Acer Aspires to distribution

Vendor reveals it is to offer its Aspire consumer notebook portfolio through distribution once more due to partner demand

Acer Aspire: Available through distribution following partner demand

Acer is re-introducing its Aspire consumer notebook range through UK distribution, in response to demand from its dealers.

The vendor withdrew Aspire from distribution around this time last year after launching a separate consumer range for dealers. The new new products combined a home operating system with Acer’s Travel Mate and Extensor professional platforms.

Meanwhile, Aspire – which generates 80 per cent of Acer’s UK sales - was to be the exclusive preserve of the big etailers, retailers and DMRs.

However, the vendor has performed a U-turn after admitting dealers were being inundated with requests for Aspire. Mirco Peripherals is already on board again, Computer 2000 and Ingram Micro are set to be shipping Aspire by the end of the month and Acer is currently in discussions with ETC.

David Drummond, managing director of Acer UK, told CRN: “We wanted to differentiate a separate [consumer] product for dealers. But the feedback was their customers were asking for Aspire. We are not stopping [Travel Mate and Extensor with home operating systems] but there will be slightly fewer part numbers, while we are increasing the part numbers for Aspire.”

Acer currently serves close to 2,000 UK dealers through its four distributors.
Drummond admitted Acer had more to do to win back the trust of smaller resellers after the vendor’s well-documented inventory problems earlier in the year. But he maintained that Acer was well-placed to gain ground in the professional market.
“We have a very strong professional line up, so it just a question of bringing focus to that space. We can compete well on deals of up to 1,000 seats with all the usual suspects and can assure the channel that we do not go direct,” he said.