Case Study
TV Cord management has never been better.
Hiding clutter & empowering DIYers, one cable at a time.
Purchasing a new Flat Panel TV can be a daunting experience, even for gadget geeks. Hours of online comparison shopping and multiple trips to the Big Box stores is only the beginning. With all of the meticulous planning for the perfect TV and matching wall-mount bracket, did you figure out what to do with all of those cluttered cables dangling down the wall?
Legrand / Wiremold, a maker of innovative wire and cable management solutions, sought out IN2’s help to solve the pesky problem of hiding power cords and cables for wall-mounted flat-screen televisions.
Combatting DIY Frustration
Over recent years, the Consumer Electronics industry has experienced an explosion of flat-screen TV sales as prices have dropped. Combined with the popularity of cable shows on HGTV and the DIY network, consumer’s aspirations demand a high-end ‘Pro-décor’ look.
Mounting a TV on the wall creates cable management challenges. Consumers don’t want to see wires; they want them concealed from view for a professional-looking installation. Typically, no outlets exist in the mounting location resulting in a dangling, messy cables. Running a TV power cord through the wall is an electrical code violation and fire hazard.
Many people have a fear of DIY projects that involve electricity and electrical connections. Professional installations require a licensed electrician to install a new electrical outlet for the TV, an expensive and time-consuming endeavor.
These challenges turn a seemingly simple task of hiding wires into a frustrating installation project.
Electrical avoidance & Installation anxiety
Gaining access to people’s homes, we found many workarounds disguised as ‘solutions’ – ranging from ‘rats-nests’ of cabling hanging from the TV to stuffing the cables behind furniture. Some even had the TV power cable running behind the wall posing a potential danger.
When it comes to wiring, a key insight uncovered was the homeowner’s apprehension towards electrical projects in the home. The team called this ‘Electrical Avoidance’ to describe the common, inherent fear and wondering if the task was being done correctly, especially if it involves making bare-wire connections.
Even with this fear, consumers stated that they didn’t want to pay an electrician to install an extra outlet and deal with the hassles of scheduling around work and busy family life.
Cutting holes into the walls of a house can be a nervous and intimidating venture, especially if a user has never done it before. For typical installations of electrical boxes, skill and straight-bladed drywall saw to cut a rectangular hole is all that’s needed – something a DIYer may not possess.
Simplicity Rules
Installation couldn’t be easier. Instead of relying on skill for time-consuming rectangular wall cut-outs, this solution utilizes a hole saw to cut a single round hole. Cutting a round hole is a simple, one-step process and requires no clumsy templates or measuring (beyond location). Pre-wired power modules easily secure to the wall while the provided ‘fish tape’ allows for the power cable and low voltage connectors (such as an HDMI cable for your DVD player) to be routed through the wall.
The Solution
It’s all about the kit.
As with any project that involves ‘Installation’, any DIYer, beginner or experienced, wants to have the basics of the project covered. It’s the desire to have all of the tools and parts required for the job at the start, without the need to make the inevitable second or third trip to the hardware store. This drove the decision to provide a ‘kit’ comprised of a full suite of parts and tools to get the job done quickly and easily. Including a separate handle in the kit is an added bonus (the handle can be used for manual cutting – no power drill needed!).
The solution had to be a simple plug-n-play system if it were to gain consumer acceptance. The result removes that anxiety from the entire process by eliminating the need to make any wired connections. Visually, the power modules align with true ‘form follows function’ adage. The rounded form is unique separating it apart from a typical home wall plate but still complements its environment. It is also an industry-first technical innovation that embodied the conceptualization and execution of over-molding NM-B cable, the only cable rated for use in walls of building structures.
Impact
Since product roll-out in time for the holiday shopping season, sales have skyrocketed and exceeded expectations.
Success comes from combining a simple installation method and enhancing safety by eliminating the need to make any electrical connections, removing ‘installation anxiety’ and ‘electrical avoidance’ from the equation.
Partnering with IN2, Legrand has solved the pesky problem of hiding power cords and cables for wall-mounted flat-screen televisions delighting consumers and instilling the confidence to tackle the job themselves, without the needed and cost of an electrician.
The Legrand ‘Flat Screen TV Cord and Cable Power Kit’ was selected as a 2012 IDEA Finalist.
