C2000 sets up retail team
Broadliner forms dedicated team to capitalise on gaps in retail market
Computer 2000 (C2000) has formed a dedicated team to springboard its leap into the lucrative retail sector.
The UK arm of Tech Data last week appointed Doug McGeachie as retail sales manager. He will head a 20-strong team at the broadliner that will concentrate on developing relationships with retailers new to the IT sector, as well as the larger mail-order and high-street chains.
Earlier this month, the distributor revealed its intentions to strengthen its retail links over the Christmas period (CRN, 6 November).
Speaking to CRN, McGeachie said: “We are working with our vendors to target the right multiple retailers and independent retailers, to ensure we can offer them the best growth opportunity for their business that we can,” he said.
“We want to make sure that both us and our vendors are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to the retail market,” he added.
McGeachie said particular products of interest to retail in the run-up to Christmas included peripheral devices that work on laptops, printer bolt-ons and laptops themselves.
“There are a whole number of retail opportunities out there that haven’t been touched by distribution – a number of newer channels that are starting to give us an opportunity,” he added.
Steve Lockie, managing director of C2000, said: “We experienced double-digit growth last quarter and a significant part of that growth was down to retail.”
Clive Longbottom, service director at Quocirca, said the distributor has its work cut out to capitalise on the Christmas rush.
“C2000 will have to work fast between now and Christmas – for the majority of people, there’s about a five-week shopping window left, so retailers will be needing a full store, plus delivery and support within the next two weeks to have any impact on what people will buy from them.
“I would think that this is more of a long-term bet by C2000; it wants to show the retailers how effective it can be ‘noise-wise’ between now and Christmas, but it will then be concentrating on carrying the relationships forward throughout the new year and beyond.”
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