Wild Things sets up indie hotline

Leisure distributor Wild Things has established a hotline for independent retailers in an attempt to lure companies into its fold.

The sales order line is part of the Cardiff distributor's increasing focus on the UK's independent sector.

It already deals with many of the key retailers, including Electronics Boutique, Game, HMV and WH Smith, but over the past eight weeks, business with independents has ballooned.

Howard Jacobson, managing director of Wild Things, said: 'We are trying to make things as easy as possible for the independents.

'They often get the rough edge of deals and this will help. In the past three to eight weeks in particular, we have seen an increase in the number of independents coming to us, so we decided to respond by opening this line. It means there will be a dedicated person for indies. We have already received excellent initial feedback.'

He added that the online ordering system would receive an extended product range as the Wild Things expansion continued. Europe was also listed as a target for development.

Clive Bishop, general secretary of the National Association of Specialist Computer Retailers (NASCR), said: 'We welcome the move. It is a good initiative. If distributors pay attention to the independents, they can get good repeat business. One example is Telstar - it gets good business because it takes care over the sector and does not simply pay lip service to the needs of independents.'