TWICE SmartBrief closed July 4, 2025 | Stephanie Scola Appointed EVP At KEF America | Few retail leaders are confident in their current AI capabilities, EY finds
Josh.ai recently announced it is partnering with Unified Representatives, a premier manufacturers' rep firm, which will be responsible for business development, dealer support, and training across the Southern California territory. This partnership will expand Josh.ai's industry presence and the availability of artificial intelligence in the home. "We're thrilled to welcome Unified Representatives to the Josh family," said Ryan Conway, director of sales at Josh.ai. "Southern California is a critical market for our brand, and Unified's deep understanding of our technology and shared values around partnership and professionalism make them the ideal firm to lead our efforts in the region."
KEF America has announced the promotion of Stephanie Scola to executive vice president, and she will lead all functions across the organization in alignment with the company's growth objectives and global strategies. Additionally, the company has elevated Alec Chanin to deputy president of KEF Audio Group.
Over three-quarters of retail leaders say that innovation requires analytics and AI, but fewer than one-third believe their current capabilities in those technical areas give them a competitive advantage, according to May research from EY.
As the only award voted on exclusively by consumer tech retailers and distributors, winning a TWICE VIP Award demonstrates your device has what it takes to resonate with consumers and succeed on the shelves. TWICE VIP Awards are voted on by retailers and distributors, with winners announced in the TWICE September print issue, online, and in TWICE the SmartBrief newsletter. Online Voting begins today, June 30, and finishes July 7, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Marshall has launched its latest compact Bluetooth speaker, the Middleton II. A direct replacement for the first-generation Middleton from 2023, the new speaker promises room-filling 360-degree sound from a device that sits comfortably in the palm of your hand and won't demand too much space in your backpack for trips.
Wireless tech company SurgePays has debuted a new family of "phone-in-a-box" prepaid service smartphones designed for convenience stores and retail channels. Offered under the LinkUp Mobile MVNO brand, these smartphone kits operate on the AT&T network, and are preloaded with a SIM card and the first month of prepaid service.
After nearly a decade leading Sharp Home Electronics Company of America (SEMCA) with vision and passion, Peter Weedfald, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, has announced his retirement. His tenure at Sharp and throughout his remarkable career in the consumer electronics and retail space has left a lasting imprint on the industry--and on everyone privileged to work with him.
