Market share decline drives Dell to the shopfront

Peter Dinham
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 15:34

Business IT - Technology

Tatelman said most of Dell's store expansion this year has taken place in China, followed by Europe, other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America and, he points out that according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker for the first quarter this year, Dell has gained nearly four points of share year-over-year in retail unit shipments and its total share in the retail space stands at 7 percent.
 
In Australia, Dell products are available from the big retail groups – Officeworks, Dick Smith and The Good Guys.

According to Tatelman, Dell is being recognised for creating value for partners.

“Wal-Mart.com has recognised Dell as Electronics Supplier of the Year for 2008 and Best Buy has awarded it the Bravo Award of excellence. This honor is given to only a few of Best Buy partners for commitment to excellence and achievement of business results. Among the categories in which Dell was judged were technology leadership, integrity, partnering acumen and speed to market.”

And, Tatelman says that Dell is also expanding its partner strategy to include the telco industry as a new channel to reach people and present its portfolio of personalised mobile products.

He claims people are seeking personal computing experiences that combine “great products and design with mobile broadband services in one personalised package,” and says that Dell has forged agreements with Verizon and AT&T in the US, Vodafone in Europe, China Mobile in Asia and other qualified telco partners in India, Japan and Europe. 

According to Tatelman, customers are responding favourably to this trend, and, he reminds the market that, according to IDC, Dell was No.1 within the telco channel in the UK in Q1 2009, following a very successful launch of its Inspiron Mini’s offered with mobile broadband.

“In addition to Vodafone, the company is working closely with Carphone Warehouse, UK’s largest distributor of mobile connected devices,” Tatelman said.

In an effort to reach out to partners and people in Europe, Tatelman says that this week Dell is demonstrating its full portfolio of consumer electronics in a three-day Versailles showcase, “Dell Suites.”