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We can probably all agree that 2008 was full of challenges and that 2009 will probably bring a lot more. So, with that in mind, I’d like to let you know what we have in store to help you answer the challenges that lay ahead.

With the tough economic conditions that we are in right now, businesses will compete even more fiercely for your hard earned dollars. With the competition for consumers’ discretionary income heating up, it is even more important that consumers be informed in their decision making.

When is a deal not a good deal?

We’ve all seen retail pricing drop and some pretty incredible sales over the last few months. I would expect that probably won’t change much for 2009. However, lowest price does not always mean the best deal. Some businesses have already gone under and some are barely hanging on right now so they may or may not survive this challenge. Some contractors will promise anything to get your business and some will even falsely malign the competition to get the job. We have seen this already. If someone is willing to do that, you should run away immediately or at the very least give the other contractors an opportunity to respond! Any contractor with integrity would never use that kind of tactic. Remember, this is a time to be cautious. If lowest price is the only thing that matters, be prepared for possible disappointments.

So the question that I see as the compass for 2009 is - what did we do right that got us here, and what should we change to make us better?

First, the good stuff.

1. Our customers matter. We’re not a big box retail store and we’ve stayed relatively small in order to keep our dedication to a high level of service our top priority.
2. We will continue to stay on top of technology. Even if the economy proves challenging, technology will continue to advance and forge ahead and we will continue to stay on top of the latest advances so that the system we design for you will be the best value for the money you spend.
3. We will remain competitive. Although we still won’t try to match pricing on non-authorized internet retailers, we will stay competitive with any authorized, legitimate businesses. We will keep our pricing fair, and deliver value for the service that we’re known for.
4. We will continue to do business with integrity. We know that we won’t win every job, but we won’t compromise our integrity to win business.

So, what can we change?

1. We are currently evaluating all of our manufacturers to make sure we have the best products that deliver the best performance and reliability.
2. We are evaluating the way we do everything to see where we can improve efficiency.
3. Over the next few months, we’ll be developing a section on our website devoted to a/v companies that make green products or help out the environment through charitable contributions.
4. We will be looking at devoting some of our resources to give back to our community and local charities with some pro bono work. We believe now is the time to pull together.
5. This year, more than ever, we will work on strengthening our relationships with the contractors, manufacturers and suppliers we work with in various projects. Just having us do our part isn’t always enough. We want the project to go as seamlessly as possible for you, so we’re narrowing down who we work with so that we can deliver what we promise.

As we swing into 2009, we look forward to the exciting ride that awaits us. No matter what challenges the economy throws at us, we will rise to meet them and continue to deliver the service you’ve come to expect from us.

-Clay Hankins is the CEO of The Audio Guy, LLC located in the Dallas, TX area and serving the Dallas Home Theater, Media Rooms and surrounding DFW area markets.