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ACCESSCHANNEL OPENS DOORS TO U.S. TECHNOLOGY CHANNEL
FOR EMERGING VENDORS
Ingram Micro and AccessChannel Sign Strategic Agreement
San Jose, CA – June 13, 2005,
AccessChannel today announced that it has signed a strategic
agreement with Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM), the world’s
largest technology distributor, to deliver a quick and
cost-effective service that enables emerging manufacturers
and software publishers to achieve broad access to U.S.
resellers and retailers. The agreement allows AccessChannel
to provide outsourced vendor management, logistics,
and accounting services to vendors by leveraging Ingram
Micro’s catalog and North American distribution
center network.
AccessChannel clients will have their
products offered through a standard distribution agreement
with Ingram Micro and available for purchase by more
than 40,000 resellers in the United States, including
many of the largest players in the channel. Since a
vendor’s product can be made available in the
Ingram Micro catalog in a few weeks, the program speeds
time to market.
“We are excited about working
with Ingram Micro to expand its portfolio of vendors,
helping to satisfy Ingram Micro’s customers demand
for new technologies and innovative products,”
said Al Mann, CEO of AccessChannel.
“AccessChannel has identified
a new and unique approach that provides our customers
with greater product choice when designing solutions
for their clients,” said Paul Bay, senior vice
president, vendor management, Ingram Micro U.S. “The
AccessChannel team’s experience and knowledge
enables vendors to travel the fast track into Ingram
Micro’s system and then out to the channel.”
“Prior to AccessChannel, many manufacturers with
great products did not have the revenue momentum to
qualify as a vendor with a Tier I distributor. They
were caught in a “catch 22” situation –
without distribution they could not achieve revenue
and without revenue they could not get distribution,”
said Lisa MacKenzie, Founder and President of LD/MacKenzie,
a leading technology marketing services company.
Program Details
The AccessChannel model helps emerging vendors to quickly
gain market awareness and access to an expanded customer
base through the market leader in distribution. The
program ensures that vendors maintain the key ingredients
available with a traditional direct relationship while
leveraging the reseller reach of Ingram Micro. For example,
vendors have direct contractual relationships with Ingram
Micro and their products are available under standard
distribution terms and conditions through Ingram Micro’s
telesales, website, and electronic transactions. AccessChannel
takes responsibility for inventory management, logistics,
program management, accounting, and reporting. Vendors
will receive daily updates on inventory and POS. The
total cost of the program is kept affordable by simplifying
the required marketing programs and limiting price uplifts
to a single product mark-up made by Ingram Micro. The
AccessChannel service is now fully operational.
About Ingram Micro
As a vital link in the technology value chain, Ingram
Micro creates sales and profitability opportunities
for vendors and resellers through unique marketing programs,
outsourced logistics services, technical support, financial
services, and product aggregation and distribution.
The company serves 100 countries and is the only global
IT distributor with operations in Asia. Visit www.ingrammicro.com.
About AccessChannel
AccessChannel was founded by two veterans of the distribution
industry. Al Mann, AccessChannel’s CEO, and Mike
Terrell, COO, together they have over 50 years experience
and both held executive positions at Ingram Micro in
addition to other achievements. AccessChannel is a subsidiary
of the Proficio Group - a global management execution
company. For more details see www.accesschannel.net.
Contacts:
Al Mann
CEO
AccessChannel
949-433-7632
amann@accesschannel.net
Chris Kelly
Ingram Micro
714-382-3355
chris.kelly@ingrammicro.com
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