Overcoming integration challenges. Words by Cabe Sipes When I started in the car audio industry, things were much simpler. It wasn’t uncommon to go to an audio shop and find one or two installers who weren’t there for a career—just a normal job like fast food or retail while attending school. That’s because car audio was straight-forward when it came ...

How should a retailer decide what to stock? Kimberly Trainer shares the inventory strategy she employs at Car-Tunes, Inc. Words by Rosa Sophia Through careful inventory planning, a business can reach its target audience and increase its profits, according to Car-Tunes, Inc. owner Kimberly Trainer, who taught a class on the subject at KnowledgeFest Las Vegas. “The separation between good ...

Words by Rosa Sophia This year’s Installer of the Year, T.J. Carlson, works at Portland, Ore.-based Musicar Northwest and he’s been in the industry for about 20 years. His love of music was sparked early on, he said, and he started playing the drums in seventh grade. “Music has always been important to me. Cars have always been fun and ...

New monthly video and audio program from the Mobile Electronics Association opens with Angel Rivera of Laketown Speed and Sound, who went from the install bay to part owner across 25 years at the same shop North Andover, MA – October 19, 2026 – The Mobile Electronics Association today launched the Mobile Electronics Report, a monthly video and audio program for ...

Everyone has a story to tell. Here’s why it’s important to share your lessons learned, challenges and perspectives with the industry. To do so, please fill out our survey. Words by Rosa Sophia For years, Mobile Electronics magazine has gathered feedback and shared stories and experiences of industry professionals. The goal? Helping everyone to grow—together. You can help, too, by ...

Michael Betts—one of this year’s Top 5 Vendor Support Techs—says it’s best to know your strengths and focus on honing them. Words by Jamie Sorcher Before Michael Betts could talk, he was into cars. “My mother told me that when I was a toddler, if there was a car scene on TV, like a high-speed chase, I would stop, look ...

At KnowledgeFest Las Vegas, Kevin Hallinan challenged attendees to think differently about sales by staging roleplays and remembering that when the client wins, so does the business. Words by Rosa Sophia According to Kevin Hallinan of WINNING, Inc., role playing continues to be an essential way of strengthening team strategy and working on weaknesses. “You’ve got to insist that your ...

At KnowledgeFest Las Vegas, Rob Ferro of DS18 and Fernando Lopez of Five Star Car Audio discussed the current needs of the industry’s Spanish-speaking professionals. Words by Rosa Sophia Some technicians in the Latin or Spanish-speaking community may be too embarrassed to approach another installer, a retailer, or even ask questions, said Rob Ferro of DS18. In today’s world, a ...