NEWS

Patriot to pump up Russian retail engagement Wednesday, 18 June 2008 Patriot Memory plans to develop its retail channel engagement strategy in the Russia and CIS markets, building on its development of a strong regional distribution network in recent years. The vendor, which is participating at this year’s DCC CIS event in Moscow will showcase its latest products and meet with potential new retailers from across the region. Click here for more   Antec targets CIS partners Wednesday, 18 June 2008 Antec plans to further develop its channels within the Russian and CIS markets through its attendance at this week’s DCC CIS event. Antec, which focuses on high performance cases, power supplies and cooling products for the upgrade and DIY segments of the IT consumer market, will work together with its distribution partner Karin to identify the retailers and resellers most capable of buidling channel sales volumes throughout the region. Click here for more   DCC CIS opens its doors Wednesday, 18 June 2008 A record number of IT vendors and retailers from across Russia and the CIS are gathering in Moscow this week for the fifth annual Digital Consumer Channel CIS. More than 550 channel-focused executives working in this key global growth market are taking part in a packed agenda of one-on-one meetings, boardroom sessions and professional networking activities. Click here for more   HP cements retail credentials Monday, 19 May 2008 The HP Middle East retail team is reaching out to partners from across the region this week at this year’s Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) event held in Fujairah, UAE. HP claims that it is working closer with its retail partners to meet the needs of increasingly sophisticated consumers. Click here for more   Mio makes Middle East Moov with IMS Wednesday, 14 May 2008 GPS device vendor Mio Technology’s co-operation agreement with UAE-based International Marketing Services (IMS) is bringing the latest kit to the Middle East. Under the terms of the deal, IMS distributes Mio’s GPS and PDA products across the entire GCC region, including the vendor’s latest Moov range of portable GPS products. Click here for more   IRIS eyes retail opportunity Tuesday, 13 May 2008 Optical character recognition specialist IRIS Group will attend this year’s Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) event in Fujairah, UAE, to show retailers from across the Middle East its complete range of mobile scanning devices. With the recent revival of its consumer product offering, IRIS is eyeing up the growing market potential available through the retail channel. Click here for more   Trinity targets Middle East retail channel Tuesday, 13 May 2008 IT hardware distributor Trinity Electronics hopes to boost its sales through the Middle East retail channel. The distributor, which is authorised by a number of vendors including ASRock, Asus, BenQ, Foxconn, Samsung and Seagate, recently established an office and warehouse facility in Jebel Ali free zone to serve as a regional hub. Trinity is attending the upcoming Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) event in Fujairah, UAE, to strengthen the company’s relationships with major retailers from across the Middle East. Click here for more   Nvidia names Middle East retail manager Wednesday, 7 May 2008 Graphics player Nvidia has named Ramesh Ramanandan as retail manager for the Middle East region. In his new role, Ramanandan will be tasked with driving Nvidia’s retail relationships, securing new business opportunities and working closely with channel partners to deliver and supply appropriate product. Click here for more   Sharaf debuts DG Help Tuesday, 6 May 2008 UAE retailer Sharaf DG has launched a technology services division called DG Help. The new service will allow consumers in the UAE to dial a toll free number for a free check-up of their PCs, laptops, wireless connections or home theatre systems, irrespective of whether the kit was purchased at Sharaf DG. Callers can arrange an appointment with a Tech Doctor who will schedule a visit to the customer to troubleshoot any problems. Click here for more   i2 targets Sub-Saharan Africa Friday, 25 April 2008 Mobile phone distribution and retail giant i2 had officially opened a new office in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the company sets its sights on rapid expansion in the Sub-Saharan region. The new regional office will oversee i2 activities in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Angola, Reunion and Senegal. i2 plans to aggressively ramp up the number of retail outlets it has in the Sub-Saharan region. Click here for more   Parrot eyes