Ilion dumps Clariion from supply contract

Networks Distributor blames poor sales for end of partnership.

Storage vendor Clariion has been left without a UK distributor after Ilion ended its supply agreement with the company due to low sales.

According to Wayne Channon, chairman and chief executive of Ilion, the distributor will end its contract with Clariion within the month. He stated: 'We were only clearing about £20,000 per month. Clariion wanted me to put together a presentation for renewing the contract, but I said I didn't want to.'

He added: 'The contract is due to end in the next 30 days - I have no intention of renewing it.'

Channon said Ilion was still committed to storage products, but 'it has to be a question of volume'.

Alain Le Pardo, marketing director at Clariion, said the vendor was looking at various options on how to supply its products. 'There are a lot of changes in the world of storage,' he stated. 'There are still relationships with OEMs but there is time for distributorships.'

Le Pardo added: 'We have not decided which route to take but before we choose the final option, we have decided to stop our long-term obligations.'

Ilion has been selling Clariion's storage products for more than three years.

Channon said the distributor has a policy of reviewing its vendor contracts at operating board level on a monthly basis.

He added: 'There are certain brands that only make £500 a month - Ilion is making a move away from smaller brands in total, but we are constantly looking at our vendor contracts.'

Meanwhile, Ilion Faculty, the training and services division of the distributor, has gained certification as a Cisco training partner, from its previous status as training organisation programme.