Naked truth promised at partner show

Channel players will lay bare their latest strategies and offers in Coventry this May, says Fleur Doidge

The Lady Godiva of legend is said to have ridden naked through the streets of 11th century Coventry to get her husband, the Earl of Mercia, to repeal a tax the locals complained would impoverish them.

In early summer the UK channel, similarly, is expected to reveal their hidden strategies and talents at CRN’s inaugural Partner Connect show at Ricoh Arena, just outside Coventry, on 12 May.

Already, Fujitsu has signed up as a technology partner for the event, with IBM, HP, and Google all hinting they will be sending speakers to bare all their best thoughts for the education programme.

Celestix, Channel Recruitment Solutions, Ricoh, Interactive Ideas, Cabletime, Clean Communications, Westcon, Xirrus, and Daisy are just a few of the exhibitors that have taken a stand so far. Latest news is that security vendor AVG is coming on board as a sponsor of the software zone.

Sara Yirrell, editor of CRN, said: “All sponsors and exhibitors will get special attention from our team to ensure that they maximise the opportunities available via Partner Connect.”

Michael Breeze, marketing director at Interactive Ideas – which is also a sponsor -- says he sees Partner Connect as the ideal opportunity to showcase its vendors’ solutions and reach key customers under the one, centrally located, roof.

“Engaging with partners is key to our business strategy, and we see being involved in this year’s Partner Connect as a perfect opportunity to do this,” Breeze says.

“Many of the technologies that we distribute are challenging the traditional model of software licensing or are emerging companies that are fast growing. Partner Connect will enable us to showcase the business opportunity to our reseller channel.”

Partner Connect aims to play right to the heart of the IT channel. It will foster new partner relationships and re-energise existing partnerships. Up to 1,000 quality potential partners are expected to be open to potential products, solutions and services, and have purchasing responsibility to boot.

Exhibitors also get access to extensive, year-long multi-platform marketing at a one-off cost that includes whitepaper uploads, directory details, and the stand package itself. Exhibitors can also become technology partners or sponsors of the event, which offers even more opportunities to get in front of the channel.

To avoid the embarrassment of missing out on a chance to strip down your best messages for the delectation of the diverse business technology channel in the UK today, please contact CRN sales manager Colin Logan on 0207 316 9484 for more details.

If you would like to make your way to Coventry either to make “an everlasting name” for yourself, like Lady Godiva herself in Tennyson’s poem, or simply to see what’s on show, register your interest online at http://exhibition.channelweb.co.uk/register-your-interest/ and you will be sent further details as the full line-up is revealed.

Make a real connection>> www.channelweb.co.uk/2014543