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In a move that has
reinforced its position as the leading computer components distributor
in SA, Rectron has become an official Hewlett-Packard imaging and
printing products distributor. It will service the small to
medium-size enterprise dealer channel from its nationwide warehouse
and distribution network.
Rectron, one of
SA's fastest growing distribution organisations, has become HP's third
main distributor with a focus on servicing the rapidly growing printer
and imaging markets.
"We see Rectron as
an important partner who will enable us to access the growing segment
of the 'mom and pop shop' type of market that buys a range of
components and - by-the-way - a printer a month," says Zii Sithole,
director, Imaging and Printing Products, HP South Africa.
"This segment has
unique credit term requirements and Rectron is aptly suited to service
them with their infrastructure which challenges some of the
established retail banks.
"Because of this,
we see Rectron broadening our market reach rather than splitting the
existing pizza further among our other strategic distributors," says
Sithole.
"The company has
been a successful large reseller for some time and has built up a
substantial market servicing the needs of the smaller dealer in the
entry-level SME sector. We see strong growth in this sector and
believe Rectron will be key in focusing on this sector and ensuring we
build our market share substantially," he adds.
In addition,
Rectron will fill the distribution gap left by former major
distributor, Siltek Distribution Dynamics (SDD), which ceased trading
at the end of last year.
Rectron CEO Mark
Lu says the deal will have significant strategic implications because
it recognises Rectron's position as a principal player in the market.
Rectron will
distribute the consumer and business HP DeskJet printer range, its
all-in-one / office jets (multi-functional printing devices), entry
level and mid-range laser printers, scanners, digital cameras and the
Compaq range of projectors.
"We operate from a
position of financial stability and strength and, over the past few
years, have been successful as a sub-distributor handling HP products.
In that time we have built up a network of some 7 000 dealers
countrywide.
"Our strength as a
distributor lies in this network and its focus on the SME market - a
market that, because of the global IT downturn, has become very
important today and one which most growth in the future will come
from. We have the logistics infrastructure in place to meet high
volumes of small unit orders that make up our primary market in this
sector," says Lu.
Rectron and HP
organised a nationwide roadshow to formally announce the new
distribution partnership and highlight upcoming new printing and
imaging technology.
The roadshow
featured some of the 35 new HP printer and imaging products that are
going to be rolled out by September. HP's new product roadmap for
Compaq and HP printing and imaging products was also discussed.
Lu believes the HP
deal will open many doors for his company. "Our Server and Networking,
and Mobile and Handheld divisions are major growth areas, along with
our PC and Components, and Peripherals divisions - particularly in the
SME domain," he says. |
