Advertising technology
(Digital) sign of the times: Stratacache expects growth
Producer of digital media makes expansion plans while considering a new home for its headquarters.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Extras
Chris Riegel is the chief executive officer of Stratacache. Staff photo by Lisa PowellDAYTON — To grow, Chris Riegel is doing business the old-fashioned way: Working with those who need more of his products, even if they're being hurt by the recession.
The approach is working well enough that Riegel, chief executive of Stratacache, is readying an announcement soon on two options for his new global headquarters: Remaining in Dayton or moving to Texas.
Riegel, 36, was saying little about his plans on Monday, Jan. 26. But he had plenty to say on strategies that are helping him weather the economic storm.
And he said his firm remains on target to achieve a long-standing goal: Hitting $250 million in annual revenue by 2012, as well as having 250 employees.
Based in a nondescript building off East Third Street, two of Stratacache's fastest growing divisions include Activia digital signage systems and Omnicast digital media.
IP (Internet Protocol) video is growing, as well. Riegel said signage remains No. 1, but IP video is "on fire."
Stratacache is the force behind digital advertisements on large-screen monitors found in many businesses: retail environments, hotels, cell phone and computer stores, bank branches and more.
When businesses need assistance with those signs or "out-of-home media," Stratacache also comes into play.
"If you call into an AT&T support desk for digital signage, it's that room right there," the Alter High School graduate said, gesturing to his right during an interview at Stratacache offices.
The company has offices and locations around the world, from Dayton to Ireland to India.
But the four chief technical centers — where much of the firm's software is written — are in Boston, Montreal, Salt Lake City and San Jose, Calif.
Until the location announcement, Dayton remains home. Riegel said he is speaking with state, county and city officials. An announcement is about two months away, he said.
"One of the few strong assets of Dayton is a lower back-end infrastructure cost," he said.
"When we're competitively bidding out operations, Dayton is not India in terms of low cost, but you can run high-quality services from here much cheaper than from San Jose or New York or Boston."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Stratacache
Based: 1031 E. Third St., Dayton.
Dayton employees: About 25.
Total employees: About 100.
Products: Digital signs, digital video and content delivery, "out-of-home" media.
Quote: "We're in the agile communication business. A certain large retailer of ours, when they fired their CEO and gave him a huge severance package, was able to be on live with their associates 20 minutes after it hit CNBC." — Chris Riegel, Stratacache CEO.
Acquisition Plans: "We will certainly buy companies in 2009 and continue to grow that way." — Riegel.
www.stratacache.com
