Daniel J SaitControl4 has announced a major global initiative to deliver destination showrooms for consumers to learn more about its products and services first hand.
Created in partnership with Control4 dealers, the opening of these new experiential dealer showrooms will be celebrated with an event the company is a calling #C4Yourself on May 31 at showroom events in 25 markets around the world.
The events are taking place in the US, Canada, UK, China, and Australia. Consumers in cities around the world are able to find a Certified Showroom location using the enhanced Control4 Dealer Locator hosted on the company website and register to attend their local #C4Yourself Day event.
The automation platform says the Control4 Certified Showroom program is designed to direct homeowners, architects, and designers in the market for smart home solutions to a location where they can experience Control4 in an ideal showroom environment and find the right installation partner for their needs and lifestyle. Control4 hopes the Certified Showrooms will be a powerful way of engaging consumers through personalised and interactive home automation experiences.
So how do dealers get involved?
While most of its competitors have stuck to showrooms controlled directly by themselves, Control4 feels it can reach a wider audience and create a more authentic experience by bestowing official showroom status on its dealer network. Each independent Control4 Certified Showroom Dealer has, and will need to, meet a series of elevated standards and are well-versed in creating inspiring demonstrations of Control4 smart home experiences. The emphasis is on interactive storytelling, visually-stunning displays, and hands-on demonstrations, in an effort to properly convey the real-life benefits of living in a truly-automated, personalised Control4 smart home.
“As demand for all things smart continues to rise, we are thrilled to provide interested homeowners, architects, and designers local destinations that are staffed with passionate, creative, and knowledgeable smart home evangelists,” says Control4 Chairman and CEO Martin Plaehn. “Our new Control4 Certified Showrooms are an exceptional resource for consumers exploring smart home solutions.”
Control4 Certified Showrooms will open in more a total of 25 markets around the world and all reflect a significant investment by Control4 Dealers, but the company promises the rewards of enhanced marketing support, full POS and lead creation will be more than worth getting involved with the programme. Each Certified Showroom showcases the Control4 magic through demonstrations that include:
- Family room entertainment
- Multi-room audio and video
- Smart lighting
- Safety and security, ‘peace-of-mind’
- Comfort
- Voice control
- Intelligent home networking
CE Pro Europe spoke direct with Brad Hintze, Sr. director of product marketing, Control4, who underlined the importance of the initiative to put the home automation market on a more level playing field with its rivals. Hands up who has bought a car without going to a car showroom? Exactly, industries that also ask for significant investment from their customers have a more mature and often franchised demonstration estate and Brad says this industry needs to catch up.
Brad also believes the time is right, because the DIY market has raised awareness, but still lacks any real integration, you still need an installer for that as most of the headline-grabbing products tend to be standalone and frankly not much use on their own.
“Most people are simply not interested in doing their own integration, even if they could, they want a professional and this is where the new
Certified Showrooms come in creating experiences consumers can related to all driven by the skills of our dealer base.”
There is a template for dealers wanting to gain official statues, however Brad also underlines its very much intended to be a partnership where the dealer’s personality and ideas shine through giving an extra sales edge.
140 official sites is just the beginning however, the company wants lots more and is encouraging dealers to get in touch with their local HQ to find out more.
UK dealers included in the first phase of roll out and who will be taking part in the #C4Yourself Day are….
Indigozest Limited
Sky House Design Centre, Raans Road
Amersham, UK
New Wave AV
The Old Mill Worshop, Pierce Mill Lane
Tonbridge, UK
Avensys Limited
Avensys House, Fleming Way
Crawley, UK
Smarthomes
35 Crooksbury Road
Farnham, UK
Wall of Sound Audio Visual Ltd
New Inn Corner, Market Weighton Road
Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, UK
Nirvana Audio Visual Ltd
3 Lockside Office Park, Lockside Road
Preston, UK
Majik House
Unit 1, Kendal Road, Kirkby Lonsdale
Carnforth, UK
Smart Synergy
Technology House
30 Queen Street
Wakefield, UK
