Category Archives: Customer Experience

Golf Simulator Leads to Exceptional Entertainment Retreat for BRAVAS Colorado Client

This exiting entertainment project all started when the client came to BRAVAS in Littleton, Colorado for a golf simulator. This story reminds us that you never know where a job—even a relatively smaller scope job—may lead. Hesitant about smart home automation at first, the client did not want a lot of complicated technology in their home. But as mutual trust and confidence grew, the project also grew into adding Lutron Palladiom for centralized lighting, a full-blown home theater, music in other areas of the home and more. 

Photos by: Jess Blackwell Hohman

New Technology, New Construction.

Mac Saad, with the BRAVAS Colorado branch was the lead designer and technology architect on the project with the backing of BRAVAS Colorado’s extensive Engineering team. BRAVAS has offices and representatives in 15 cities across the US and completes more than 3500 integration projects around the country each year. BRAVAS sells and supports everything from lighting, shades, and A/V to networking, security systems, and power management. They also provide high-quality entertainment furniture from Salamander Designs.

The project at hand was new construction. The BRAVAS team was fortunate that the builder was happy to closely coordinate efforts and work together to ensure optimum outcome for the client. One example of this collaboration, the BRAVAS team was brought in early when they were building the theater.  

Photo by: Jess Blackwell Hohman

“We had a very large Barco Projector going in for video in the theater area of a room,” Mac explained. “This basement room shared both the golf simulator and the home theater. Because we were brought in early, we saw that if the soffit was extended just a small amount, we could put the projector entirely into it so that it’s quiet and always out of sight. We worked together with the builder, and the client was extremely happy about this adjustment.”

Challenges and Covid Didn’t Stop Them.

Most every custom project has some challenges. In this case, the golf simulator was a key component and created some additional work. BRAVAS had to try several layouts, and in the end, were able get this accomplished for the client.

As for many integrators over the past year, COVID-19 was a challenge, too. The BRAVAS team started the project during the pandemic and encountered some natural inventory delays. Fortunately, they were able to source suitable alternative choices. In this case, the client wanted consistent black products and looks such as speakers, wall switches and more. Mac shared, “The original seating was to be a black microfiber. With Covid-related delays, we were able to find a faster—and actually better—solution for this client by working closely with Salamander Designs.”

Photo by: Jess Blackwell Hohma

Challenges and Covid Didn’t Stop Them.

At the time, the black microfiber seating was on backorder, which is uncommon. But Salamander Designs worked with BRAVAS and their client to find similar fabrics and other options that were more readily available. With a curated, very wide assortment of upholstery including 45 seating covers to choose from, the Salamander team went into design and service mode for the dealer and their client. They had to satisfy a client who was very sure about his vision. After sharing more readily available options, the client selected a highly unique, two-tone Salamander Talia Seating that could be secured more quickly and even elevate the room. Mac said, “It was pretty great how Salamander could still provide furniture that was custom built and quickly delivered during this time. Most importantly, they did so with products that worked the best for durability and fit this home theater in the way our client envisioned.”  

“Salamander Designs— and everyone who works there, actually—was very accommodating to us and the client’s requests. Even smaller things, like providing special awesome piping on the seats. Salamander was able to do this for us. Our customer got exactly what they wanted, customized, with special piping and in a great color that would work—even during the Covid crisis.”

Photo by: Jess Blackwell Hohman

BRAVAS is in a class by itself: After-Sale Service.

We went on to find out that this BRAVAS location is really all about providing the best in white glove service and going in after the design and installation. The company sees after-install support as very key to the client and our company because unlike other things such as a floor that is put into a home, the customer must interact with home technology every day and it is integral to convenience in their lives. BRAVAS Colorado views the installation as really the beginning of the relationship, and they make sure customers have ongoing , never-ending satisfaction and that technology is always seamless and easy-to-enjoy for everyone.

Salamander Seating Satisfied Other Client Requirements.

“Our customer loved the ability for everyone to have the same great movie viewing experience,” the Dealer said. “Build-quality was a major part of this project. The client wanted the best quality and when he saw and understood that this was a 1000-pound couch/row seating, they understood this seating was different.”

Another objective, this client wanted either entertainment seating or a couch setup where the kids would not fight over who got which seat during a movie or show. He wanted all seats to be equal so to speak. The Salamander Talia seating included motorization and butt shakers in every single seat so that everyone had the same experience.

Photo by: Jess Blackwell Hohman

The Real Reaction?

BRAVAS saw the seating before the client family did and was a bit uncertain about the two-tone seating choice because the two tones were similar in color. Two-tone is usually the more expensive option, and the BRAVAS team wanted it to be exactly right.

The good news? This client was thrilled and loves the outcome. “The two-tone looks very, very slick!” it was reported. “Best of all, everyone in our family has the premier seat in the house in our new home theater and entertainment space.”