Middle East retail boost Thursday, 24 April 2008 Wireless mobile phone accessories vendor Parrot is preparing to boost its Middle East retail channel activities. The company’s participation at this year’s Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) event in Fujairah will provide the platform for reinforcing and developing relationships with retailers in the Gulf. Click here for more   Emirates Computers adds retail showroom Wednesday, 23 April 2008 Emirates Computers (EC) has opened a new showroom in the Khalidiya Mall in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The retail outlet features the latest kit from Dell and Nokia as well as a range of IT accessories. EC will offer product demonstrations in its outlets, which it claims is a service in line with Dell and Nokia’s own concept retail outlets. Click here for more   Jumbo adds four more stores in UAE Thursday, 17 April 2008 Jumbo Electronics has boosted its UAE retail network, opening four new mall-based stores across the Emirates. Jumbo reckons that the new outlets - located in Khalidiya and Al Wahda malls in Abu Dhabi, Sahara Centre in Sharjah and Festival City in Dubai – will enhance the company’s position as a leading retailer in the consumer electronics and technology sectors. Click here for more   Retail Academy Awards go live at DCC MEA Thursday, 17 April 2008 The Middle East IT and consumer electronics retail channel will witness its first dedicated awards ceremony at this year’s Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) event. During the inaugural Middle East Retail Academy Awards hundreds of senior executives from the regional vendor and retail community will vote live using electronic devices to determine the winners of 14 awards. Click here for more   HTC hones retailer skills Tuesday, 15 April 2008 Smart device vendor HTC has ramped up the sales skills in its Middle East channel with technical training sessions for its retailers and direct partners in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The three-hour training sessions focused on the features of HTC devices, equipping the retail staff with the skills required to respond to customer queries. Click here for more   i2 breaks US$2bn sales barrier Thursday, 10 April 2008 Mobile phone distribution giant i2 has revealed that its gross sales hit US$2bn in 2007. i2, which has distribution and retail operations across the Middle East and Africa, doubled the number of Nokia handsets it sold year-on-year to 12.3 million in 2007 as gross sales rocketed 43%. Click here for more   Sharaf DG teams with Sky for PC launch Wednesday, 9 April 2008 UAE-based PC assembler Sky Electronics has launched its new Expeditor value PC at Sharaf DG stores. The PCs, which are exclusively available at Sharaf DG stores, are built on Nvidia’s recently unveiled GeForce 7 series motherboard GPUs. Sharaf DG has carved out an impressive reputation as a power retailer in the UAE. Click here for more   Positronica revels in Russian retail bonanza Monday, 7 April 2008 Positronica, the Russian retail franchising operation launched by IT distribution heavyweight Merlion, posted sales of US$197m in 2007 according to a local report. Positronica has a retail network of more than 160 shops spanning 140 Russian towns and cities offering a combined floor space of more than 25,000 square metres. Click here for more   ePro eyes Middle East retail exposure Monday, 7 April 2008 Peripherals and accessories vendor ePro has set its sights on further growth in the fast-growing Middle East markets. ePro believes that building strong relationships with the crème-de-la-crème of the region’s power retail community will provide the platform that allows the company to meet its Middle East ambitions. Click here for more   Eros debuts Samsung Blu-ray home theatre systems Friday, 4 April 2008 Eros Group has started selling Samsung Blu-ray home theatre systems in the UAE. Eros Group, which bills itself as one of the leading channel players in the Middle East consumer electronics market, is stocking the Samsung systems in all Eros Digital Home outlets across the UAE. Click here for more   DCC Retail Academy details revealed Friday, 4 April 2008 With Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) Middle East and Africa (MEA) now just weeks away, more details of the inaugural DCC Retail Academy programme have been released by event organiser DISTREE Events. From value-added retail services to social networking and smart homes, the DCC Retail Academy has got it covered. Click here for more   LS2 Derinton names new general manager Friday, 4 April 2008 LS2 Corporation has named Rajiv Srivastava as the new