Distree Daily Middle East Day 2

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Show dates: 20-22 May 2014, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi | Day 2

Dell focuses on tablet PC offering at DISTREE

21st May 2014

Sessions of interest 08:45-9:30

Fresh: A first look at new technology & wearables LIVE

09:30-09:50 Basil Ayass, Marketing Director, Dell, Middle East

Ashwin Venugopal Menon, Sr. Sales & Marketing Manager, U2-GO

Live@DISTREE (Mandatory for retailers)

09:50-10:40

60 Seconds to Convince

Basil Ayass, Marketing Director, Dell, Middle East, discusses how DISTREE Middle East helps the company to build a profitable business together with its retail partners.

“The user experience must now meet the ‘always on, anywhere’ requirements of customers and be consistent across all computing devices,” says Basil Ayass, Marketing Director, Dell, Middle East.

Consumerisation and related 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

U2-GO seeks distribution partners at DISTREE Middle East Just entering the regional market, Ashwin Venugopal Menon, Sr. Sales & Marketing Manager, U2-GO, says that the company is exploring partnership with distributors in the region.

How long have you been participating at DISTREE? U2-GO is a new brand of innovative portable solutions entering the market and this

10:40-11:00

KEYNOTE: Blue Print Execution 20:30-01:00 MERA:2014 Awards & Gala Dinner

22nd May 2014

Make the most of the last day at DISTREE Middle East 2014 09:30-12:30

Informal One-on-One Meetings

10:00-13:00

One-on-one meeting (PRP)

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Meet our overachieving tablet family.

Dell Venue 8

Dell Venue 7

Dell Venue 11 Pro

Dell Venue 8 Pro

Software/Apps sold separately.

The Dell family of tablets offers ultimate flexibility to connect, access and share in the way that works for you. Whatever you’re looking for in a tablet, we definitely have your type. No other family of tablets is more flexible and versatile, with incredible features like a stunning HD screen with wide-angle viewing for watching videos with others, to Intel® Atom™ or Intel® Core™ processors for extraordinary battery life and lightning-fast Web browsing. Plus, all Dell tablets are designed for easy integration with an array of accessories like docks and keyboards. With the new Dell family, you’ll never have to settle again.

Dell Venue 7, Dell Venue 8, Dell Venue 8 Pro and Dell Venue 11 Pro are trademarks of Dell Inc. © 2013 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

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U2-GO... would be the first time that we are participating in DISTREE. What are your reasons for being here this year?

DISTREE is a powerful business platform that generally brings together a few of the best vendors and distributors from across the globe. One of our main reasons of being a part of DISTREE is to introduce and showcase our wide range of simple yet innovative products that appeal to a huge audience.

DISTREE also lets us meet and evaluate the right partners for us, those who could provide a longterm commitment and value-added support in marketing and building our brand awareness. We are looking for a distributor who can stock, has multiple sales channels, logistics capabilities and a strong presence in the retail sector. Eventually, we want

to secure our entry in the region by signing a mutually beneficial contract for the distribution of U2-GO Also, this regional market has a lot of potential for business and DISTREE does more than letting you get connected, which is providing an opportunity to understand some of the key factors that goes into selling consumer electronics in this fastmoving market, including pricing, marketing, logistics, and distribution channels. This is a key factor that could prove beneficial for all of us looking for a promising and steady growth in this industry.

How has your experience been on the first day of DISTREE Middle East?

The experience has been fantastic.

Just from my first day’s meetings and discussions with potential partners, I’m confident that we will sign up distribution for at least two or three countries or more.

Retailers, including online retailers also have shown a keen interest

in our products. They seem to be interested in introducing us to their distributors, which is a positive sign for us. Because this means they understand the edge we have over competition and they know that our price points are pretty good.

We are hopeful about taking these discussions to the next level.

What are the key trends influencing your approach to DISTREE and your offerings?

