MSI looks to woo independent retail channel

Hardware vendor MSI is planning to expand its retail presence by reaching out to independent stores across the UK, in a concerted effort to drive its PC brands in the channel.

The firm will be looking to ramp up its all-in-one PC and notebook brands at bricks and mortar retailers throughout 2010, having achieved 199.2 per cent growth in Q3 2009 for consumer portable PCs, compared to the same period in 2008.

“In 2010 our first step is to engage closely with the independent retailers, in order to extend this channel,” Richard Stewart, marketing manager at MSI, told PCR. “We will be offering the chance to experience MSI notebook and all-in-one products to independents who may well be more familiar with our motherboard and VGA brands.

“We are dedicating resources towards this channel in order to help us open a contact window within MSI for those potential retail partners who didn’t have the opportunity to engage with the MSI branded products before.”

The second stage of MSI’s retail strategy will be to target the national chains, specifically with its all-in-one range.

“We certainly aim to get into the chains within 2010, but it may be the MSI all-in- one PC range that helps us do that,” continued Stewart. “AIO with touchscreen technology is set to grow a great deal in 2010, thanks much to the launch of Windows 7, and MSI already has a full line-up from 19 to 24- inch display models. Our main goal and focus in 2010 is simply to continue to grow and expand our UK business.”