Other Equipment in This Perfect Project.

The overall project included Lutron Palladiom lighting, Control4 for control and several Sony TVs including an 85-inch above the fireplace upstairs. Speakers included James Loudspeakers, a small Sonance aperture system and Kef Speakers in theater/golf simulator space. And yes, there is also a Salamander Designs Media Stand for components in the home theater. “We sell other furniture, but Salamander is my go-to because of how easy it is to customize and how very helpful their team is.”

Try Salamander Entertainment Furniture Today – See Our New Look Book for Inspiration

Making sure you get your Salamander in perfect shape

Ensuring that your cabinet comes through the shipping process in perfect condition is part of our job and Salamander’s commitment to quality (and the joy of its customers).

Many of our goods are large and complex in shape and form and won’t simply “fit in a box”. What to do?  Well, if you’re Salamander – you design your own custom cartons and design ways of packaging and securing your products. Which, in short, is exactly what we’ve done.

Wrapped, packed, padded, protected and wrapped again – packaging for shipment is a science we’ve mastered.

This return shipment traveled from Connecticut to California and then back to Connecticut. It’s clear that these cabinets were fully secured and protected for their long voyage – the palette took a good hit though!

Making sure our goods get to you in perfect shape is no joke and it doesn’t happen by accident.

Making sure you get what you ordered and that it is delivered in perfect shape – is just one of the reasons why Salamander Designs is coming up on its 25th year in business.

Customer Experience Spotlight: Synergy 703 Audio Tower

We love getting feedback from our customers! It’s one of the keys to our innovation process, since the more we learn what people like and dislike about our products, the more we can develop new audio visual furniture products that meet the needs of AV enthusiasts. And the more we learn about the end-to-end customer experience, the more we can look for ways to improve that experience.

With that backdrop we wanted to pass along this kind note Sal recently received from a customer named Duane, who wanted to share his experience after purchasing and assembling a Synergy 703 Audio Tower. We trust that Duane is sitting comfortably in his man cave right now, enjoying good music, good wine, and a happy retirement!

Salvatore,
When my wife and left our California home after many decades to move to a retirement community in Scottsdale, AZ, I brought with me my old stereo equipment: turntable, cassette player, CD player, tuner, and JBL Studio Monitor speakers. My wife outfitted my ‘man cave’ with good Ethan Allen furniture so I started a search for a cabinet for my equipment, but most of the things I saw were cheap or glass/chrome, etc., and not up to the other furnishings. Someone tipped me off that if I wanted top of the line I should check out Salamander Designs, which I did. I found your local dealer, Dedicated Audio, LLC here in Scottsdale and called them. A most friendly and competent salesman, Matt Wyatt, took my call and order over the phone. To save shipping expense he thought I’d like to assemble the cabinet. Normally I’d decline but the money made the decision for me.

I charged the $1,835 and waited only a couple of weeks before the two boxes arrived, weighing 200+ pounds. I’m ‘retired’ and decided that Matt’s comments of “a couple of hours to assemble” might apply to a more handy, younger man than I … and what the hell, I’m supposed to be retired so I decided to take my time. I did just that! Think two weeks.

Salamander Synergy Audio Rack customer project Feb 2015

I was impressed with the quality of the materials and the excellent and clear assembly instructions. I got to the last step and realized I didn’t have the top four bolts to secure the top piece. I called your factory rather than the dealer and talked to Joe. He couldn’t have been nicer and somehow we established that we both had a Syracuse, NY connection. Central New York folks take care of each other! Anyway, Joe said that he’d send the missing bolts via 2nd Day Air. Would you call that SERVICE? Got them and finished the job, and here’s the proof:

I normally wouldn’t take the time to write such a wordy note, but I was impressed with your “Dear Valued Customer” card that came with the bolts. I spent my working life in sales/marketing so I respect good operations when I experience them. You have an excellent distributor in Dedicated Audio and you sound like a helluva executive of a quality company.

If you ever get out to Great Scottsdale, give me a call and come by and listen to my stereo while I pour you a glass of wine and thank you and your company in person.
Ciao,
~ Duane W.

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Read other Salamander stories that have been shared here, and share your own. Haven’t experienced the Salamander Difference yet?  Visit a local Salamander dealer and start writing your story today …

Some details on the Synergy 703 Audio Tower:

  • Snap-on hinges fully extend doors, remove easily for better in-cabinet access
  • Doors have soft-close dampeners
  • Solid wood door frames with perforated steel panels permit IR signals, add ventilation, mask speakers
  • Infinitely adjustable shelves
  • Anodized aluminum support skeleton
  • Removable rear panels permit easy access to components and wiring
  • Heavy-duty, non-marking, leveling feet
  • Various accessories allow for great design flexiblity
  • Lifetime warranty