AV Manufacturers Reps are a vital part of Crimson AV’s workforce. They are our “boots on the ground”, and an important extension of our sales force. They help us by identifying potential customers and opportunities. They attend tradeshows and conferences and network regularly to grow our reach in the marketplace.
Crimson would like to take this opportunity to shine a light on our manufacturers reps in a spot we like to call Crimson’s AV REPertoire Review. These articles aim to highlight the focus on Audio Visual Manufacturers Representatives while capturing the essence of their work and contributions to the industry.
In this REPertoire Review, we had a chance to chat with a relatively new rep of ours, ASR Enterprises. Take a peek at what we uncovered about ASR. We love their passion for the industry and look forward to a long partnership with them.
Interview with Josh Logue, Partner, ASR Enterprises
- What areas and territories do you cover?
ASR Enterprises covers the Mid-Atlantic Region. Eamon Coy covers the Southern Mid Atlantic areas of DC & VA. And Ben Linskens covers MD, DE, S. NJ & East PA.
- Give us a brief history of partnership with Crimson AV
The ASR/Crimson relationship is relatively new with us just kicking off this summer. We are just now getting our sea legs under us and able to deliver the Crimson message effectively on our own.
- Why do you LOVE Crimson AV?
In an industry full of “Me Too” manufacturers, it’s the relationships and customer service that make companies stand out. From our initial meeting with Paul and Will, it was evident that both (relationships & customer service) are the cornerstone of the Crimson brand and story. That is what “sold” ASR and that is how we are “selling” Crimson.
- Besides Crimson AV, who’s your biggest brand crush in AV?
We love working with AtlasIED. We started with Atlas in March 2020 right when the world went nuts! It has been a very challenging road for both of us, but they have been phenomenal throughout the process!
- What’s are some emerging trends you’re most interested in?
We are seeing AI take the world by storm. Slowly but surely, it is creeping into our security and audio/video products. Not only in the product development, but even in things like system design and customer service (automation, chat-bots, etc.). It will be interesting to see how the audio/video industry embraces this powerful technology in the years to come.
- What is your group’s biggest strength?
Other than Ben’s beard, I would say customer service. That is such a throw-away line, but we truly live it. Brian and Josh (partners in ASR) enable each employee to run their territory as if it is their own business. We want our employees to have a sense of pride in what they do and own the relationships between the factories, ASR and the customers. To ASR Customer Service isn’t a department, it’s the company!
- What’s your favorite part of a project? Or most challenging?
Almost all of us at ASR spent time in the integration world so we all enjoy the design phase. We would like to say we are doing our job well when we can provide simple solutions to our customers complex problems.
- What is one way you always prepare for a project?
Research the competition. We want to be able to speak to all sides of the equation, not just here is the ASR solution and its best because it’s what “we” represent. Here’s the ASR solution and it meets your needs versus XXX because a, b and c.
- What would your dream project be?
Any large opportunity where we can loop in all our partners is a “dream” for us. Maybe a school system with Crimson mounts in every classroom, AtlasIED for the classroom communication, Hall Technologies for the classroom technology and a dvLED, by Crimson, in the school’s HQ!
- What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
We are wrapping up Phase II of a private school in Northern VA where they utilized ASR booth for Security and Audio/Video. The unfortunate reality is that our country has a major issue of violence in schools. We represent multiple technology solutions that can help mitigate the risk of this sort of event happening and minimize the impact if it does. It was great to pull from both sides of our house to do so.
- Why do you love AV?
Again, ASR represents both Security as well as Audio/Video products. The AV side allows us to be much more creative in our designs. AV is more subjective in nature where security is objective in its design philosophy. With AV, one person can design a wall, content, or audio in a room COMPLETELY different than the next person and they both can produce amazing results with neither being right nor wrong. With security it is more objective. Either the access control system let me in the door, or it didn’t. The camera either provides coverage of an area, or it doesn’t. AV gets our right brain involved, which is just plain fun!
- What advice would you give those new to the AV industry?
Get out and network! The AV community is very excepting and filled with people from all different backgrounds. You have everyone from former “roadies” or “musicians” to the “lighting” folks to the newer “IT-minded” crowd. Meeting and conversing with everyone gives you perspective on where they are coming from and an appreciation for their “WHY” and makes the job that much more enjoyable.
