HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, has today announced a European-wide long-term partnership with leading retailer Media-Saturn. Through this partnership, HARMAN becomes Media-Saturn’s preferred supplier for the fast-growing home audio segment of connected audio.
The partnership will include a variety of marketing and merchandising programs designed to educate and engage customers and enhance their shopping experience. Collaborations will range from social media campaigns and e-learning outreach to in-store promotions and exclusive product offerings, Categories will include multiroom audio, portable audio, headphones and soundbars.
Both companies will cooperate in development and implementation of Media-Saturn’s Entertainment platform “JUKE”.
Media-Saturn comprises four retail brands: Media Markt and Saturn with online shops and almost 1000 brick and mortar stores and the online pure-players redcoon and 003.ru. With net revenues of 21 billion euros and approximately 65,000 employees in 2013/14, the Media-Saturn Group, in which METRO Group has a majority shareholding, operates in 15 European countries.
In the last 12 months. HARMAN has won a record 57 Product & Innovation awards and three prestigious Audio Technology awards, far more than any other competitor. Media-Saturn will leverage HARMAN’s expertise in audio which spans more than 60 years in the studio, on the stage, in homes and in the car. With a relentless pursuit of superior audio innovations and marquee brands, including Harman Kardon®, JBL® and AKG®, HARMAN will provide Media-Saturn customers with best-in-class audio technologies across Europe.
Klaus-Peter Voigt, Chief Procurement Officer, Media-Saturn Holdings, said: “Having been a HARMAN partner since many years, we know their audio products inside out. We know HARMAN is leading when it comes to breadth, diversity and quality. Quite simply HARMAN is offering one of the best audio technology in Europe. This partnership will help us to build on an already strong relationship and see HARMAN drive the audio category within our European business.”
Michael Mauser, President of the HARMAN Lifestyle Division, added: “We are excited to expand our relationship with Media-Saturn by becoming a leading audio product provider to one of the largest electrical retailers in Europe. We look forward to educating consumers about quality audio and providing them with the devices and systems to listen to music wherever they are, the way the artist intended.”
About HARMAN
HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets premier audio, visual, infotainment and enterprise automation solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson ® and Revel®, the Company is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 16,600 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.6 billion for the 12 months ended September 30, 2014. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.