Eastern HiFi extends portfolio with major brands

19 October 2005

Eastern HiFi Group extends portfolio with major brands

Eastern HiFi Group will become the importer and distributor of a range of LCD and plasma flat screen televisions manufactured by Hitachi Consumer Electronics.

Managing director Steve Albury said the group had been seeking for sometime to add a major consumer electronics brand to its portfolio.

“Hitachi audio-visual products were last in this market some years ago and we are delighted to be bringing it back into the NZ market. In the area of plasma panel technology and performance the latest “Alis 3” panels from Hitachi are among the finest in the world.”

A joint venture between Hitachi Japan and Fujitsu Japan pioneered the development of plasma panels. Recently Hitachi has purchased manufacturing facilities from Fujitsu along with the patents for the unique technologies used in the their Plasma Panels.

The flat screen panels plus a range of other Hitachi mainstream consumer electronics such as DVD recorders and DVD Camcorders will be imported and distributed by Eastern Hi Fi Group’s subsidiary Avalon Pacific Marketing. The range will include 15 inch (38 centimetres), 20” (50 cm), 26” (66 cm) 32” (81 cm) and 37” (94 cm) LCD television screens plus 42” (107 cm) and 55” (140 cm) plasma screens.

“This is a significant move which will cement our groups position as the leading mid to high end Audio/Visual importer in New Zealand,” Mr Albury said.

In addition Avalon-Pacific Marketing has also been appointed the New Zealand Distributor for Dynaudio Loudspeakers from Denmark. This mid to high end speaker brand will complement its already strong speaker brand line up (KEF, Polk Audio and Tannoy) and will enable the company to help its specialist retailers differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace.

To fill the increasing demand for Hard Drive music and video systems Avalon-Pacific Marketing is also pleased to announce the additions of Hifidelio Pro (Germany) – a Wireless 160GB Music Server along with the Acoustic Solutions brand (UK) who produce a budget lineup of Hi-fi components including a very competitively priced 40GB CD-hard drive Jukebox.

Both the Acoustic Solutions 40Gb SP150 Jukebox and the 160GB Hifidelio are targeted at the growing market for MP3 and iPod compatible music systems.

The Hifidelio PRO is capable of burning play-lists to blank CDs for replay in car systems compatible with MP3 playback and also direct to iPods. This unit is also “Wifi” capable and can send streamed music wirelessly to slave units throughout a home.

“The group expects significant demand for these products in the next twelve months, “ Mr Albury said.

All four new brands will be released into the New Zealand market before Christmas 2005 and are expected to enhance group profitability as demand grows.

In a move designed to bring New Zealand in line with other Asia/Oceania countries Avalon-Pacific Marketing has agreed to transfer the specialist DJ range of products from Denon PRO/DJ to Audio Products Group Pty Ltd.

Avalon-Pacific Marketing will continue to be the exclusive distributor of Denon Consumer Electronics throughout New Zealand.

Mr Albury said the change comes as result of the restructuring of the Asia/Pacific region instigated by the supplier of Denon Pro and Marantz Pro, D & M Holdings Singapore Pty Ltd.

“This will allow Eastern Hifi Group to concentrate its business activities in the consumer electronics sector of the industry and move away from the DJ segment which has quite a different distribution channel.”

Eastern HiFi Group currently has the distribution rights to the following brands:
Denon Consumer Electronics, KEF Loudspeakers, Polk Audio Loudspeakers, Tannoy Loudspeakers, Arcam Hifi, Musical Fidelity Hifi, Russound Custom Installation Electronics, Biema PRO Audio, Audioquest cables, Straightwire cables, B-Tech TV and Speaker brackets and stands, Goldring Accessories, and Remaco Remote Controls and Projector Screens.

In addition Eastern HiFi Group operates 10 of its own stores and a custom Audio/Visual Installation division.

ENDS

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