Q&A with JACLYN & DONNIE BOUTWELL OF MEDIA SYSTEMS

Media Systems delivers the best user experience by far. They support a full spectrum of home automation products and solutions to ensure unparalleled performance and reliability for you and your family. All of the technology they recommend for your home is built to work together. They provide a completely custom and personalized worry-free system that is easy to use.

You thrived through Covid. Times remain uncertain for many. How do you navigate the ups and downs?

We serve. We believe that serving well keeps families connected to our team. Then their parents, kids and neighbors also invite us into their homes. Our forward-thinking approach to the supply chain crisis allowed us to have parts when many others were waiting weeks and months. In 2020, we began purchasing 6-12 months ahead without knowing when we’d need the parts. It was a leap of faith and has been the solution to keep projects moving forward.

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Successful people usually have many choices in what to do professionally. Why did you choose this?

Donnie’s uncle started the company in 1980, and it’s evolved from HiFi and home theaters to lighting control, music, WiFi networks, thermostats and motorized shades and drapes. Our company is always evolving. Donnie and I have both worked in a lot of creative careers, which all just gave us more experience to do what we do now. We love getting to work together, but also, creating something special for each homeowner.

At Media Systems, you pride yourselves on providing the best service in the industry.

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We have a service hotline that homeowners can call or text to get a fast response. But more than that, it’s the follow-up. We say among our team, “The job isn’t done until the homeowner agrees that it’s done.” We’re a small business (typically 10-15 employees), but we’re big enough to have a service manager and dedicated service technicians. Following up and finishing the job is what makes the difference.

You’ve said before that “job satisfaction is more tied to the people you work with than the work that you do.” Tell us about your people.

We have a great team! Many of them have a long history together. We’ve worked hard to build trust and relationships. In the mornings, you can find our whole staff in the stock room, catching up about their recent hunting trip or their daughter’s volleyball tournament. We usually crack up — and beg everyone to let us have a TV show! It would be a hit!

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Late educator Stephen Covey said that successful people “begin with the end in the mind.” At your business, what’s the end?

Technology in the home should be easy to use, beautifully designed and unbelievably reliable. That’s the end goal. Easy, so I’m not fumbling through several remotes to turn on the TV. I can walk in the door and press “Home” for lights, shades and thermostats to all move to the perfect setting. Beautiful is about the treatments. How are we framing this TV? Where are we hiding the receiver? We work with designers, builders,and architects to weave technology into the design of the space.

Covey also spoke of having a “win-win strategy,” in which both the business owner and the customer win in the transaction. Can you describe your win-win strategy?

I once had a homeowner come to our showroom in a sports car in the quarter-million-dollar price range. When I said, “The speakers in this room are about $750 a pair,” he was shocked. Speakers can range from $200 to $200,000 a pair. Just because someone can afford something, doesn’t mean they value it. We never try to talk someone into something they’re not interested in. We want to educate and help you decide what you deem important for your own home. To us, win-win means we get you exactly what you need at a price that you’re comfortable with.

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QQWhat was the highlight of 2022 at your business?

AAWe hired a master electrician. The AV and electrical industries have been converging for many years as new lighting technology for the home is developed. We are seeing major development in “human-centric lighting.” This is akin to the concept of circadian rhythm that wellness experts want you to incorporate into your life. In the morning the outdoor light comes up in a dim amber. By mid-day, lighting is bright and very white. Then by evening it’s back to the warm dim tones. We can turnkey lighting installations including full-spectrum color fixtures as well as tunable white. Light effects wellness, and we’re more equipped than ever to master this in new construction and retrofit installations.

What’s new for 2023 that you’re excited about?

Tunable lighting, blazing fast WiFi6, and TEN GIG NETWORKS! We’re also offering Cinematech Theater Design/Build program, Josh.ai Voice controls, Leon-Speakers bespoke designs, and of course Italian made speakers from Sonus Faber. On the personal side, we have been offering training for parents on internet safety and parental controls. We’ve spoken to a handful of churches and private schools. It’s a passion of ours to be able to help others and shed some light on something that can be so overwhelming!