Showcase review

February's new-look Ingram Micro Product Showcase saw 3,500 visitors taking advantage of the opportunity to meet a broad range of hardware manufacturers and software developers.

The five-date roadshow debuted at two new venues - the Manchester G-Mex and the Bournemouth International Centre - and featured a line-up of new vendors, including Executive Software, Microsoft Press, Novastor and STB Systems. The introduction of a new-look Ingram Micro Business Centre featuring representatives from Ingram Micro's Training, Consultancy, Consumables, Customer Services and Order Placement divisions also proved a popular feature among resellers attending the shows.

Another major attraction for resellers was the introduction of the Showcase Casino and Slot Machine Alley - a new initiative designed to reward the highest spending attendees.

February's Showcase also heralded the launch of a new charity drive that has seen Ingram Micro join forces with Dr Solomon's to provide fund-raising support for the Comedy Store Fund for Sick Children.

The charity has benefited from the support of numerous big names from the stand-up comedy circuit, including Jo Brand and Jack Dee. One of the charity's most significant achievements has been funding the development of a Play Therapy hospital for sick children in the Spitalul di Copii in Brasov, Romania. The joint venture with Ingram Micro will see Ingram Micro and Dr Solomon's donating #10,000 to this cause, should sales targets for its Anti-Virus Toolkits be met over a three-month period.