New specialist business AV8 Distribution focuses on manufacturer representation and early-stage project and sales support for high-performance residential AV projects.
A new specialist AV distribution business has launched in the UK, founded by Barry Sheldrick with a focus on high-performance residential installations, cinema and integrated technology projects.
AV8 Distribution Ltd operates as both a distributor and a brand partner, working with manufacturers who need proper representation and with integrators who want a partner genuinely invested in how projects land.
Barry has spent more than two decades at the sharp end of UK AV distribution and manufacturing. He joined TAG McLaren Audio before moving to IAG, Pulse and then Meridian, where he ultimately spent more than eleven years as Sales Director, building and running Distributed by Meridian, the multi-award-winning business that established Meridian’s position in the UK and Ireland integration channel. DbM concluded in June 2026 as Meridian moves to a partner-led model consistent with its approach in international markets. AV8 is the natural continuation of Barry’s work, operating independently and extending the same expertise and support philosophy across a broader portfolio of carefully selected specialist manufacturers.
The thinking behind AV8 is simple. Exceptional residential AV projects start with the right support and world-class brands deserve proper representation. That means being involved from the outset, as part of the first design and sales conversations, understanding how systems get built and supporting integrators well before a purchase order is thought of. AV8 is also there when the project is deployed, with commissioning and aftersales support.
The earlier the AV8 team is involved, the more value they can add. Working alongside integrators through sales, specification, system design and deployment allows problems to be solved early and products to be matched properly to projects. That involvement continues through delivery, commissioning and aftercare, which AV8 sees as the beginning of the integrator relationship rather than the end of the sale.
AV8 works with a focused portfolio of specialist manufacturers. The emphasis is on depth over range. For each brand it represents, AV8 provides technical input, sales support and the kind of consistent involvement that helps integrators specify with confidence, sell more effectively and deliver projects that turn clients’ heads.
Continuity and innovation
Integrators and dealers who worked with DbM will find the transition straightforward. The relationships, the technical knowledge and the approach to project support carry directly into AV8. Barry Sheldrick has been the consistent presence throughout more than a decade of that channel work and the same accessibility and commitment to proper support continues.
AV8 is not, however, simply a continuation of what came before. Operating independently with specialist manufacturers, the business is set up to work with integrators and brands beyond the existing DbM network. If you are an integrator looking for a distribution partner who will engage seriously with your projects or a manufacturer looking for representation that goes beyond order processing, AV8 is ready to chat.
The AV8 portfolio is deliberately focused, with each manufacturer fulfilling a clear role within high-performance residential AV and cinema projects. The aim is not to be everything to everyone but to provide integrators with well-supported solutions that are perfectly matched to the projects they are delivering.
Barry Sheldrick, Founder of AV8 Distribution, says, “I have seen too many projects that have been underspecified, delivering an average client experience. Not because the brands were not strong or the integrators were not capable but because the support in between was not there when it mattered the most. Projects that go well are usually the ones where the right conversations happened early on. AV8 is about making that the normal way of working together. We have exceptional brands in the portfolio and there are a lot of incredibly talented integrators in this market. Getting the two working together properly to deliver stunning projects is where AV8 delivers.”
Full details of AV8’s manufacturer portfolio and services are available at av8distribution.com