Like every year, CES promises to be a big deal, with new technologies and developments being announced every day. Even for CE industry folks who aren't attending, there will be plenty of new information coming out daily via Websites like this one, as well as e-mail newsletters and even Twitter feeds. But when it comes to the custom A/V sector, will there be anything worthwhile for us at the show?

I caught up with some custom channel vendors who will be there to find out. Saxe Brickenden, President of Evolution Home Entertainment, which handles brands like Definitive Technology and Savant Systems, pointed out that even though CEDIA Expo is the show all about custom installation, CES has made big efforts to further involve the custom channel into its show. This year, there are 177 exhibitors who are categorized as Integrated Home Systems. But it's not all just about exhibits. Brickenden points to the education programs that CES has added to attract custom dealers.

"While I'm there," adds Brickenden, "I expect to have two or three really productive meetings with my manufacturers, and that alone justifies the trip." He also points to Canada Night, an event put on by Marketnews, as a great spot for networking. "It's the one night where almost everyone in the Canadian industry that I might want or need to meet up with is in the same room for a few hours."

Darren Abrahamson, sales rep for agency Acoustic Vision, concurs with the highly concentrated networking opportunities that coming to CES provides for Canadians. In addition to meeting with his retail dealers and their vendors, Abrahamson will be spending time showing new products to his custom dealers for his main custom-related brands, including Monster and Parasound. CES gives him the opportunity to meet dealers and help plan their business for the coming year in just a few days, instead of a couple of weeks of travel on the road in his territory.

Not all custom vendors at CES are manning a booth. Jeff Haynes, Director of Sales for video distribution manufacturer Zektor, has other priorities at the show. "We're primarily there to connect in person with our network of sales reps," Haynes explains. "In addition, I'll be meeting with the automation brands that we have technical partnership with, including Control4, Crestron, AMX, and HAI. Lastly, I'll be meeting with Silicon Images about HDMI licensing, which is really exciting." All of this doesn't leave him much time to stroll around the floor. "It's strictly business, and tightly condensed" Haynes said, "I'll do all this in two days then go home!"

While I won't be at CES, like other industry people who are at home working this week, I'll be glued to my computer watching for big new announcements that will impact the custom channel.

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