What Will Happen To Harman Consumer Brands In OZ
In one of the big deals of the year Samsung has acquired Harman International for US$8 Billion, however what is not known is what will happen to the Harman consumer audio business in Australia which includes brands such as JBL.
Late last year Harman employed Marcus Fry as their Brand Activation Director in Australia. Shortly afterwards Convoy the long-time distributor of Harman International consumer products in Australia lost the consumer business with Fry setting up a direct sell team.
Convoy retained the Pro side of Harman International’s business in Australia.
Harman also established a new showroom in Balmain, NSW. This year the Company has remained very quiet with no press announcements relating to new products.
According to one major retailer there is every possibility that Samsung Australia could take over sales of Harman consumer products in Australia.
A senior retail executive who did not want to be named said “Australia is a very small market and what Samsung already has in place could easily absorb the distribution of Harman consumer products. What could be a scenario is that Samsung take over consumer products and Convoy retain the Pro business. It makes no sense when Samsung has a consumer audio business to have two teams selling and marketing to the same retailers”.
Neither Samsung or Harman International management in Australia have could comment on the deal.
The deal could also be a major blow for LG who earlier this year rolled out Harman branding on both TV’s and smartphones.
Among the brands owned by Harman International are:
AKG Acoustics – microphone/headphones
AMX – video switching and control devices
Bang & Olufsen Automotive
Becker – car infotainment
BSS Audio – signal processing
Crown International – pro amplifiers
dbx Professional Products – signal processors
DigiTech – guitar products
HardWire – guitar pedals
HiQnet – audio digital network, based on Ethernet
harman/kardon – home/car audio
Infinity – home/car speakers
JBL – home/car speakers & amplifiers, professional speakers
Lexicon – digital processing
Mark Levinson Audio Systems – home/car audio
Martin Professional – stage and architectural lighting and effects fixtures
Revel – home speakers
Selenium – home, car and professional speakers, amplifiers, sound tables/mixers
Soundcraft – mixing consoles
Studer – mixing consoles