Deverill signs deal with Acer

Reseller looks to compete in markets where price is everything

Compaq reseller Deverill is boosting its chances in deals where low price is the most important factor, following an agreement with notebook vendor Acer.

The reseller will become a Gold partner with immediate effect, as Acer continues to grow its UK channel.

The price competitiveness of Acer's products was key in the reseller's decision to take on the PC vendor's range, according to Richard Ashmore, managing director at Deverill.

"It's very competitive out there at the moment and this makes sense and adds another string to our bow," he said. "This new range give potential in markets where price is everything, such as the education sector."

Paul Cook, UK sales director at Acer, explained that the vendor is able to keep its manufacturing costs down because of its location.

"If you are going to manufacture PCs you don't want to build in Scotland or the US but the Far East because it is more economical," he said.

Deverill's past record in products and services meant that it was able to join the vendor's channel at the highest accreditation level.

Andy Brown, an analyst at IDC, confirmed that Acer is making good progress in Germany and the UK, and said that it is more than just good pricing that gives the vendor an advantage.

"People see Hewlett Packard [HP] as the company with a strong channel, but Acer is very strong because it has done a lot of groundwork over the last few years," he explained.

"Unlike other vendors, Acer has gone to the channel and said: 'We want to work with you', instead of making them feel like they are in a selection process."

Brown added that he expects more Compaq resellers to look for other vendor partners as its acquisition by HP causes uncertainty.

"They will stay with HP because it is so big that you have to work with it. But some resellers will look for other vendor partners," he concluded.