Maverick on course in European AV expansion

AV vendor rationalisation partly offset by public sector stimulus funding

Sidwick: Rolling out to eight countries

Maverick is on track to push its specialist Hotlamps division into eight countries in Europe by 1 September, according to Europe head Jon Sidwick.

Sidwick said the Tech Data group distributor has already set up a division in Spain and means to strike while the iron is hot.

“Due to our UK experience, we believe there is a growing need for specialist AV distribution that can offer vendors an efficient route to market combined with credit bandwidth, excellent logistics and high-quality specialist technical sales support,” he said.

“We are on course to have eight countries with the specialist Hotlamps division by 1 September.”

In June, Sidwick was promoted from the managing director’s chair at Maverick UK to the newly created directorship for Maverick Europe.

The company plans to expand wherever a strong specialist division would work, rolling out the Maverick model where the right people, structure and brands are available.

Sidwick said the European division aimed to sell to both the AV reseller channel and more traditional customers.

“We will achieve this through recruitment or acquisition, depending on the local opportunity,” Sidwick said.

He added that the European projector market had fallen 30 per cent in Q2. In AV, vendors appear to be rationalising and consolidating their operations. However, Maverick believes there are still major opportunities, particularly in education, as governments seek to stimulate certain areas and vendors are falling into line.