Lenovo partners with Asbis
Lenovo Middle East, Egypt, & Pakistan (MEEP) has appointed Asbis as a distribution partner in Saudi Arabia. Khaled Kamel, GM for Lenovo MEEP, confirmed the appointment as part of the company’s growth strategy, which is designed to raise the profile of Lenovo in the country and increase market share.
“Being a vendor that is 100 percent channel oriented, it’s important for us to have confidence in the entire route to market,” said Kamel. “Asbis is one of the few distributors that handles its own logistics in Saudi Arabia allowing them to control the flow of products, and serve customers in a faster and more efficient manner, a key decision making factor for us.”
Asbis has been present in the Middle East for the last ten years and has 27 people working in Saudi Arabia. It previously concentrated on the components market, however over the last two years it has broadened its focus to incorporate finished products into its product portfolio.
Toshiba incentive program
Toshiba Computer Systems Division has launched a new incentive program aimed at motivating floor sales staff who are based in Saudi Arabia. The Sell and Win Incentive Program provides opportunities for customer facing staff in retail outlets to earn rewards and win prizes.
“This incentive scheme is tied directly into sales, so its measurability will be a key component of our marketing implementation strategy,” said John Maliakal, country manager for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Yemen, Computer Systems Division, Toshiba Gulf.
Such a program provides encouragement for retailers, and consumers could get more enthusiastic service. However, these programs are also a reminder of the need for consumer awareness. Before making a purchase, consumers must determine if the computers being recommended at the shop best meet their requirements, or are they the ones with the highest margins or incentives for retailers and their staff?
Fifth office for 3M
3M Gulf has opened a Riyadh office in the Olaya District. It is the fifth 3M office to open in the Middle East. The other 3M offices in the region are in Lebanon, Kuwait, Dubai-DIC and Dubai-Healthcare City. Irfan Malik, regional managing director for 3M Middle East & Africa, emphasized that the new Riyadh facility gives 3M a critical launching point for future growth in Saudi Arabia.
The Riyadh location has dedicated service staff. The facility has been purpose-built to support 3M’s future growth plans in the Kingdom and will assist the company in providing efficient, high-quality service to local customers.
