26 Residential Tech Today | Jan/Feb 2020
INNOVATOR SPOTLIGHT
Building Brand Integrity
For HEDsouth, Transparency is Crucial When Managing Client Expectations
By Jeremy Glowacki
For more than 35 years Jan Vitrofsky has
worked to simplify and personalize potentially
complex home technology innovations for his
clients. With the drive and experience he
acquired while working in the electronics
industry since 1975, he launched his company,
HEDsouth, in 1984. Jan and his company built a
portfolio of solutions for local, national, and
international clients. Clients such as ABC, CBS,
Sony, Disney, and the White House have
benefited from profound understanding and
seamless execution of technology, people,
and design.
Like three pieces of an interlocking puzzle,
Jan Vitrofsky (HEDsouth), Ofer Abutbul
(Powerfull Electric), and Shalom Illouz
(Powerfull Systems) joined forces to create a
unique electronics integration company that can
provide the entertainment, lighting, shading,
climate, control, and integrated design and then
perform turnkey electronics prewire, wiring,
installation, programming, service, and world
class support.
HEDsouth today are home entertainment and
design companies that span Southern Florida
and California, delivering experience and a
devoted team to supply the complete
infrastructure and lifestyle solution for
discerning clients.
Here’s what else we learned from our
conversation with Vitrofsky.
Residential Tech Today: What are the most
important lessons you’ve learned while
running your integration business?
Jan Vitrofsky: After 30-plus years of
HEDsouth, I’ve learned that the central
component to our success and growth is
ensuring that the brand’s integrity remains at the
forefront of everything we deliver. One of the
most valuable, important lessons I’ve learned is
that listening to clients is the key to making
certain we deliver the client’s vision in its
entirety, and everything in between the lines, as
well. For instance, how have your experiences
shaped the way you manage client expectations
in initial design meetings and/or the workflow
of a project?
From the start, transparency is crucial
when managing client expectations and striving
for a healthy client relationship. We’re always
sure that clients get the full scope of our
capabilities and understand what to expect
during the designing, installation, and postinstallation
process.
RT Today: What part of this business makes
you happiest? What do you find most
frustrating?
JV: Personal word of mouth referrals from
clients are always happy moments because that
attests to their level of satisfaction with their
experience. On the flip side, dealing with the
infrastructure of employees – even terrific
employees – can be frustrating at times. For me,
I’m wired to work with our clients and most
motivated by their happiness and wellbeing.
RT Today: When you’re deciding whether
to start offering a new product or technology
in your projects, what are some of the most
important criteria you consider?
JV: I always live with and test the product in
my own home first when considering new
products or features to offer in my installations.
This way I’m able to experience the product in
the real world and therefore able to advocate for
it on a personal level. I also look into the
company behind the product or technology to
make sure it aligns with our offerings and values
at HEDsouth, and I evaluate the company’s
experience and history.
RT Today: Currently, do you have favorite
products or technology that you like to work
with? If so, what are they and why?
JV: My favorite technology is lighting control
and light fixtures and, of course, the closely
aligned field of wellness. Being able to have
indoor lighting mirror natural light when you
wake up and when you go to sleep plays a big
role in wellbeing and has been personally very
significant. It helps set your circadian clock.
This is especially important for people who are
indoors for the majority of the day, which is
most of us. The new category of wellness is a
crucial part of technology, so this is a very
exciting aspect of what we offer at HEDsouth,
and definitely one of my favorites.
RT Today: Looking ahead, what technology
trend do you expect to have the most
influence on the work that you do?
JV: The wellness sector is growing rapidly as
people continue to understand that there are
things that can be done affordably to improve
their quality of life. Because of this, wellness
technology will definitely influence what we do.
It already has. I’ve been working with wellness
products since 2018, and since then we’ve seen
30-percent growth in the company specifically
dedicated to the integration of wellness. x
Jan Vitrofsky, HEDsouth