Lexmark eyes channel progress
Printer vendor revamps two-tier programe to drive sales through the channel
Lexmark has made changes to its two-year-old UK channel programme following reseller criticism.
Paul Callow (left), retail channel and SMB director at Lexmark UK and Ireland, said that the Channel Value Programme (CVP) has been revamped as a progression-based programme in response to reseller feedback .
There will be two tiers to progress through outside of which partners will just register with the vendor.
"Select was dropped and Registered implemented with no financial benefit, just access to the portal for promotions, and no access to our margin enhancement programme and the CVP pricing model," said Callow.
"Registered partners will get an exclusive kick-start, three-step initiative to drive loyalty within the dealer or reseller channel with discounts on one or two orders up to 10 units and a further 10 per cent rebate thereafter."
Premium partners will get access to account management by phone, and exclusive promotions on hardware, extended warranties and consumables, as well as 50 per cent off the list price. They will also get access to new products at a discounted price for 90 days.
"There will also be eligibility for our special bid programme, and loyalty or bonus rebate rewards," added Callow.
Expert partners will receive face-to-face account management and bonus rebates as well as exclusive promotions across hardware, extended warranties, and supplies.
They will also be given 70 per cent off list prices and access to Lexmark's virtual solution centre, and MDF.
Steve Purdy, country general manager at Lexmark, said that Callow had spearheaded the revamp.
"Callow has spent years getting under the skin of distributors and dealers so he was the natural choice."