LAWTON – Coast Audio Video employed six workers in May 2020, but the employee list tripled soon after the global pandemic reached Oklahoma.
A record number of people lost their jobs, students throughout Oklahoma were suddenly thrust into virtual schooling and families were quarantined to avoid contracting the deadly virus.
But Chris Coast, owner of Coast Audio Video in Lawton, soon experienced a significant increase in new business and revenue.
“With people working from home and kids forced to do virtual classrooms, families were staying home a lot more and started using newer forms of technology,” he said.
Soon, movie theaters and other entertainment venues were closing, which provided another source of income for Coast’s company.
“People started beefing up everything from their home computers to putting in home theater systems,” said Coast. “Instead of going on vacations, they were spending all of their time at home.”
Families were soon spending anywhere from $500 to upgrade their computers to $100,000 for a complete, high-end theater system.
“People could spend as much as they want,” Coast said. “This (technology) has always been there. Now, people are at home and they’re researching the technology that’s out there.”
As the demand for the company’s services hit in April and May of 2020, Coast hired 12 new workers to help with the increase in business, which took technicians to every corner of Oklahoma. Although he wants the virus to disappear, Coast is banking on sustained growth created by COVID-19.
The increase in business didn’t stop with residential accounts. The Lawton-based company is continuing to work with public school districts, colleges and universities to develop remote-access learning, Zoom meetings and other online oriented technology.
Churches have also become more interested in distance worshipping.
“More COVID, there weren’t many churches doing that,” Coast said. “But a lot of them are live streaming their services now. We helped dozens of churches do that in 2020.”
Recently, Coast sent a team of workers to a Tulsa church where they spent two weeks installing equipment and prepping for live streaming capabilities.
“It (COVID) has forced people – families, schools and churches – to think about their options. We are a reliable company that focuses on integrating technologies. That takes the learning curve away from the customer and allows us to install systems that fit them,” he said.
At the same time, Coast Audio Visual has been installing pro lighting systems for churches, auditoriums and theaters for the day when those venues reopen to the public. Similar lighting systems are being installed in residences where homeowners want more automation.
“More people are wanting that in their homes. The system notices the Bluetooth technology on the cellphone when a family comes home, which causes the lights to turn on, music to come on and the shades to go down. It’s completely customized for the homeowner,” he said.
Because of the pandemic and the public’s desire for more audio and visual technology, Coast is confident in his company’s future.
“Instead of selling the idea of something, they (public) have seen it in their businesses, churches and schools and they see it can be adapted to their homes,” he said. “There are so many things you can automate to make your quality of life better. Automation is the key.”
Coast Audio Visual is located at 29 SW C Avenue in Lawton. For more information about the company’s products and services, visit www.coastaudiovideo.com or call 580-585-7873.