Promethean gets Clarity on Irish market to tune of €1m

Irish distributor outlines investment in interactive education brand

Clarity is investing to drive Irish interest in Promethean products such as the ActivBoard

Irish distributor Clarity has agreed to spend €1m on developing sales of Promethean’s education-focused technology in the republic.

Clarity, a Westcoast subsidiary, plans to invest €1m (£880,000) in new staff, facilities, marketing campaigns and a new Ireland-focused partner programme for the vendor.

Adrian Foley, managing director at Clarity, said Promethean’s interactive technologies offered a lot of advantages to the education market.

“It has carved out a reputation as a leading provider of interactive learning technology to the education market and we’re convinced this partnership will yield significant benefits for us, Promethean, the channel community and schools throughout Ireland,” Foley said in a statement.

The distributor will sell all Promethean’s ActivClassroom portfolio, including IWBs, learner response systems, interactive classroom software and various accessories.

Promethean believes the Irish market may grow strongly. From 2007 to 2008, the vendor saw ActivBoard sales to Ireland surge by 225 per cent.

Graham Byrne, head of Ireland at Promethean, said only 20 per cent of Ireland’s 32,000 classrooms have interactive learning technologies.

“The market penetration rate is forecast to grow to almost 57 per cent – 18,000 classrooms – by 2012,” said Byrne. “The appointment of Clarity will strengthen our presence throughout the country.”

Clarity was founded in 1999 and turns over €115m a year via 40 staff based across Ireland.