HP wants indies for franchises

Hewlett Packard is looking for business-oriented indies prepared to devote a quarter of their floorspace to become franchised HP Office Centres.

The scheme shows how HP's products can make a "single-source solution" for small businesses.

"Our research tells us that small businesses are not being looked after well," said John Mostyn, MD of Netfire, a third-party services company which will handle the HP franchises. "Businesses are unlikely to turn to a multiple retailer, but independents servicing their local area have proved themselves in business."