Thoughts on the importance on finding the right job and employee By Alan C. Brawn CTS, DSCE, DSDE, DSNE, DCME, DSSP, ISF-C Sitting in my office the other day perusing LinkedIn I got a message from Chad Bogen, a CMS industry veteran with Novisign. He was asking me for recommendations for a position he needed to fill. I seem to be getting an ever-increasing number of these requests for recommendations so I provided what has become my generic response that today it is tough to find good people and promising I would give it some thought. After responding, for some reason the topic of this request ..read more

An interview from CRI, with Alan Brawn, on the state of digital signage, what’s buzzing, and the value of human-centricity. In a recent illuminating conversation, leading digital signage expert Alan Brawn sat down with CRI’s own Beth Warren to discuss the ways digital signage is evolving in retail environments today. The lively dialogue between the two long-time colleagues shed light on how artificial intelligence (AI), Audio-Visual over Internet Protocol (AV over IP), and psychodynamics are converging to redefine the shopping experience within physical stores…. Read the Full Article The post ..read more

New Report from Insight Financial Services As the restaurant industry continues to change, evolve, and emerge from the recent years of serious hardship, many are moving toward the fast, casual dining model. By now, most are familiar with fast casual the experience – a variety of beloved higher quality standard menu items along with evolving additional seasonal choices, followed by a swift ordering process (sometimes unattended), with sit down or take away options, but little to no table service. According to industry reports, the quick service restaurant market is expected to reach $209.1 bi ..read more

By Alan C. Brawn CTS, DSCE, DSDE, DSNE, DCME, DSSP, ISF-C Before the anti- marketing folks throw out value propositions as something just taught at the hallowed halls of institutions like Harvard Business and the Warton School, please hear me out. File this topic and article under “necessity is the mother of invention” and not just an academic exercise. Before I kick this into high gear, thanks to Michelle Montazeri of Legrand fame and DSF board member for urging me on to cover this topic. I will begin by tackling the “necessity” part of the story, keeping in mind that this is important from b ..read more

by Brian Florko, Creative Realities We live in an era where digital platforms have taken center stage in nearly every aspect of business, including advertising and consumer engagement: but the truth is, physical stores continue to hold a special place in the hearts of consumers, over and alongside digital channels. In fact, stores are currently enjoying a renaissance that highlights their enduring appeal. This resurgence is not so much a surprise as it is a testament to a fundamental human trait: our innate desire to explore and experience. Retail spaces have evolved into vibrant hubs of ..read more

In this article and video, Alan Brawn provides insight on the challenges faced in AV sales. He starts the article with two ideas that come from research and his involvement in the industry: Concept 1: Sales are harder than they used to be Concept 2: Most buyers spend significant time researching providers before they engage sales, and some don’t want to engage sales people at all. This is worth the read and a listen for AV sales people. However, it is also interesting if you are a buyer of these goods and services because you can learn more about how a competent and earnest sales person is h ..read more

Listen Here On the latest “Steph Takeover” episode of Rants & rAVes, I speak with Bryan Meszaros of OpenEye Global to talk about the Digital Signage Federation (DSF). DSF’s goal is to educate its members and other stakeholders about digital signage trends, important markets and more through education, networking and advocacy. If you’re someone in AV who wants to learn more about this important area of our industry, you can join or attend any of its upcoming events. LAVNCH WEEK 9 The DSF is excited to be a partner for LAVNCH WEEK 9. You can find out more about that virt ..read more

By Alan C. Brawn CTS, DSCE, DSDE, DSNE, DCME, DSSP, ISF-C Credit for this month’s topic goes to Michelle Montazeri, Director of Digital Signage at Legrand, and a DSF board member. She requested a dive into the concept of “custom” as opposed to what is commonly referred to as commercial off the shelf. From her business perspective I am sure she was mainly interested in hardware… but taking it further, the idea of standard versus custom applies to all things AV and digital signage related. Using the purchase of clothing to illustrate the point, sometimes you can buy “off the rack” and other time ..read more

READ THE FULL BLOG POST HERE The retail landscape in 2024 presents a dynamic and evolving scenario. It’s a world where technology, consumer expectations, and economic factors intertwine to shape the future of retail.  We both attended and presented at NRF and the purpose of this blog is to summarize the key take ways for our clients and digital signage solutions ecosystem to benefit – as this is a show that requires an investment on any level to participate. As a digital signage company, our goal was to lean in, listen and then determine key implications for digital integration and what w ..read more

New article on the AVIXA website by Alan Brawn, about existential threats the Pro AV industry is facing. Read the article here Think outside of our industry for a minute and consider who we tend to hold in the highest esteem. It is the specialist who stands out from the generalist. Alan Brawn The post To Be or Not to Be… That is the AV Question appeared first on Digital Signage Federation ..read more