Imago reaps China rewards

Distributor claims a dozen UK resellers with customers in China have used its recently launched service

Ian Vickerage: The Far East is a major growth area for video communications

Video communications distributor Imago is seeing good results from its year-old service aimed at assisting resellers with customers in China.

Ian Vickerage, managing director of Imago, said about 12 resellers from the UK, Spain, Sweden and the US have been selling into China through Imago and many have placed repeat business.

“The Far East is a major growth area for video communications, but resellers who have tried to ship kit sourced in Europe have had the frustrating and costly experience of having this kit impounded by Chinese customs,” he said.

Vickerage said getting kit into China had proven difficult for UK resellers, which may have to pay import duty of up to 23 per cent on top of the transport costs and risk of products going missing once impounded.

Imago opened a Beijing office and has contracted local resellers to purchase, deliver and install as required. More UK and Europe-based resellers have been seeking help with installations in mainland China, he said.