BOWERS & WILKINS TO GO DIRECT IN AUSTRALIA
Bowers & Wilkins, unarguably the biggest name in the world in loudspeakers has today announced they will operate directly in the Australian marketplace.
Effective from August 1st, 2017, Sydney based distributor, Convoy, who have represented B&W locally for thirty years will transfer local representation to Bowers & Wilkins Australia, who have already set up office in Chatswood, Sydney.
Lars Hundborg, CEO Asia/Pacific of Bowers & Wilkins, told StereoNET:
Australia is a key strategic market for Bowers & Wilkins and so we determined that the best way to service the Australian consumer and support our existing dealers would be to establish direct operations in thecountry. We intend to invest heavily in the region and look forward to introducing many new and exciting products to the market.
StereoNET understands Angus Fischer, who has worked as a Sales Representative for Convoy in NSW will head up the Australian team, and John Martin who has worked with Convoy as the B&W Brand Manager for nearly 20 years will also join the local B&W led operation as Director of Sales. They will be joined by David Trevaskis who had also been working for Convoy representing VIC until resigning two weeks ago.
Geoff Matthews, CEO of Convoy told StereoNET this morning:
We’re sad to see Bowers & Wilkins leave the Convoy portfolio after nearly three decades, but this change wasn’t unexpected as it brings the Australian operations for the global brand in line with other countries.
Convoy have said that following the loss of Bowers & Wilkins distribution it will be business as usual, still representing Lenbrook owned brands including PSB, Bluesound and NAD, along with other represented brands including Music Hall, JBL and Cary Audio.
Convoy will also continue as a logistics and service provider to Bowers & Wilkins Australia.
Matthews continued:
We made a difficult decision in 2016 to exit the mass market and ultimately this has paid off for us as a company and the new, fast-paced market.
Convoy is now focused on evolving brands that will deliver products to the next generation of music lovers and we can ensure all our efforts are aimed at quality products, service and support of the specialist dealer network.
StereoNET broke the news globally a year ago announcing that the Bowers & Wilkins company had been bought by Silicon Valley based EVA Automation. We understand that new B&W products reflecting the new tech-based company ownership will be launched at CES in Vegas in 2018. The company announced recently that the Zeppelin Wireless speaker will not be updated to be compatible with Apple's new AirPlay 2, further suggesting that a new product range is imminent.
For more information visit the Bowers & Wilkins brand page.
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
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