NEC opts for Medium fit as Owl is dropped
Vendor selects new distributor and terminates its relationship with Owl Visual Systems
NEC shook up its projector distribution channel last week by appointing Medium UK, but terminated its relationship with Owl Visual Systems.
The move coincides with the official merger of NEC’s projector and plasma business into the vendor’s LCD display division, NEC Display Solutions.
Claude Fenner, head of channel sales at NEC, told CRN: “We’ve had a relationship with Owl for a couple of years, but have decided to part company because we felt the two businesses were heading in different directions. We have given Owl a notice period of one month from 1 April 2007.
“We want to steadily grow our business this year and increase market share. Medium will help us target VARs we aren’t currently reaching.”
Fenner added that NEC was in discussions with Medium before it decided to part company with Owl.
Medium will sit alongside NEC’s other remaining UK distributors: Imago, Midwich and Steljes.
“Medium is very strong in the traditional AV [audiovisual] sector, particularly the high-end, which has great appeal for us,” Fenner said.
Paul O’Reilly, commercial director at Medium, said: “We had been discussing partnership opportunities with NEC for some time. With its recent merger it had been looking at its distribution as a whole.”
Peter Dangerfield, managing director of Owl, said: “After much deliberation, a mutual and amicable decision was made between ourselves and NEC not to renew our distribution agreement. Owl is now concentrating all its efforts on promoting its existing, more established brands.”