Marketing Concepts was founded in September, 1984; a new company in name only. Its founders, Bruce Marlin and Gayleen Leach, had well over a decade of experience in the marketing and sales of professional audio, video, lighting and musical instruments. Rounding out the core of Marketing Concepts’ management team, Michael Austin joined Bruce and Gay a year later. In addition to Michael’s pro background, he brought a wealth of experience in the consumer audio/video industry to the firm.

Marketing Concepts is actively marketing in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Supported by four offices, we provide a full package of services for sales administration. These fundamental services are supported by telemarketing, mailings, internet, "MACS" a computerized order entry system (which is EDI capable), dealer-accessed toll-free phone lines and fax lines; as well as training seminars and a strong presence through frequent personal sales visits with dealers. This is the foundation of Marketing Concepts.

Bruce Marlin - President of Marketing Concepts, has deep roots in audio, video and music production. Bruce's educational background includes San Francisco State University and many industry related seminars such as Synergetics Audio Concepts. Bruce's experience embraces all aspects of our industry; Retail Sales and Management (Dave Kelsey's Audio Concepts and Westlake Audio); Manufacturing (National Sales and Marketing Manager of UREI); authoring featured articles for “System Contractor News” and five years experience as a Regional Sales Representative of pro audio/video equipment here in the Southwest. Bruce's varied background avails us a unique perspective on our industry.

Gayleen Leach - Secretary/Treasurer and Administrative Manager, at our home office in Dallas, attended North Texas State (Journalism Major) had over 12 years experience as Administrative Manager for pro audio and video reps in the Southwest prior to taking the helm for Marketing Concepts in 1984.

Sales Manager, Michael Austin, encamped at our San Antonio office, has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and has over seven years of retail experience, with a Lufkin-based pro audio store and sound contractor. Michael joined Marketing Concepts in September 1985, bringing technical expertise and a sense of the entrepreneurial way of thinking. In 1987 Michael became a partner in the firm. After 16 years of managing a regional territory himself, Michael now uses his finely honed, highly developed and uniquely creative organizational skills to coordinate the efforts of our sales staff.

(Northern) Regional Sales Manager, Mike Dragoo, is based out of Tulsa, OK. Mike has had over 10 years of experience in music and retail audio sales as General Manager for one of the top music store chains in Oklahoma. Mike's experience includes sales management and conducting sales training courses in addition to being a top musician. Mike’s background is greatly varied and his talents vast.

(North Texas) Regional Sales Manager, Sean Shallenberger, headquarters out of our home office in Dallas, TX. Sean has a Bachelors Degree in Radio Production and Business from the University of Texas at Arlington. For five years Sean served as Sales Manager and then General Manager for one of the largest Pro Audio dealers in the Southwest. Completing the Harry Freidman Selling System, Sean was a trainer for the Zig Ziglar course: “Strategies for Success”. Working as a local Dallas musician and businessman, Sean has a deep understanding of our market. With extensive experience in the recording studio and as a local businessman in retail sales, and music production, Sean brings to our clients and their customers a unique market understanding.

(Houston, East Texas & Louisiana) Regional Sales Manager Bain McEldowney heads up our Houston based office. Bain is responsible for Houston and the surrounding area, East Texas up to Nacogdoches, and all of Louisiana with the exception of Shreveport. Bain has a varied background starting with a degree from St. Edwards University and most recently worked in the world of Radio, TV and Film. Bain is a avid music fan, and claims to play guitar. He brings solid background of problem solving, and a fresh perspective to territory management.

(Austin/San Antonio, South and West Texas) Currently open and accepting applications for the position. Please contact Michael Austin for additional information.

With the tremendous growth in engineered audio/video systems, contracting and home entertainment centers, our technical skills have put us at the forefront of this business. Our territories are home to many major spec writers and we support them through frequent calls, keeping a high level of involvement with their projects not only in our own territory but around the country.

The Southwest is quickly becoming an alternative to the East and West coasts, successfully luring some of the largest corporations' headquarters to our area. In addition, our region has enjoyed capturing many major TV, cinema and recording projects. This has created the need for leading-edge technology and technicians in these areas. Marketing Concepts was originally created with the belief that to be truly effective in an industry with rapid technological advances, a sales team needs to be as strong technically as it is market wise. Marketing Concepts is interested in developing new ideas and applications for marketing state-of-the-art equipment.

Even with the wealth of talen t in these arts and technologies, the Southwest has a tremendous thirst for further education in the hardware/software of their respective medias. The difference between Marketing Concepts and other rep companies is twofold. The first is our commitment to education; this being one of our strongest marketing and sales tools. Monthly, we host seminars in our state-of the art training center located in Dallas.

The second difference is Marketing Concepts use of EASE and ShutlCad. This service is used to support our clients who do design-build projects. We have also found these to be powerful training tools. Marketing Concepts is always looking for ways to bring additional value to our business relationships. Marketing Concepts’ Dallas facility contains our 2000 square foot warehouse. This servers as point-of-origin for some of our manufacturers’ shipping, providing them with a competitive edge.

