What ALDS does

ALDS (legal entity Tiger Leasing Ltd) is a privately held Canadian online retailer of assistive listening and amplification devices, headquartered and warehoused at 19871 57A Ave #106 in Langley, British Columbia. Founded in 1991 by UBC Professor Emeritus Dr. Charles Laszlo and his assistant Paul Geyer, the business was acquired in 2008 by Don Clegg's Tiger Leasing Ltd and transitioned to full ownership by Ted Clegg in January 2013. The company serves individuals with hearing and speech impairments, as well as hearing aid clinics, schools, legal institutions, and healthcare facilities, with a product catalog spanning amplified telephones, FM systems, personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs), TV listening systems, voice amplifiers, amplified alarm clocks and smart shakers, alerting systems, tinnitus and sound maskers, hearing aid conditioners (Smart Dryer, PerfectDry), and Bluetooth-enabled wireless products. ALDS also distributes third-party brands including Williams AV (Pocketalker, Digi-Wave), AcousticSheep (RunPhones, SleepPhones), Wear & Hear (BeHear SMARTO), Bionix, and Clarity.

The company operates a 24/7 direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (alds.com) with global shipping via Canada Post, Canpar, FedEx, and ICS Air Courier, alongside a dedicated dealer portal for B2B wholesale relationships with hearing aid clinics and international distribution partners in Australia (aldsaustralia.com.au), New Zealand, and South Africa (alds.co.za). Customer segments are hybrid: primary end-user personas are hard-of-hearing consumers seeking daily-living assistive devices, while primary business units are hearing aid clinics purchasing complementary accessories and equipment at dealer pricing. Marketing relies on the e-commerce site, an email newsletter, Facebook engagement, and an extensive library of product training videos rather than paid acquisition.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through hardware resale at undisclosed per-unit pricing, with disclosed shipping rates of CAD $13 to Canada, USD $21 to the USA, and USD $25 to most other countries. Many products qualify for tax exemption as hearing- or voice-impaired devices. The business has no disclosed funding, no published financials, and a small team of 11-50 employees, positioning it as a long-standing, niche, family-owned e-commerce operator rather than a venture-backed growth company.

Name

ALDS

Legal name

Tiger Leasing Ltd

Website

https://alds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ALDS is a privately held Canadian e-commerce retailer, founded in 1991 and operated by Tiger Leasing Ltd out of Langley, BC, that sells assistive listening and amplification devices directly to hard-of-hearing consumers, hearing aid clinics, and institutions across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assistive listening devices

SIC

Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731), Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)

akta.pro primary industry

Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC), AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training (EDAKAIAB)

Keywords

• Assistive listening devices
• Amplified telephones
• Hearing amplification products
• Personal sound amplifiers
• Hearing aid accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Langley

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct e-commerce sales of assistive listening devices and hearing solutions to consumers and through dealer channels. The company operates their own warehouse and handles all sales, deliveries, returns and customer support directly.
2. Dealer/Wholesale Distribution: B2B sales to hearing aid clinics, distributors, and authorized dealers. Dealers receive specific shipping rates and have access to a dealer portal for account management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ALDS is an online distributor of assistive listening devices and hearing solutions for the deaf, hard of hearing, and speech impaired. The company sells amplified telephones, FM systems, infrared systems, alerting devices, hearing aid conditioners, personal sound amplifiers (PSAPs), voice amplifiers, TV listening systems, tinnitus/sound maskers, and Bluetooth-enabled hearing accessories directly to consumers via its e-commerce store and through dealer channels serving hearing aid clinics, schools, healthcare facilities, and legal institutions. The product catalog also includes distributed brands such as Williams AV Pocketalker, AcousticSheep RunPhones and SleepPhones, Wear & Hear, Bionix, and Clarity products.

