Rebranded Network Group eyes growth
Buying group gears up for membership growth and launch of 'Cloud of Cloud' solution
Ambitious reseller buying group NBG plans to use the momentum of its new name to grow its member numbers and secure the best deals.
The group last week changed its name to Network Group adding the strapline Strength in Numbers and revealed plans to double current members from 50 to 100 this year.
Phylip Morgan, managing director of Network Group (pictured), said its recent poaching of Ingram Micro’s marketing head, Gemma Telford, helped to speed up the changes.
“By dropping the word buying from the name, we are emphasising the support we offer. Between Gemma, myself and the board I think we have really good support for the growth of the business,” he said.
“We have a bold growth plan and want to em-power our members through our relationships.”
Telford said the new branding brings the organisation up to date. “NBG always had a reputation for being the best buying group and was perceived as having a real community feel and real loyalty from its members,” she said.
“I felt the branding was a bit staid and needed to be made a bit more exciting and brought more up to date to reflect the group.”
Morgan added that the organisation has launched a number of new incentives including e-commerce and sales and marketing tools, but its biggest launch is its cloud offering – the Cloud of Cloud solution.
“If an independent VAR wants to launch its own cloud solution it requires a huge investment for them to do that,” Morgan said.
“Our offering will ensure the same service is delivered through each member’s cloud, but we can reduce delivery and management costs through economies of scale.”
Ross Walker, director of distribution and small business at Symantec, welcomed the change.
“This is a positive move by Network Group and I look forward to continuing to work with Phylip and Wayne [Cockerill, chairman] as they evolve and grow the group membership and offerings,” he said.