AV8 Distribution launches with project support at the heart of Its strategy

There’s a new UK specialist AV distributor in town, but the talent behind it will already be familiar to most AV professionals.

AV8 Distribution, founded by industry veteran Barry Sheldrick, will focus on high-performance residential AV, home cinema and integrated technology projects.
Sheldrick brings more than 20 years of experience to the venture, including senior roles at TAG McLaren Audio, IAG, Pulse and Meridian, where he spent over a decade building and leading the Distributed by Meridian (DbM) operation before its closure.

Central to the AV8 proposition is the belief that successful AV projects depend on support long before products are ordered. The company intends to work alongside integrators during specification, system design and sales development, helping ensure products are matched appropriately to project requirements and potential issues are addressed early in the process.

That involvement extends beyond project planning. AV8 says it will continue supporting partners through installation, commissioning and ongoing aftersales care, viewing long-term relationships as a core part of its business model. The company argues that this approach can help integrators specify with greater confidence while delivering stronger outcomes for end clients.

Rather than pursuing a broad catalogue strategy, AV8 has chosen to focus on a select group of manufacturers that serve the high-performance residential and home cinema sectors. The company says this allows it to offer a greater level of technical expertise and engagement for each brand it represents, while ensuring products are supported throughout the project lifecycle.

For integrators that previously worked with Distributed by Meridian, the transition is expected to be familiar. Sheldrick notes that the relationships, technical knowledge and project support philosophy developed through DbM will continue under the AV8 banner. At the same time, the new business has been established to work with manufacturers and integration partners beyond the former Meridian network.

Commenting on the launch, Sheldrick said he had seen many projects fail to reach their full potential because critical support was missing during the specification phase.

“I have seen too many projects that have been underspecified, delivering an average client experience,” he says, “not because the brands were not strong or the integrators were not capable, but because the support in between was not there when it mattered the most.”

He believes better collaboration between manufacturers, distributors and integrators can improve project outcomes and help deliver stronger client experiences.

Based in the UK, AV8 Distribution will provide demonstration facilities, technical sales assistance, specification support and project consultation services. For more, visit www.av8distribution.com.