New HomeWorks Website

While electronic gadgets are adding capabilities all the time, they aren’t always simple and easy to use. Our HomeWorks department can help with that! Whether it’s simplifying your remote controls, letting you listen to your iPod throughout the house, or installing that dream theater, HomeWorks can get the job done. Our new website at www.shermanshw.com has all the details; including informative videos and pricing on popular systems. Check it out today!

Nationwide Buying Group Show

Several thousand of my fellow retailers and I gathered at the MGM Grand’s Las Vegas Convention Center for our semi-annual meeting last week. Saturday and Sunday were filled with industry updates and strategy planning sessions among the dealer members. On Monday and Tuesday we met and negotiated with our manufacturers. Together, our member dealers buy as much as a Best Buy, Lowes, or other national retailers; this collective buying power is a key reason we’re able to buy so competitively and compete head-on with these huge national chains. We also keep abreast of all the new products we’ll see over the coming months; and there are a lot of exciting new models coming out. Check back here or stop in our stores over the coming months to see the latest in appliances, electronics, furniture and mattresses at the guaranteed lowest price!

The “Other Half” of HDTV

So you’ve got the big screen HDTV, and the picture is incredible. Are you experiencing the other half, the Dolby Digital surround sound? HDTV programs, Blu-Ray’s and DVD’s all have detailed surround sound tracks that put you right in the middle of the action; but if you’re listening to your TV speakers, you’re completely missing it. We’ve put together two high-impact packages that will deliver powerful sound at a very reasonable price. The first is a Yamaha/Energy system at $799. It features compact speakers that are easy to hide. The second is a Yamaha/Jamo system at $999, with bigger floor-standing speakers. When this first came out on our floor, we got a lot of comments that it sounds as good as systems twice the price! Stop in to your nearest Sherman’s today and experience the other half of HDTV!

Peoria Chamber After Hours

A big THANK YOU to the hundreds of area Chamber members, builders and realtors who attended Thursday night’s “Business After Hours” at our Peoria store. We were a bit overwhelmed by the attendance; over 500 people stopped by! Everyone had a chance to visit our new distribution center, our appliance and furniture departments, and to hear about our HomeWorks home control and music systems. And, of course, eat the great food provided by One World and visit with friends and associates. Everyone on our staff was thrilled to spend time with so many of you, and we’d like to thank the folks at the Chamber for allowing us to host this great event.

A Big System for the Big Game

While watching the Super Bowl last year at our home, it struck me what an incredibly different experience it can be depending on your TV and sound system. Most of us were watching the game on my 65” HDTV with a powerful surround sound system. At the other end of our basement, a few friends were sitting at our bar watching the game on an older regular TV. As I moved back and forth, it became clear the guys at the bar were only getting about 20% of the experience; the TV wasn’t even widescreen, so they were literally missing much of the picture. You didn’t hear the hits and couldn’t see the details of the action on the regular TV. On the HDTV with the sound system, you were literally right in the middle of the game! It reminded me that if you want to experience things like the Super Bowl the way they’re meant to be seen, you need both a great HDTV and a Dolby Digital surround sound system. There is still plenty of time to get setup for this Sunday’s game; stop in to your nearest Sherman’s store today to see what you’re missing!

An Exciting CES Show

This week we visited the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where manufacturers showcase their most exciting new technologies. LG’s new Infinia LCD TV’s look incredible; these 480Hz local-dimming LED HDTV’s set a new standard. Another exciting new HDTV from LG is their new TXH-certified TruBlack plasma; they use technology similar to the award-winning Pioneer Kuro panels, at a fraction of the cost. And Samsung and Sony showcased extensive lines of 3D HDTV’s. With 3D Blu-Ray coming available this year, and providers like DirecTV offering dedicated 3-D channels, it’s clear 3D for the home will be a practical alternative in 2010. As each of these new products hits our stores I’ll let you know here on my blog; or follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay informed on all the latest new products!

Custom order your new living room in under 30 days!

When it comes to furniture shopping, some are naturally blessed with an eye for fabric and color; others would prefer a bit of design help. Even if you’re comfortable doing it all yourself, it seems the perfect sofa, tables, lamps and accessories are never in stock; so who knows how long you’ll have to wait. That’s where Sherman’s Custom Comfort Center comes in, you can special order complete rooms in the fabric or leather of your choice, and have it custom made and delivered in under 30 days! And if you want design help, look no further; just spend some time with one of our design professionals. We’ll help you layout the complete room, and achieve that new look that will enhance your home and you can enjoy every day. Stop in to one of our locations this week, or make a room planning appointment today!