Acer places bets on 'hybrid' resellers

Notebook vendor admits backing the right partners will be key in 2010

Watkins: there will be more shake out and increased consolidation in 2010

PC resellers who embrace a "hybrid" model will be most likely to survive an expected shake out in 2010, Acer’s UK country manager has asserted.

Bobby Watkins has urged partners to muscle in on the turf of the telcos and national retail chains by branching out into offering 3G contracts and mobile devices as part of a bundled solution.

Watkins said: “That is the area we will see emerging first from the ashes of the recession and resellers that can grab onto that opportunity will do well. If it is left up to the national players this hybrid approach will remain the exclusive preserve of the DSGis and Carphone Warehouses.”

Watkins said Acer is on course for 30 per cent growth in the UK this year and admitted targeted growth of 25 per cent next year would only be achieved by betting on the right partners.

“I think there will be more shake out and increased consolidation in 2010 and choosing the right partners will be a key success factor,” he admitted.

Watkins added that the vendor planned to increase its base of retail and SME dealers by 25 per cent over the next 12 months, in line with growth.

“Our strength is still in the SME space, rather than the top end of the pyramid," he said. "If you are talking about firms with thousands of staff we would need a degree of end user coverage that we have not invested in.”