Brick-and-mortar still exists.
But because so many people enjoy the ease of shopping from their couches, retailers need to make it more attractive for them to shop in their stores, and technology can play a key role. Our Industry Leaders in the retail market stand out in the crowd, which is exactly what they hope their customers will do with the solutions they install.
DGI Communications uses the power of its two interrelated divisions—DGI Technologies and DGI Invisuals—to create the solutions their customers want, says account manager Darby DeChristopher. The technology division offers AV and structured cabling systems and “can design, implement and continually support presentation systems, integrated audio systems, streaming media and unified communication solutions,” she says.
DGI Invisuals offers large-format printing for retail, corporate, hospitality, health care, higher education, government and architectural firms and can wrap a vehicle or fleet.
“Together these divisions provide an array of products and services that allow clients to deliver clear messaging both internally and externally,” says DeChristopher. The goal, she says, is helping DGI’s customers understand the power of doing both to attract more customers.
Roberta Perry, VP of business development at Edwards Technologies, says the biggest challenge is “convincing potential clients to adopt subscription-based, scalable content management. Issues are addressed in face-to-face meetings and road shows.”
Kevin Goldsmith, chief technology officer at Ping HD, says “cost is a huge factor” in providing solutions both he and the customers want. “Our agile development on our core CMS ensures that we provide all the features required for digital signage projects. Having an in-house content design team allows us to provide a complete turnkey integration service,” says Goldsmith.
Ron Prier, owner of RPAV, says the company is “always exploring new opportunities” and is able to achieve success by “being nimble and the ability to adapt to market conditions.”
Serious Audio Video uses “strategic planning and unique designs to set us apart from our competitors as well as our customer service and marketing strategy,” says VP of marketing Joe Lipari. “We build long-lasting relationships with our customers and position ourselves as experts in the field.”
The biggest obstacle for future growth, says Lipari, is what he calls “the race to zero. Every day, there’s a cheaper solution. We’re expensive, but our systems are reliable and our design is sleek. We have to accept that we’re not for everyone and not get frustrated when we lose a job to someone who underbids.”