This region in particular is a fast growing market and though there are plenty of products in the market, we have smart consumers here who look out for constant change in products keeping in mind that they must have two of main essentials i.e. an amazing design and outstanding functionality. That’s always been on our main focus and with the market having an increased demand for IT and mobility products that simplify life, we make sure that where we come in and provide the best quality solutions to meet these needs.

Will you be launching any new solutions or products at the show?

At U2-GO, we are first launching a SMART series of ‘people-inspired’ solutions that are simple innovative, trendy, affordable and designed to follow the pulse of a new generation.

In our product portfolio we have quite a few that would stand out such as check-point friendly bags, innovative smart phone and tablet accessories, but two products that would definitely stand out from the rest such would be the Smart Cloud (an innovative device that lets enables wireless streaming of files, can act a Wi-Fi hotspot, a power bank and much more) and the Smart Jump Starter, (a multi-function power-bank that can also jump-start a car).

Apart from our current product portfolio, we have also planned ahead and are shortly launching even more such innovative products that would be simple yet different enough to bring about that change to make life easier on the move.

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Dell...

mobility trends have had a major impact on the way customers purchase technology today. Keeping this in mind, Dell has been expanding its consumer mobility portfolio.

“One of the main focus areas for Dell in the Middle East this year is the development of our tablet PC offering,” Ayass says. The latest addition to Dell’s tablet family is the Venue line, which includes four ultrathin models designed to address the evolving lifestyles of customers today. The range includes 8- and 11-inch Windows-based tablets complete with keyboard and stylus options, as well as 7- and 8-inch Android tablets.

Over the last one year, the company has experienced a sustained period of expansion in the Middle East region, according to

Ayass. Having moved to new facilities late last year, the company has been able to consolidate much of its current Middle East operations and create an innovation hub for the company’s expanding regional team members, as well as partners and customers.

“The retail channel is a growing part of Dell’s business and clearly Middle East retailers, while facing competition, are benefitting from the ongoing adoption of technology among consumers.

There is a much greater opportunity for retailers to diversify their product offerings today. Even in Dell’s case, we offer everything from laptops and tablets all the way up to high-end gaming systems from our Alienware brand,” explains Ayass. Dell works with a number of key retailers across the Middle East, including names such as Jackys, Jumbo, E-max,

Sharaf DG, Plug-ins, E-city and CompuME. Ayass believes DISTREE will give the company the opportunity to outline the features that make its tablets unique, and allow them to show retailers how they can improve their sales by selling the benefits of these devices. These kind of meetings will further enable the retailers’ business while also helping the company to grow. According to Dell, Venue tablets are designed to give people on-the-go a wideselection of sizes and options to meet their varying needs.

“The retail sector in the Middle East continues to evolve at a rapid pace, so a retail technology fair such as DISTREE Middle East provides a valuable opportunity to engage with both new and prospective partners.

Dell enjoys a close relationship with its retail partners in the Middle East, so the event also offers a platform to reiterate our strategy and update the market on new products,” says Ayass. “The intimacy of the event provides a unique opportunity to meet a high number of partners under one roof and discuss their needs and any challenges they face.”

Another important aspect for the company is that the event draws in retailers from the entire Middle East landscape. “This means, while toplevel retail trends do tend to remain consistent across the region, a retailer in the UAE may have slightly different requirements or see different market behaviour to a retailer in Lebanon, for example. The event therefore offers us the chance to keep abreast of countryspecific developments,” adds Ayass.

Sennheiser aims at increasing footprint

Heston Saldanha, Sales Manager, Sennheiser Heston Saldanha, Sales Manager, Sennheiser, discusses the company’s focus at DISTREE Middle East 2014

Featured Tablets

“Meeting with new distributors and retailers and expanding our footprint into new markets,” says Heston Saldanha, Sales Manager, Sennheiser, is the biggest focus for the company at DISTREE Middle East this year. Having been part of this event since last year, the company has seen considerable growth in 2013.

