PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
We spoke to Ben Jones, senior product manager at Hama UK, about the tech market and what he’s looking forward to at PCR Boot Camp – taking place on Wednesday May 21st at the Brewery in London.
If you’re a dealer you can sign up free to Boot Camp here.
What do you see being the biggest challenge facing PC retailers at the moment?
There are so many of the same products out there it is hard to nail down a range to put in stores, and with the transitional period between traditional computing and the constant wave of mobile computing it makes it an even bigger challenge. This is why it is important to obtain brands that provide high quality and up to date technology, without having to break the bank!
In your opinion, what’s the most important thing for retailers and resellers to bear in mind when dealing with customers?
Service is key! There is so much competition out there, it is essential to differentiate yourselves from the crowd. Consumer confidence can be built into conversations face to face and aftersales strategies with your customer. This will make sure they come back to you for future purchases!
What gadget can’t you live without?
It has to be my PS4, main reasons are that it keeps me relaxed and I have all my media in one system, plus Hama help me out with all the accessories!
What do you think will be the next big thing in tech?
The industry has taken so many big strides the past few years delivering the latest technology. There is so much out there already which is congesting the consumers’ minds. The next big thing? I think there will just be a continuation of improving existing products, e.g. tablets with their screens, the next generation of TV’s (again). CE is moving so fast, it is almost impossible to say what the next big thing could be but I would have a crack at saying second screen technology would be next!
If you could wave a magic wand, what would you change about the channel?
I would want to stop the pricing wars. Many products out there should be higher priced items, but with competition of the online market being so fierce, you can see that it has had a ripple effect onto your high street retailers. The trouble is, all the prices become leveled at a much lower cost than they should be, and the end consumer can get it anywhere, hence why the need for additionally great service can be the swinging factor into why your customer would buy from you, and not your competitor across the road!
What is your proudest moment as a company?
Twenty years is a great achievement for our UK branch. Whilst Hama itself has been around for 90+ years – Hama UK stands strong as one of its subsidiaries and we continue to grow, and continue to add key personnel in key areas of the business to ensure we remain resilient, fresh and competitive!
What products and services will you be promoting at Boot Camp this year?
We are going to be showcasing two brand new brands of our portfolio. Rapoo – which will deliver Bluetooth and wireless keyboard/mice solutions to our customers. You really have to see these products to truly appreciate the design, technology and innovation in them. We are excited to see the response! The other new brand is Fresh n Rebel – bringing high quality Bluetooth speakers to the table, these things really are quality speakers. Make sure you come to our stand to try them out!
Other than that, we hope to bring a few other product ranges, as most know, Hama has over 18,000 products to its disposal and a large chunk of that appeals to the PC Retail market. We cannot wait until Bootcamp 2014!
What distinguishes you from your competitors?
As mentioned before, we are not just a Distribution company, Hama also prides itself in providing its customers with full Marketing solutions to help support sell through within store or online, and Product specific Training to customers, in order to develop their staff knowledge on products we provide. We are really focused on service for 2014 and beyond and want to provide the best solutions possible to our customers.
What are you most looking forward to at PCR Boot Camp?
We love the interaction with attendees, and we love to gain insight on what other products are at the show too. Our goal is to let the attenedees know that we have some of the best products out there, with great pricing, as well as providing an overall service too. We love Boot Camp, and everyone involved, so it was a no brainer to want to be there again for this years event!