general manager of its IT distribution arm, LS2 Derinton. Srivastava brings more than two decades of sales, marketing, product and retail management to his new post. LS2 Derinton is focused on the distribution of Acer kit through retail channels in the Middle East and channel development in Africa. In his new role, Srivastava will assume responsibility to for the development of the company’s strategy and business development across the region. Click here for more   Schultze's social networking master class Friday, 28 March 2008 Social networking will take centre stage at Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) Middle East and Africa (MEA) with Xeequa CEO and channel expert Axel Schultze flying in from Silicon Valley to deliver a cutting edge keynote presentation. Click here for more   Kiki Lab to tackle new retail trends Friday, 28 March 2008 Kiki Lab founder Fabrizio Valente will take to the stage at Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) Middle East and Africa (MEA) to tackle some of the latest trends in retail thinking. His keynote speech, entitled ‘Hybrid Consumers and Situational Customers: New Opportunities for the Store’ promises to be a ‘must attend’ session in the action-packed DCC MEA conference programme. Click here for more   Jacky’s wins mall awards Friday, 28 March 2008 The trophy cabinet is filling up fast at UAE multi-brand retailer Jacky’s Electronics thanks to its mall-based outlets. The company picked up the ‘Best Electronics and Entertainment Store Award’ for its Jacky’s Express outlet at the Mall of the Emirates retailers’ AGM. Jacky's Electronics also scooped the Deira City Centre mall ‘Best Electronics and Entertainment Store’ award in March. Click here for more   MGM.it targets Middle East retailers Friday, 28 March 2008 MGM.it Store Solutions will look to extend its relationships with major Middle East retailers when it attends this year’s Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) Middle East and Africa (MEA) event. The Italian store design specialist will showcase its complete range of services and products at the event. Click here for more   i-mate ramps up retail focus with Redington Thursday, 27 March 2008 Mobile device outfit i-mate has announced a new Middle East partnership with distribution powerhouse Redington. Under the terms of the channel partnership Redington will increase the availability of i-mate products in stores and enhance resellers and retail support in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Click here for more   WD celebrates decade in Middle East Monday, 17 March 2008 Hard drive giant Western Digital (WD) is celebrating ten years of operation in the Middle East in 2008. The company recently hosted a gala dinner at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa in Dubai, UAE, to mark the milestone in the company’s regional operations. Click here for more   Eros becomes Nokia KDR Monday, 17 March 2008 Eros Digital Home has been appointed as a key distributor retailer (KDR) in the UAE by mobile phone colossus Nokia. The agreement means that Nokia mobile phones and accessories will now be available in all Eros Digital Home outlets across the UAE. Click here for more   HP Middle East entertains with new notebook offering Monday, 17 March 2008 HP has launched its new HP Pavilion tx2000 entertainment notebook PCs in the Middle East region. The new 12” ultra portable convertible notebooks offer a wide range of features including built-in webcams, microphones and digital entertainment accessibility tools on Pavilion notebooks to LightScribe technology and 5-in-1 digital media readers on select models, and powerful performance with the latest Intel and AMD processors. Click here for more   Trigon bags BenQ LCD TV rights in UAE Monday, 17 March 2008 Retail distribution specialist Trigon has been awarded distribution rights for BenQ LCD TVs in the UAE. BenQ Middle East hopes to boost its LCD TV market share in the UAE and capture 10% of the total available market – a share that would rank it as the fourth placed vendor in the market. Click here for more   Plug-Ins thinks big at The Dubai Mall Thursday, 13 March 2008 UAE electronics and IT retail powerhouse Plug-Ins ElectroniX has confirmed that it will open its largest store at the Dubai Mall, which will be one of the largest malls in the world. A recent Indian press report also claimed that Al-Futtaim, the parent company behind Plug-Ins, is in talks to purchase a stake in Jumbo Electronics. Click here for more   DCC launches Retail Academy Thursday, 6 March 2008 Education, inspiration and motivation will be on the agenda as DCC launches its new Retail