In this third instalment of the Mastering Connectivity podcast series hosted by AV Trade Talks, industry-leading husband and wife team Michael and Hailey Daly at integration firm, Wired By MJD, share the secrets behind the creation of their CEDIA award-winning showroom located in the Yarra Valley in Australia, as well as how to run a successful, family-friendly company as partners in business and life.
During this informative discussion, the Dalys attribute much of the showroom’s remarkable AV and automation performance to the nearly 3 kilometres of Kordz cabling connecting the myriad high-end devices from leading brands such as Aurenda, JVC, Leica, Polk Audio and more throughout the 87-square-metre building. Joining the How to Create the Ultimate Showroom podcast is Greg Parastatidis, former integrator and Managing Director of Kordz Australia, who offers his perspective on the importance of a reliable digital backbone to the creation of a seamless, high-performing home technology environment like the Daly’s superb Showroom and Experience Centre.
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The Dalys and Parastatidis agree: showrooms and experience centres are powerful sales tools. They allow clients to instantly grasp the benefits of a connected lifestyle through realistic, immersive home vignettes. While the concept seems straightforward, many integrators find the execution daunting. Securing the space, curating products, designing appealing interiors, and building a dependable cabling infrastructure require meticulous planning and expertise.
To emphasise this point, Michael and Hailey Daly recount their incredible journey from a simple hand-sketched concept to a polished, award-winning showroom. They openly discuss the challenges, triumphs and lessons learned while creating a space that delivers immersive, memorable experiences—the kind that converts leads into loyal customers.
“It all starts with a vision,” Michael explains during the podcast. “We wanted our showroom guests to feel like they were walking into a home, envisioning these features in their own spaces.” From wall switches to lighting, every element was chosen with this intent. “The wrong choice could make the space feel like the cockpit of an airplane,” Hailey adds. Avoiding a sterile or overwhelming design was paramount. Instead, the Dalys created a relatable and inviting atmosphere—not just for showroom visitors, but for themselves and their four children. The showroom also serves as a space where the Daly family spends time, ensuring its comfort and functionality are family-approved and client-ready.
Building the Wired By MJD Showroom and Experience Centre wasn’t without its hurdles. The 87-square-meter facility required careful strategic planning to maximise every square inch. Cabling was particularly challenging, with network, speaker and HDMI cables tightly packed behind walls and equipment racks. The Dalys turned to the Kordz Australia team for innovative solutions, such as the ultra-slim PRS SlimCat Cat6A Cable, and flexible PRS4 HDMI Cables and ONE Speaker Cabling, which allowed them to conserve space without compromising performance.
The result is a meticulously organised infrastructure that the Dalys proudly showcase. Visitors are invited to view the neatly terminated cables and equipment racks, educating them about the critical role cabling plays in system performance. “The back of the rack also demonstrates our attention to detail and craftsmanship,” notes Michael, who was named APAC’s CEDIA Technician of the Year in 2024, offering this tip to fellow integrators: never underestimate the importance of clean, well-planned cable management.
Understanding the need to accommodate evolving technology, the Dalys future-proofed their showroom by selecting cables with ample bandwidth headroom. For instance, the PRS4 HDMI Cables currently support 4K video and are fully capable of handling 8K, ensuring seamless upgrades when new products arrive. Similarly, the PRS SlimCat Cat6A Network cable is ready to support Wi-Fi 7, making the showroom easily adaptable to next-generation demands.
Greg Parastatidis commends this foresight. “Kordz cables not only deliver exceptional performance today but are built to maintain that performance for years to come,” he says. Michael adds, “We’ve seen Kordz cables from 20 years ago still push 4K signals—that’s a testament to their quality.”
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Accolades Across the Board
Given the exceptional performance, the relatable home-like vibe, and the seamless connectivity of multiple tech brands within the Wired By MJD Showroom and Experience Centre, it’s no wonder it won a prestigious CEDIA Smart Home Award for Best Showroom in 2024, the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association. During the How to Create the Ultimate Showroom podcast, Michael and Hailey briefly discuss this honour, as well as the individual awards they received from CEDIA for their professionalism and support of the integration industry. The three awards are symbolic of Wired By MJD’s commitment to being professionals at the top of their game and delivering their customers exceptional technological experiences.
To learn more about Wired By MJD’s Showroom and Experience Centre, be sure to read the complete case study here. For more information about Kordz’ extensive cabling and connectivity solutions, please check out our range. Also please subscribe to our monthly newsletter to tune into future episodes of Mastering Connectivity, where Kordz and its special industry guests will continue to demystify technology, share handy installation tips and offer solutions for common integrations challenges.
If you missed Episodes 1 and 2 of the Mastering Connectivity series, you can catch up here.
A special thanks to AV Trade Talks host, Katye McGregor Bennett, and the team at KMB Communications, for collaborating on this podcast series.
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