Maverick switches on Hot Lamps in Europe

Distributor to double UK lamp stock holding as part of pan-European expansion drive

Maverick is pole-vaulting its lamp distribution brand, Hot Lamps, into continental Europe with the help of new parent Tech Data.

CRN can exclusively reveal that Hot Lamps will launch in three mainland European territories - the Benelux, France and Spain in Q4 - before the brand is rolled across Europe in 2009.

Jon Sidwick, managing director of Maverick, claimed Hot Lamps is already Europe’s largest trade-only lamp distributor, holding £1m in stock at any one time.

Stock will continue to be managed from the UK but Hot Lamps sales divisions will now be set up across Tech Data’s 16 European operations, Sidwick said.

Each country will have a localised Hot Lamps website and will be overseen by a business manager. The roll-out will begin with the Benelux in October, Sidwick revealed.

“By holding £2m in lamp stock by the end of next year, we will have availability for shipments to resellers anywhere in Europe on next day delivery without having to duplicate stock or systems,” said Sidwick.

Maverick was bought from administration by Tech Data’s UK arm, Computer 2000, last November.