Network Group bags first-of-its-kind deal with HP
'Landmark' deal sees all reseller members of buying co-operative Network Group become HP Gold partners
Network Group, a buying co-operative of resellers and retailers, has secured a first-of-its-kind deal with HP that will see all its members become HP Gold partners on its PartnerOne programme.
Speaking to CRN, Joey Hemingbrough, B2B director of Network Group, said this is the first time HP has signed this type of deal with a reseller buying group in the UK.
"Network Group is made up of a lot of members, with around 60 different companies, and our collective spend puts us up with the likes of Misco and Insight. But as single entities there would be very few of us who would get into the higher echelons with HP.
"So we negotiated a deal with them so they would view us not as a single trading entity, because we are separate businesses, but as a single group which they have never done before in the UK. And that means everyone gets Gold partner status in the Network Group."
Benefits of Gold partner status on HP's PartnerOne programme include providing resellers with a dedicated account manager and continued support around marketing and training with the printing and personal systems (PPS) side of HP. The status also gives partners in the group access to better pricing and offers which HP is running.
Hemingbrough claimed the deal will be very positive for all the partners within Network Group.
"It's absolutely brilliant news. As a smaller reseller in the channel, it is sometimes difficult to gain traction with some of the larger vendors, and HP is one of the largest, so for every single member it's great stuff. It can only mean our position in the marketplace is stronger," she said.
Wayne Cockerill, Network Group chairman, said: "We are very excited by what we regard as a landmark agreement with HP. Our members have been looking to grow their HP business, and this will allow all the members of the group greater focus in promoting HP products.
"It will give them a greater level of support through the group and backing from HP, with the Gold partner status which delivers greater product training and knowledge across the HP range."