Product overview

ALDS operates as an online provider and distributor of assistive listening and hearing solutions, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products for individuals with hearing and speech impairments. The company distributes products across multiple categories including: Amplified Alarm Clocks and Smart Shakers for wake-up alerts; Amplified Telephones for clear phone conversations; Wear & Hear personalized hearing amplifiers; Bluetooth-enabled wireless products; FM Systems for clear sound transmission; Personal Sound Amplifiers (PSAPs); Voice Amplifiers; TV Listening Systems; Tinnitus and Sound Maskers; Alerting Systems (door sensors, smoke/CO detectors, baby monitors); and Hearing Aid Conditioners (Smart Dryer, PerfectDry systems). The company also distributes branded products including Pocketalker by Williams AV, RunPhones and SleepPhones by AcousticSheep, Bionix healthcare products, and Clarity amplified phones. ALDS provides training resources for most product categories through video tutorials covering setup, operation, and troubleshooting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amplified Alarm Clocks Alarm clocks with amplified sound plus visual and vibrating alerts (smart shakers) designed for individuals with hearing loss to wake up with clarity.
• Amplified Telephones Telephones with enhanced volume and clarity features to help individuals with hearing loss never miss a call again.
• Wear & Hear Personal Hearing Amplifiers Personalized hearing amplification products including the BeHear SMARTO Customizable Hearing Amplifier, designed to enhance everyday listening experiences.
• Bluetooth Wireless Hearing Products Wireless hearing solutions utilizing Bluetooth technology for seamless connectivity to phones, TVs, and other audio devices.
• FM Systems Frequency modulation listening systems providing clear sound transmission for classrooms, meetings, and public venues.
• Personal Sound Amplifiers (PSAPs) Personal sound amplification products that enhance the listening experience for individuals who need assistance hearing in various environments.
• Pocketalker by Williams AV Personal amplifier system by Williams AV designed to improve speech understanding in everyday conversations, available in various configurations.
• RunPhones by AcousticSheep Headphones designed for use during physical activity, allowing users to hear ambient sounds while listening to audio safely.
• SleepPhones by AcousticSheep Comfortable headband-style headphones designed for listening to audio during sleep, featuring wireless and Effortless variants.
• Tinnitus and Sound Maskers Devices that provide relief from ringing in the ears (tinnitus) through various sound therapy and masking techniques.
• TV Listening Systems Wireless audio systems that deliver television sound directly to headphones or hearing devices, allowing personalized volume control.
• Voice Amplifiers Portable amplification devices that help individuals with voice impairments be heard clearly in daily communication.
• Alerting Systems Home notification systems including doorbell alerts, baby cry transmitters, smoke/CO detectors, and motion sensors with visual and vibrating alerts for hearing-impaired individuals.
• Hearing Aid Conditioners Products including Smart Dryer and PerfectDry systems for maintaining, drying, and sanitizing hearing aids and cochlear implant accessories.
• Bionix Healthcare Products Healthcare products including lighted ear curettes, ear wax removal kits, and Safe Ear Curettes for professional and home ear care.
• Clarity Amplified Phones Amplified telephones and communication solutions featuring ClarityLogic remote support technology.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ted CleggcoreOthers · 1 January 2013Ted Clegg took full control of ALDS from his father Don in January 2013. Ted has substantial knowledge in the hearing industry and assistive device categories, holds a RHIP designation in BC, and teaches at Douglas College Hearing Instrument program on contract basis.
• ALDS Australia (aldsaustralia.com.au)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2013International distribution partner established to serve the Australian market with assistive listening devices.
• ALDS South Africa (alds.co.za)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2013International distribution partner established to serve the South African market with assistive listening devices.
• Tiger Leasing Ltd (dba ALDS)coreOthers · 14 February 2008Tiger Leasing Ltd, owned by Don Clegg, purchased the ALDS word mark, company assets, suppliers list and account list on February 14, 2008. The company began operating under the ALDS name. Ted Clegg took full control in January 2013.
• Williams AVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorALDS is an authorized dealer/reseller for Williams AV products including Pocketalker, Digi-Wave, and related accessories. ALDS provides training videos for Williams AV products.
• AcousticSheepminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorALDS is an authorized dealer for AcousticSheep products including RunPhones and SleepPhones - headphones designed for active lifestyle and sleep use.
• Wear & HearminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorALDS is an authorized dealer for Wear & Hear assistive listening products including BeHear SMARTO customizable hearing amplifiers. ALDS provides training videos for Wear & Hear products.
• Douglas CollegeminorOthersTed Clegg, owner of ALDS, teaches on a contract basis at Douglas College within their Hearing Instrument program. This relationship helps build industry credibility and train future hearing professionals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Phonak (Sonova): Phonak is a global hearing aid manufacturer whose Roger and FM/assistive listening accessories overlap with ALDS' FM systems and alerting portfolio, competing as a much larger incumbent selling direct and through audiology channels.
• Clarity (Poly/HP): Clarity is a long-established brand of amplified telephones and notification devices, distributed by ALDS but also sold direct and through major retailers, competing with ALDS on amplified phone SKUs at much larger scale as part of a broader communications portfolio.

Emerging players

• CaptionCall: CaptionCall provides captioned telephones for the hearing impaired, overlapping with ALDS' amplified-telephone category but with a service-and-subsidy-driven model aimed at qualifying users in the US.
• Hamilton CapTel: Hamilton CapTel offers captioned telephone service and devices, serving the same hard-of-hearing consumer with voice-and-text phone solutions that partially overlap ALDS' amplified-phone offering.
• Sound World Solutions: Sound World Solutions designs and sells its own line of PSAP and Bluetooth hearing amplifiers directly to consumers, competing with ALDS' Wear & Hear and PSA categories with proprietary hardware rather than distribution.
• Etymotic Research: Etymotic designs high-fidelity earphones, hearing protection, and assisted-listening products that overlap with ALDS' personal-amplification and hearing-accessory category, sold both direct and through resellers.

Direct peers

• Wear & Hear (Alango Technologies): Wear & Hear is the Alango-owned PSAP and assistive hearable brand that ALDS distributes; Wear & Hear also sells direct globally, competing with ALDS on the same BeHear and SMARTO SKUs.
• Williams AV: Williams AV manufactures the Pocketalker and Digi-Wave systems that ALDS resells; Williams AV also sells direct via its own site and channel, making it both a supplier and a partial competitor in FM, IR, and personal amplification.
• Harris Communications: Harris Communications is the closest direct competitor: a US-based online and mail-order retailer specializing in assistive listening, alerting, and amplified communication products for the deaf and hard of hearing, overlapping nearly all of ALDS' core categories.
• Hearing Assist: Hearing Assist sells affordable PSAPs, TV listening devices, and personal amplifiers directly to consumers, competing head-to-head with ALDS in the entry-level amplified and amplification-product category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ALDS.Group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alds

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ALDS