Seagate opens to admit Tech Data
Storage vendor signs firm as its sixth European distributor
Storage vendor Seagate has signed Tech Data as its sixth European distributor as part of a plan to build relationships with multi-skilled, one-stop shop distributors.
Seagate, which recently unveiled a 5GB Compact Flash media storage card, said the channel is the best way for its products to reach a wider customer base.
"We want to incentivise distribution because it's a major part of our business," said Alastair Stewart, sales director at Seagate.
Stewart added that Computer 2000 (C2000), the UK arm of Tech Data, will carry a restricted range of its storage products and was signed as a distributor following the vendor's successful Tech Data relationship in the US. C2000 was unavailable for comment.
Seagate works with five other distributors in the UK: Actebis, Bell Microproducts, eSys, Hammer and Ingram Micro.
"This won't have much effect on our other distributors, although Tech Data does have some cross-over with them. This is about allowing new customers to buy from resellers that didn't sell Seagate before," Stewart said.
Hamish MacArthur, chief executive of analyst MacArthur Stroud, said Tech Data is a useful addition for the vendor. "Seagate needs a balanced distribution network. It needs to get maximum market coverage, while making its products easy for resellers to source," he said.