Academy at this year’s DCC MEA, with one whole morning dedicated to best practice principles, workshop sessions and panel discussions. Click here for more   Jarir Bookstores reveals 2007 sales spike Thursday, 6 March 2008 Saudi Arabian retail powerhouse Jarir Bookstores has revealed that its sales climbed 15.7% year-on-year in 2007 to a massive US$464.7m. The company, which sells a wide range of products including IT kit, has 23 outlets in Saudi Arabia, three in other GCC countries and also has investment property located in Egypt. Click here for more   Jacky’s expands again Thursday, 6 March 2008 Jacky’s Electronics, which claims to be the UAE’s number one multi-brand retailer, has demonstrated its 2008 UAE explansion plans with the opening of a new Jacky’s Express in the Arab-themed Souk Al Bahar in the heart of downtown Burj Dubai. Click here for more   DCC MEA boosts its CE credentials Thursday, 6 March 2008 This year’s Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) Middle East and Africa (MEA) will cover a wider product portfolio, according to organiser DISTREE Events. Consumer electronics (CE) will feature more prominently as the convergence between traditional ICT and CE products continues apace. Click here for more   From Russia with digital love... Wednesday, 13 February 2008 The markets of Russia and CIS are showing a strong appetite for consumer electronic (CE) and IT kit. As personal incomes increase, so too does the retail market for these product segments. GfK, the official research partner for Digital Consumer Channel (DCC) Russia and CIS provide the lowdown on this fast-growing market. Click here for more   So much more than just Dubai Duty Free... Tuesday, 12 February 2008 The race is on in the Middle East consumer electronics and IT retail channel and no one can afford to be left behind. There’s so much more to Middle East retail than just Dubai Duty Free, as the regional experts from research house GfK explain. Click here for more   XXL delegates speak out Wednesday, 6 February 2008 The XXL video team was on hand in Barcelona last week, talking to vendors, distributors and solution providers alike, to discover their views on EMEA’s number one channel gathering. All the interviews are available on distree.com/xxl Click here for more   Blurred boundaries Wednesday, 6 February 2008 Workshop sessions at the recent XXL event covered a variety of hot channel topics including the blurring of the boundaries between traditional IT and CE products and channels. Workshop moderator Ryan Mackey explained the key takeaways. Click here for more   XXL breaks attendance record Tuesday, 5 February 2008 DISTREE XXL broke new attendance records with more than 800 registered delegates attending the event in Barcelona, Spain. More than 6500 one-on-one meetings took place during XXL, which has now become a ‘must attend’ event for channel executives operating in the EMEA theatre. Click here for more   XXL meetings break 4000 barrier Saturday, 26 January 2008 More than 4,000 pre-arranged one-on-one meetings between vendors and distributors were confirmed prior to this year’s DISTREE XXL. An anticipated 2,000 additional meeting requests were processed by the XXL ‘Matching Squad’ during the event itself. Click here for more   Western Digital eyes EMEA potential Saturday, 26 January 2008 Storage giant WD showcased its product portfolio at DISTREE XXL and met with distributors from across the EMEA region. Peter Edinger, VP at WD EMEA is a fan of the XXL format and had been looking forward to some productive discussions with channel partners during the event. Click here for more   Pleomax to display peripheral power at XXL Thursday, 24 January 2008 Pleomax will showcase its extensive product portfolio ranging from PC accessories to storage media and batteries at DISTREE XXL. Pleomax, which is a division of Samsung, leverages its parent company’s experience in manufacturing, sourcing and worldwide trading to deliver the latest designs to consumers. Click here for more   PLDS to showcase Blu-ray strength Thursday, 24 January 2008 Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions (PLDS) will showcase its powerful portfolio of Blu-ray devices at XXL. As well as meeting with existing distribution partners, PLDS will look to strengthen its channel engagement in the emerging markets of the Middle East and Africa. Click here for more   TIE Digital Channel targets new customers at XXL Wednesday, 23 January 2008 There is more to DISTREE XXL than hardware vendors. Marketing solutions provider TIE Digital Solution is appearing in Barcelona to showcase the benefits of its innovative product portfolio to distributors