the voice of George Harrison of Harrison Home Systems
In today’s fast-paced world, our homes are more than just four walls and a roof. They serve as our sanctuaries; places where we seek solace, comfort and protection. As we strive to create a haven for ourselves and our loved ones, the importance of home security has become paramount.
Yet, home technology does not stop at security systems. An array of innovations have emerged that not only fortify our homes but create havens of future-forward design in lighting, entertaining, wellness and more. An explorer of the cutting-edge innovations that are revolutionizing the way we live, George Harrison of Harrison Home Systems sat down with us to discuss his views on home tech.
- What inspired you to create a home technology business? Where did Harrison Home Systems get its start?
- I started out in the home automation business working in the high-end homes and hotels of Telluride, Colorado in 1992. After many years of working for another company, I decided to go out on my own. Out of respect for my boss at the time, I relocated to Crested Butte to start Harrison Home Systems in 2000. I moved the company to the Front Range in 2002.
- What unique services or products does your company offer to homeowners?
- We provide luxury technology systems of all types with a specialization in integrating technology into the built structure of the home. Some types of systems we provide include audio/video, home theater, motorized shading, lighting control, intelligent lighting fixtures and home automation. Most recently we are offering homeowners solutions to improve the overall wellness of their homes. We are unique in that we have a WELL-certified staff member on our team.
- In what ways do you customize technology solutions to meet the specific needs of each homeowner?
- We customize our home automation solutions by first listening to the needs of our customers. We pride ourselves in not overselling, and tailoring our systems to our customers’ unique needs. We want to educate homeowners on all the current possibilities and then meet them where they feel comfortable and see the value.
- How do you ensure that the home technology system blends seamlessly into luxury homes?
- Our newly finished showroom demonstrates to customers and trade partners the multitude of possibilities in incorporating technology into a home without compromising its design. With everything from custom television lifts, TVs that also function as art frames, and invisible in-wall speakers, to centralized racks that keep the equipment out of site and allow remote control from a switch or smart device, it is possible to have a room full of entertainment technology without viewing any of it.
In addition, our intelligent lighting fixtures, motorized shading and control systems allow homeowners to set and control the optimal lighting environment in the home depending on the time of day or time of year. Homeowners can control lighting temperatures, light color and brightness of each fixture creating the best lighting possible in each room. And, motorized shading adds the benefit of automated protection from our intense Colorado sun for prized fine art, furniture and flooring.
- You offer something more than just robust technology systems; you create peace of mind. How does this responsibility affect your drive to provide the best-in-class security to homeowners?
- We want to empower homeowners to create state-of-the-art sanctuaries in their homes. That includes peace-of-mind and enhancing the convenience and sense of well-being in the home. While that might mean something different to each homeowner, we pride ourselves on providing the right solutions that serve homeowners over the long haul. We have hand-picked our products from manufacturers who engineer the best-in-class equipment, provide good warranties, and who share our commitment to excellence.
We strive to be our client’s technology partner over the long haul. We provide labor and equipment warranties and then long-term service to our clients through our service membership plans. We offer 24/7 remote support to plan members and a host of other benefits to assure clients that their systems will continue to perform as they were intended to.
“We pride ourselves in not overselling, and tailoring our systems to our customers’ unique needs.”
- Technology is at the forefront of what you do. How do you go about exploring new options for your clients and discovering the latest in tech?
- We are passionate about technology and we are strongly committed to innovation within our industry. We attend regular national educational events with manufacturers and successful home technology firms from around the country to learn and collaborate in pushing the industry forward. We invest in training for our employees. We believe that high tides raise all boats so we maintain positive relationships with our competitors in town in hopes that success in our industry equates success for our firm and our clients.
We have been at the forefront of some of the newer trends in our industry such as incorporating intelligent lighting into the home, integrating voice control into our systems and pushing the envelope on the home wellness movement.
We also invest heavily in our own design community here on the Front Range. We provide lunch and learns and educational opportunities to our architect, builder, broker and design partners to educate them on the current technological possibilities. It’s important to us to give back to the community that has given us so much and to provide best-in-class technology solutions to our building partners and our clients.
- To what or to whom do you attribute your success?
- I attribute my success to my team of supremely talented employees and my relationships with industry partners and clients. The technology systems are just systems and without the community of people surrounding them, they are just parts and pieces.
- Where do you find inspiration in your daily life? Do you have any recommended books, podcasts or publications?
- I actually find the most inspiration through my community. I have been fortunate to connect with some very smart and successful people as I’ve built my company. Some are architects, builders, designers, brokers, clients and of course my awesome team at HHS. They have all inspired me to be better and continue to help shape my company and the solutions we provide.
For those business owners out there looking to improve, I recommend the books Traction by Gino Wickman and The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni.
- Is there anything else you’d like to share?
- We have recently finished a state-of-the-art luxury technology showroom on 6th Ave W that is now available for homeowners and their designers and builders to visit. We are hosting events for trade partners and want to provide a place the design community can use as a resource to help their clients get the most out of the technology in their homes.
Our national industry trade show, CEDIA, returns to Denver in early September. We would be happy to take any industry partner through the show floor to see the industry’s latest and greatest.
Discover the latest in home technology by visiting the Harrison Home Systems website.
