Following the acquisition of the Imerge media server brand in the UK, the Prism Sound group has entered into another important strategic alliance: Prism Media Products Inc. (PMPI), the group’s U.S. distribution business, has taken on the combined U.S. distribution operations for PMC Speakers and Prism Sound group. PMC manufactures loudspeaker systems and is based in Luton, UK, while Prism Sound manufactures audio interfaces and processors, home media servers and industrial-grade audio test and measurement equipment, and is based in Cambridge, UK.
Graham Boswell (left), sales and marketing director for Prism Sound group, and Miles Roberts, managing director of PMC
This distribution deal covers all PMC products and market sectors from professional to custom install.
The change in U.S. distribution meets with PMC’s global expansion plans following recent enhancements to its product lines as well as its international sales and marketing teams.
Prism Media Products states that the new arrangements will offer U.S. customers better access to sales and support of Prism Sound and PMC products across the country for the professional audio and home entertainment markets.
Both companies say they will benefit from consolidation of U.S. resources, such as sales and technical support staff and marketing costs, and that both brands will have a physical presence and visibility on the East and West Coasts of the U.S.
VP of Sales Maurice Patist and VP of Operations Janice Norton will jointly lead the newly expanded and combined operation. PMPI will retain the staff and facilities of both PMC’s Irvine, Calif., office and PMPI in Rockaway, N.J, handling all importation, service, sales and marketing for both brands.
Graham Boswell, sales and marketing director for Prism Sound group, says, “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 rationalization of marketing costs and strengthen sales teams within this important territory.”
Miles Roberts, managing director of PMC, adds: “Combining the expertise of both groups to strengthen our approach to the U.S. 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 hi-fi outlets, while the PMPI group takes the PMC product line to a significantly wider client base. The new USA operation will enable us to significantly increase the brand recognition in the USA of both PMC and Prism Sound.”
Both Prism Sound and PMC have previously cooperated on ventures such as Prism Sound’s Mic To Monitor tours, sponsorship of the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing’s 2010 Grammy Week event, and the UK Music Producers Guild Awards.
Prism Sound states that its 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.”
“We are already developing strategies to market Imerge media distribution servers to the custom install and home entertainment markets in the U.S., both of which are showing signs of recovery after the recent economic downturn,” Boswell says. “Our ability to offer a range of products, including a high quality loudspeaker solution to these markets, significantly strengthens our position and our appeal.”
Boswell adds that the combination of new products in the pipeline and new sales opportunities will enable the Prism Sound group to maintain the rapid growth curve it has experienced year on year since 2005.
“We are very excited about the future and the possibilities that this new distribution deal brings,” Boswell concludes. “Prism Sound and PMC have similar business philosophies and have enjoyed a close relationship for some time. This new arrangement will bring the companies even closer and ensure a whole host of benefits to our collective U.S. customer base.”
For more information, visit www.prismsound.com and www.pmc-speakers.com.