This kind of effort reflects Marketing Concepts’ commitment to raising the bar that our industry judges it’s reps by. Our efforts offer manufacturers an additional dimension to their marketing programs. A strong technical knowledge, in combination with our professional sales team and frequent dealer contacts, keeps us and our manufacturers in the forefront and in tune with our dealer network.

Marketing Concepts World Wide Web Inter-Net Connection
Marketing Concepts offers a world wide InterNet connection to the most popular audio/ video and automation lines in the business. Whether you are in your office, home or on the road you can make a connection with our manufacturers and dealers. It's simple, dial up your InterNet connection and point your browser to: http://www.Mar-Con.com

The Marketing Concepts Web site guarantees immediate access to the information you need to make real world decisions. This Web site is linked via E-mail for your convenience, so leave a message. Busy schedule? Never worry about missing our call, our E-mail response will be waiting in your E-mail box no matter when or where your schedule takes you.

Naturally, the Marketing Concepts Web facility offers links to many of our manufacturers and their distributors from one convenient Web address. Additionally, the Marketing Concepts news-wire provides up to the minute news releases on the hottest new products, trade shows and distributor news. We'd like to hear your suggestions as we continue to explore new ways to provide better dealer/manufacturer support with this powerful tool. Once again Marketing Concepts moves boldly to embrace a new technology and insure the best representation in our business. Nothing is more important than timely accurate information that's easily accessible when you need it. So please take a few minutes to visit us the next time you're on the InterNet at http://www.Mar-Con.com.

Once again Marketing Concepts moves boldly to embrace a new technology and insure the best representation in our business. Nothing is more important than timely accurate information that's easily accessible when you need it. So please take a few minutes to visit us the next time you're on the InterNet at http://www.Mar-Con.com.

To maintain their competitive edge, engineers, artists and consultants here in the Southwest are always looking to further their education with hands-on training. In keeping with Marketing Concepts1 strong and deeply rooted commitment to education, we have built a new office, warehouse and training facility, raising the standards of service offered by Audio Video Representatives.

Marketing Concepts is proud to have one of the finest training centers in the country. Over 1500 square feet of classrooms, including a full kitchen for catered events. Each classroom is supported with a multi-media system and is wired for video conferencing. Two of the rooms are linked by soundproof glass and an isolated connector panel. Each room1s panel allows for a variety of different audio, video and computer signal formats to pass from room-to-room in either direction simultaneously. This allows these unique rooms incredible flexibility, dramatically enhancing the educational process. Each panel is configured with gold pin balanced Mic lines, 16 in one direction and 8 in the other, 12-Speakon NL4MP,1 RGBVH, 1-BNC, 1-S Video 4-pin minidin and 2-SVGA connectors. For commercial and home cinema training the larger of these two rooms has a built-in surround-sound system. A third classroom replicates a corporate boardroom setting.

In addition to Marketing Concepts on-going dealer training classes, we host 4 to 5 major training seminars a year. Our guest speakers are of international acclaim and are tops in their field. Centrally located between Dallas1 two airports and close to some of the best shopping in the country, Marketing Concepts1 Training Center is within walking distance of several comfortable hotels and fine restaurants. With so many conveniences and fine amenities, Marketing Concepts Training Center, has attracted attendees from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico.

For more information on up-coming seminars and training events please check our web-site at http://www.Mar-Con.com or call us at 800-860 0669.

FULL SERVICE: Marketing Concepts is committed to growing the business of our customers (both dealers and manufacturers) with services that define; and as our market needs expand, re-define the highest level of sales and customer support in our industry.

FURTHERING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Marketing Concepts is passionately devoted to sharpening our customers' skills and competitiveness through furthering education. The imparting of knowledge and application of the latest equipment and software to our customers is the cornerstone of Marketing Concepts' service-based approach to business.

TALENTED PEOPLE: The asset which will be most responsible for the success of Marketing Concepts fulfilling its daily mission is our marketing, sales and customer support team. This group of highly talented, passionately dedicated and skilled individuals is firmly committed to providing the best sales and marketing in our industry. This is backed by our industry-leading customer support team whose sole goal is to provide our customers with the most friendly, expedient and comprehensive service possible. Our sales team also works closely with our customers to quickly identify changes in our rapidly evolving market, formulate new serviced-based approaches to addressing these ever growing needs and then implement them in a timely manner.

TRAINING FACILITY: Marketing Concepts' training facility reflects our passionate devotion to extending educational opportunities to our market. We have dedicated over 1500 square feet of classroom space, including a full kitchen for catered events. We are committed to hosting classes and lectures taught by the top speakers in their fields.

WEB-SITE: Marketing Concepts hosts and maintains its own Web-Site with links to all of its Manufacturers and regional Consultants, in addition to industry-related articles and press-releases. http://www.Mar-Con.com

NEWSLETTER: Marketing Concepts, several times a year, publishes a newsletter with the up-coming seminars and hot news items of the moment.