from across EMEA. Click here for more   AOpen returns to XXL Wednesday, 23 January 2008 Components vendor and small form factor specialist AOpen is making a welcome return to DISTREE XXL in 2008. The AOpen team plans to inform channel partners about its go-to-market model and innovative product portfolio. Click here for more   BitDefender targets EMEA potential at XXL Wednesday, 23 January 2008 Security solutions provider BitDefender has always looked at EMEA as a market full of potential, bust also challenges. DISTREE XXL’s ability to bring together the leading distributors from the EMEA market means that it is an event that BitDefender cannot afford to miss, according to Robert Ticleanu, senior channel manager EMEA. Click here for more   Digitex to hunt for new distributors at XXL Wednesday, 23 January 2008 Media and accessories solution provider Digitex will hunt for new EMEA distribution partners at DISTREE XXL. Despite its position as a relatively new entrant to the market, the company claims that its products are already well known by European consumers. Click here for more   Kensington explains margin benefits Tuesday, 22 January 2008 Kensington Technology Group will be on a margin mission at DISTREE XXL later this month, explaining the bottom line benefits for EMEA distributors focused on selling peripherals and accessories. Click here for more   Seiko seeking new channel opportunities at XXL Tuesday, 22 January 2008 Seiko Precision believes that there is a buoyant market for its products in EMEA, and is planning to pull out all the stops in Barcelona to identify the right distribution partners at DISTREE XXL. Click here for more   GEAR4 to show innovative iPod and MP3 accessories at XXL Tuesday, 22 January 2008 Fast-growing digital accessories vendor GEAR4 will showcase its range of innovative iPod and MP3 peripherals to distributors from across EMEA at DISTREE XXL in Barcelona. Click here for more   Patriot to display memory muscle at XXL Tuesday, 22 January 2008 Patriot Memory is a past master at making the most from attending DISTREE XXL. After a successful appearance in 2007, Patriot returns in 2008 as it continues to expand its distribution network across EMEA. Click here for more   Sounding out the channel at XXL Tuesday, 22 January 2008 Cyber Acoustics plans to make some serious noise at this year’s DISTREE XXL, showcasing its iRhythms product range to distributors from across EMEA. Click here for more   LEA goes for XXL growth Monday, 21 January 2008 Wired broadband solutions vendor LEA predicts strong growth in the EMEA region and wants to take its distribution partners along for the ride. Appearing at this year’s DISTREE XXL forms a pivotal part of LEA’s 2008 expansion plan. Click here for more   BenQ to promote price-performance benefits at XXL Monday, 21 January 2008 BenQ Corporation, a leading provider of networked digital lifestyle devices, will promote the strong price-performance ratio of its product portfolio at this year’s DISTREE XXL. Click here for more   XXL distributors show sparkling sales growth Monday, 21 January 2008 EMEA distributors attending next week’s DISTREE XXL event in Barcelona recorded a massive US$54.27 billion in collective sales in 2007 – up more than 30% from 2006. Click here for more   IC Intracom gears up for XXL Monday, 14 January 2008 PC peripherals, accessories and networking products vendor IC Intracom will focus on further EMEA channel expansion at DISTREE XXL in Barcelona later this month. Africa, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia are high on IC Intracom’s agenda as it looks to meet distributors from these fast-growing emerging markets. Click here for more   Packed workshop programme Friday, 11 January 2008 DISTREE XXL will offer delegates a packed workshop programme in Barcelona, with a number of industry experts lined up to moderate these informative, entertaining and educational conference sessions. Click here for more   Channel Initiative Award update Friday, 11 January 2008 The DISTREE XXL Channel Initiative Award has fired up the imagination of distributors attending this year’s event. The quality and quantity of entrants has impressed but there is still time for late entrants to stake their claim for this prestigious prize. Click here for more   Perfect product mix Friday, 11 January 2008 With approximately 100 vendors represented at DISTREE XXL, distribution delegates are sure to find the perfect products to add to their existing portfolio. Many new distribution agreements have been initiated at DISTREE XXL over the years, and this year’s event promises more of the same. Click here for more   The power of networking