Ricoh kicks off new partner programme

Vendor aims to nurture SMB reseller relationships with printing products and solutions

Printer maker Ricoh has unveiled a new partner programme with a view to increasing its presence in UK distribution.

Steven Hastings, IT channel distribution manager at Ricoh, said: "We wanted to extend our channel programme to offer the best possible deal for our resellers."

Under the programme, resellers will be assigned as Approved, Preferred or Solutions partners, following an assessment and discussion of their fleet and service requirements.

"Our model is designed to reflect the needs and aspirations of each particular organisation as not every reseller or VAR is the same," added Hastings.

"Different partners have different plans for growth and business development so our offering spans financial and marketing initiatives that will help us tailor support for these different requirements, to best meet their needs without taking a hierarchical approach."

Solutions Partners will be resellers aiming to provide a full solution and additional services package for their customers over and above the core distribution channel, he said, including MPS.

The Preferred Partner category is for resellers focusing on more transactional, volume sales.

Resellers with which Ricoh has had "limited interaction to date" but which wish to explore opportunities for developing strategic relationship with Ricoh can become Approved Partners.

"Approved Partner status gives resellers access to a dedicated portal to download images and specifications to meet their particular requirements," Hastings said.