements to its product lines as well as its international sales & marketing teams. The deal covers all PMC products and market sectors from professional to custom install.
Prism Sound’s recent acquisition of Imerge made joint distribution with PMC an even more attractive proposition, as this award-winning home media server business took the group into the custom install and home entertainment sector, a market that is also of significant importance to PMC.
There will also be benefits for both companies flowing from consolidation of US resources such as sales and technical support staff and marketing costs as well as giving both brands physical presence and visibility on the East and West coasts of America.
The newly-expanded and combined operation will be jointly led by VP sales Maurice Patist and VP operations Janice Norton. PMPI will retain the staff and facilities of both PMC’s Irvine office and PMPI in New Jersey, handling all importation, service, sales and marketing for both brands.
Miles Roberts, managing director of PMC, says: “Combining the expertise of both groups to strengthen our approach to the US market was a natural progression from our recent sales and marketing collaborations with the Prism Sound group. PMC’s long established USA operation allows PMPI to access its group of custom installation and consumer hifi outlets, while the PMPI group takes the PMC product line to a significantly wider client base. The new USA operation will enable us to increase the brand recognition significantly in the USA of both PMC and Prism Sound.”
Graham Boswell, sales and marketing director for Prism Sound group, adds: “There is an obvious synergy between the Prism Sound and PMC product lines, as well as a substantial overlap of customers. This new arrangement will enable the combined team to provide a better service to customers for both brands, and will allow rationalisation of marketing costs and strengthen sales teams within this important territory.
“We are already developing strategies to market Imerge media distribution servers to the custom install and home entertainment markets in the US, both of which are showing signs of recovery after the recent economic downturn. Our ability to offer a range of products including a high quality loudspeaker solution to these markets significantly strengthens our position and our appeal.”