Friday, 11 January 2008 DISTREE XXL is not just a great event for meeting vendors. It is also the perfect platform for building business relationships with other distributors as well. The benefits of both professional and social networking will be clear for all to see at this year’s event. Click here for more   Distributors flock to XXL Friday, 11 January 2008 With just over two weeks until DISTREE XXL 2008 kicks off, more than 450 pre-qualified distribution executives from across EMEA have confirmed their place at the region’s premier channel conference. Click here for more   60 Seconds to Convince Thursday, 10 January 2008 First impressions count at DISTREE XXL, especially during the ‘60 Seconds to Convince’ Awards Programme for vendors participating at next year’s event. More than 20 vendors will go head-to-head on stage, with just one minute to promote their latest products to an audience of distributors from across EMEA. Click here for more   Barcelona bound for DISTREE XXL 2008 Thursday, 10 January 2008 EMEA’s premier event for ICT distributors heads to Barcelona. More than 1,000 distribution executives set to attend alongside 100 vendors. Speaker line-up includes Isabel Aguilera, CEO, Google Spain & Portugal Click here for more   XXL workshop agenda takes shape Thursday, 10 January 2008 DISTREE XXL’s workshop agenda is taking shape fast, with a dozen different sessions for delegates to choose from. Covering a wide range of topics from channel credit in EMEA to M&A trends, and also featuring regional breakouts, the XXL workshop programme offers something for everyone. Click here for more   D2D delivers added value at XXL Thursday, 10 January 2008 This year’s DISTREE XXL programme offers new and exciting ways for distributors to make the most of their time in Barcelona. Click here for more   Thinking ‘beyond the box’ Thursday, 10 January 2008 Yes, ‘beyond the box’, not just ‘outside the box’. DISTREE XXL 2008, the ‘must attend’ event for EMEA distribution executives, will also witness the return of the XXL Channel Initiative Awards. Click here for more   Air Arabia's IT edge Tuesday, 18 December 2007 Ali Al-Hamdany, director of information technology and corporate projects at fast-growing regional airline Air Arabia, delivered a powerful keynote speech at the inaugural Secure Enterprise Summit (SES) Middle East & Africa (MEA). Click here for more   FVC wins Perfect Project Award for DiGiNet implementation Monday, 26 November 2007 FVC, the authorised regional distributor for Packeteer in Middle East and North Africa, won a Perfect Project Award for Best Client ROI/TCO during the recently concluded Secure Enterprise Summit (SES) held in Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah. Click here for more   NEC and Netgear win Perfect Project Awards Thursday, 22 November 2007 The Third Digital Business Channel (DBC) conference for the Middle East & Africa (MEA) closed on 21st November with a record 1,000 one-on-one meetings taking place, including more than 700 pre-scheduled meetings during the two-day event. DBC MEA also introduced the Perfect Project Awards at this year’s event. This new award format, which multiple vendors entered, saw business partners voting in two award categories: Best Partner-Vendor Project Delivery and Most Innovative Solution. Click here for more   SES MEA attracts world-class turnout Tuesday, 13 November 2007 More than 35 international vendors have confirmed their participation in SES MEA next week. CIOs from across the region will gather in Fujairah on November 21st for a high-level two-day executive event. Click here for more   SES makes successful debut Monday, 29 October 2007 For the organisers of Digital Business Channel (DBC) and Secure Enterprise Summit (SES) CIS, the successful completion of the recent event in Moscow marked the launch of a new event format and a new target audience. Click here for more   SES numbers add up Thursday, 25 October 2007 The inaugural Secure Enterprise Summit (SES) in Moscow posted some impressive numbers. The event, which brings together CIOs and IT directors from Russia’s largest companies for two days of high-level discussions, resulted in more than 1,100 one-on-one meetings between corporate end-users and vendors, plus 36 successful boardroom meetings. Click here for more   Perfect Project Awards Wednesday, 24 October 2007 This year’s Digital Business Channel (DBC) also witnessed the launch of the Perfect Project Awards. This brand new award format gave vendors the opportunity to showcase the strengths of their latest solutions and technologies by presenting a real life case study to attendees at the event. Click here for more