We are saddened to report that Howard Miller passed away earlier this week.
Canadian sales rep Steve Baker who worked along side Howard for many years reflected that, “this week we lost one of our industry’s legends. We will remember Howard as being one of the most dedicated and loyal industry representatives. His career spanned many decades as he refused to retire until his late seventies. Saving the world with Audio since 1960 was how he titled himself!”
Howard started his electronics career in 1960 as a teenager, at one of Toronto’s premium electronic retailers, Bay Bloor Radio. He entered the wholesale side in 1971 joining Gould Marketing, an early Canadian distributor, carrying audio brands, including Harman Kardon.
In 1992, Howard moved over to Erikson Consumer (a division of then Jam Industries, now Exertis) with many of his co-workers from Gould. This is where Howard spent the balance of his career, first as an employee and then as a sales agent.
Representing, most notably, Harman Kardon and JBL, Howard continued his wholesale career, maintaining the utmost respect from his dealer base. In his later years, he also joined up with Nexus International (now Motet Distribution) and represented the popular FiiO portable audio brand.
“Howard’s dedication to both his customers and the companies he worked with over the many years” adds Baker, “earned him the amazing reputation.”
Martin Szpiro, President & CEO of Jam Industries / DCC Technology North America reflects on working with Howard Miller, one of the men that truly invented the consumer electronics repping business.
I entered the audio industry in 1981 as the Ontario sales rep for my father’s company, Pro-Acoustics. I clearly remember meeting Howard for the first time, at Brack Electronics. Howard was an important rep working for Gould Marketing, selling all the Harman brands. He was very welcoming to me and always had time to give me as the new kid. His advice and direction were always welcomed as our paths crossed over the years.
Classic Howard, the first thing he told me was that I had started in the business too late and I had already missed all the good times! The 1970’s was what Howard was referencing, a period when audio really took off. By 1991, I was with Jam Industries and we had taken over the Harman brands. Howard and many Gould marketing employees joined us.
At Jam, I had the pleasure of working with Howard for decades. I spent lots of great times on the road with him. Howard always amazed me for he never really “sold”. Every store we went to seemed like home to him, and he was embraced by the staff as one of their own. He literally could stay at a shop all day, and some days he did setting up camp in some corner of the store. I can picture him smoking and talking endlessly on their phone as if he worked there! Yet, somehow the visit would always end with an order. How he did that was a mystery to me but part of the Howard magic.
Howard was special. He was a consummate professional, a wonderful human being, and a great family man. Howard spent 50 years of his life selling Hifi. He was simply one of our best. He will truly be missed.
Martin Szpiro
President & CEO. DCC Technology North America
The family will welcome visits of condolence at 154 York Hill Blvd. in Thornhill beginning Sunday following the interment until 7:30 pm, continuing Monday and Tuesday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm, and on Wednesday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Visits will conclude on Wednesday, October 23rd at 5:00 pm.