For integration businesses, reliability and reputation are inexorably intertwined. Xavier VanHaasen, co-owner of XYZ Innovative Design, built his business by finding technology partners that offer not only hardware and software but also a partnership mentality.
Based in Dallas, Texas, XYZ Innovative Design has made its name in the hospitality sector. Specializing in bars, restaurants, clubs and more, the company has grown into a thriving $2 million integration business that handles 50-plus projects per year. The company’s portfolio spans the country, ranging from local Texas hotspots to high-profile venues in Disney World, Chicago and beyond.
Of course, managing complex AV installations in high-traffic venues requires an outstanding video-distribution backbone. For VanHaasen, that backbone is Just Add Power.
XYZ Innovative Design: Building a Hospitality Powerhouse
VanHaasen’s journey began in 2009 with his original company, VanHaasen Design. With a growing client list, he found project demands beginning to outpace his ability to manage them. Fortuitously, he met Abraxas Baker, better known as “AZ,” at a distributor event. At the time, AZ also had his own company.
“And we just clicked,” VanHaasen recalls. “Then, we merged together, and we named it XYZ.” The “X” comes from Xavier, the “Z” comes from AZ and the “Y” comes from the Spanish word for “and.” Together, it spells a perfect pairing.
Since the merger, XYZ Innovative Design has focused heavily on the commercial hospitality space. They deeply understand the unique pressures that venue owners and operators face. Downtime is not an option and ease of use is paramount. Their clients want to control lighting, audio and video seamlessly — often from an iPad or smartphone — without the clunkiness of jumping between different apps.
A Relationship Built on Longevity
With that deep market knowledge and client focus comes discernment when it comes to vendor partners. And that’s where Just Add Power comes into the story.
According to VanHaasen, his relationship with Just Add Power is not a recent development; rather, it’s a longstanding partnership that spans 16 years. VanHaasen discovered Just Add Power early in his career, and he’s stuck with it through AV-over-IP technology’s ongoing evolution.
XYZ Innovative Design’s decision to standardize on equipment from Just Add Power wasn’t simply about familiarity or brand loyalty, though. Instead, it was rooted in the vendor’s consistent reliability, high performance and integrator service.
“Whether our projects were small in scope or large in scale, Just Add Power has delivered the same exceptional level of service,” VanHaasen explains. “Their consistency across the entire range of our work has been truly impressive.” It’s a remarkable observation, and it attests to Just Add Power’s deep dealer commitment and desire to maintain exceptional relationships with their integrator partners.
And loyalty, as always, runs both ways. VanHaasen notes that, although XYZ Innovative Design has experimented with other brands over the years, the results just served to reinforce their commitment to Just Add Power. Other suppliers’ offerings presented limitations in configuration, imposed undesirable network demands or simply weren’t reliable long term, he explains.
“We’ve tested other solutions, but, long term, they didn’t deliver the reliability our clients expect,” VanHaasen says. Citing one competitor, he continues, “Over time, issues would arise, reinforcing the importance of choosing the right platform from the start.” With Just Add Power, he has the exact opposite experience: reliability he can trust.
XYZ Innovative Design: Pillars of Partnership with Just Add Power
For XYZ Innovative Design, the value of Just Add Power rests on key pillars of reliability, scalability, ease of deployment and support.
Reliability
In the hospitality market, AV systems must hold up to long hours and constant use. A system failure during a major sporting event or a busy Friday night would reflect poorly on the venue and, by extension, on the integrator. VanHaasen emphasizes that Just Add Power’s unassailable reputation for uptime is one primary reason that XYZ Innovative Design continues to specify the gear.
In the hospitality market, AV systems must hold up to constant use. A system failure during a major sporting event or a busy Friday night would reflect poorly on the venue and, by extension, on the integrator. Photo courtesy of XYZ Innovative Design.
According to VanHaasen, “Almost every one of our commercial venues uses Just Add Power. They’re time-tested.” He continues, “We have some venues that still have the old 2G equipment that Just Add Power doesn’t make anymore. They’re rock solid.”
This reliability extends to compatibility with various displays, as well. “When we integrate TVs, Just Add Power works across the various brands we use,” VanHaasen enthuses. “I’m not afraid that an off-brand TV is not going to work. Just Add Power comes through with their technology and ease of use.”
Ease of Deployment and Use
Integrators know that time is money. Systems that are complex to configure or difficult to train end users on eat into profitability and hamper client satisfaction. And that’s another reason that XYZ Innovative Design is loyal to Just Add Power: Its approach to AV-over-IP minimizes the complexity of networked video. This simplicity is crucial not only for the technicians installing the gear but also for the bartenders and managers operating the systems every night. XYZ Innovative Design prides itself on offering centralized control, and Just Add Power integrates seamlessly into that ecosystem.
“We know Just Add Power works, and we know the solutions to employ,” VanHaasen declares. “If anything happens, we can fix it on the spot, and it’s not complicated.”
Superior Support and Training
Even with the most reliable solutions portfolio, vendor support is non-negotiable for integrators. VanHaasen highlights that Just Add Power’s support team is accessible and effective. “When you call the support team, they answer,” VanHaasen says with a chuckle that reflects the fact that not every vendor clears this hurdle.
“Basically, if I have a problem, and I’m on the phone with technical, they’re able to VPN, assess the issue and recommend solutions,” he continues. “And usually, they’re spot on.”
Furthermore, for integrators new to Just Add Power’s orbit, the company provides the necessary scaffolding in the form of education and training to ensure their success.
“If you’re new to Just Add Power, they have great opportunities to learn,” VanHaasen declares. He cites training sessions, readily available videos and direct, one-to-one support.
“That was a big factor for me when I first started,” he continues. “With most manufacturers, it’s hard to get the necessary training and support needed to learn how to plot out a system.”
“Just Add Power is there to support you throughout the entire project,” VanHaasen adds. “And their support team is pretty awesome.”
XYZ Innovative Design: Looking Ahead
As XYZ Innovative Design looks to a bright future, the company is aiming for larger-scale projects. VanHaasen and team recently secured a contract for a significant hotel project in Fort Worth, Texas, which will feature a restaurant, bar and conference rooms — all run on Just Add Power.
That choice reflects VanHaasen’s view that vendor selection is ultimately about protecting the reputation of his business. When an XYZ Innovative Design client — large or small — picks up a device to control their venue systems, those systems have to work, or else the integrator gets the blame. “I’d say 10 times out of 10, our customer relies on what product I’m selling them,” VanHaasen notes. And that trust carries responsibility.
Paradoxically, in an industry defined by technical complexity, the simplicity of “it just works” is what top-tier integrators value the most. And for XYZ Innovative Design, that “it just works” partner is Just Add Power.