According to Saldanha, meeting figureheads from current partners significantly helped in strengthening its relationship with them, resulting in increased business over the past year.

Being heavily used within the music industry, it was no surprise, says Saldanha that the MTV EMAs,

held late last year, and the BRITS 2014 earlier this year, used the company’s professional wireless systems. “The T20 Cricket World Cup also utilised our systems, while locally, Sennheiser equipment has been used at the Meydan World Cup, and the Blended and RedFest music festivals held in Dubai,” he adds.

With the recent launch of the HD7 & HD8 DJ headphones, the company is showing its legacy and influence in this rapidly expanding market segment. Meanwhile, explains Saldanha, the new G4ME ZERO & ONE gaming headsets are the perfect choice for enthusiast and professional gamers who want

the most precise audio and team communication.

“At DISTREE, we are looking to strengthen our relationship with existing partners and bring in new ones to expand our regional coverage. Our recently launched DJ and Gaming headphones will also be displayed at the event, along with our existing portfolio,” he says.

“DISTREE provides a single stop for us to get in touch with numerous distributors and retailers; a great venue where hundreds of prominent decision makers can see our products. The opportunities we can avail at DISTREE would’ve taken us months to pursue otherwise.”

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XYZprinting expands regional coverage with 3D printers XYZprinting dedicated to bringing cost-effective 3D printing to the market, is unveiling da Vinci, a personal 3D printer in the Middle East markets, making it the most affordable 3D printer of its capacity on the market, according to the company.

The da Vinci is a plug-nplay 3D printer designed specifically for households and small businesses with no assembly required. The da Vinci 1.0 has successfully held the market share by topping the number one selling item in the same category on the major e-tailers globally.

The da Vinci uses fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology and

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features the largest build-size in its class, producing items 20 percent larger than those created by other personal 3D printers on the market.

The innovative printer requires no set-up and is an enclosed machine with unique safety features including a censored door that alerts users if open, offering protection from the interior high temperatures required to print. The 3D printer also leverages an open-source cloud database, enabling users to create thousands of items from bowls and cups to key chains and smartphone cases.

Owned by New Kinpo Group, headquartered in Taiwan, XYZprinting has broad experience in the printing and manufacturing industries. In addition to da Vinci 1.0, XYZprinting will be displaying da Vinci 2.0 on the DISTREE event show floor (Booth #A9). These printers are part of XYZprinting’s future line of 3D printers and offer dual-color printing and print in ABS.

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Prestigio looks at adding value for retailers

Dia Hamdan, Marketing Manager, MEA, Prestigio Dia Hamdan, Marketing Manager, MEA, Prestigio elaborates on the company’s objective of being at DISTREE Middle East 2014 Although, Asbis Middle East has been coming to DISTREE for the last seven years, it will be the first time they participate as Prestigio, says Dia Hamdan, Marketing.

“Prestigio is a leading vendor name in the mobility and solution industry now and we have extended our portfolio to include the latest technology into our products,” he says.

In the last few years, Prestigio has grown to have a strong presence within the GCC countries such as Egypt, Levant and South Africa. Hamdan says, DISTREE

Nominees for Middle East Retail Awards Winners will be announced at MERA: 2014 Awards, which begins from 20:30 on 21st May PC Vendor of the Year Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba

represents the right opportunity to connect and get introduced to the regional retailers and also the latest trends in mobility technology.

“Prestigio’s and Asbis Middle East’s market differentiator is that we work and think like both a vendor and a distributor, which gives us the added edge from our competition and the ability to understand our customers and support them in different ways,” he adds.

Hamdan further explains, “Sometimes, in the busy world of retail, it’s hard to know everything that’s happening now – let alone what’s coming next! Well, Prestigio’s participation in DISTREE is to help with that.”

As per the company’s marketing intelligence and research that it conducts internally, Hamdan says there are some changes that will happen in the world of retail. “For example, the retail channel will not be through showrooms and events in the future, customers would prefer going online more, which he can access on smart devices at anytime and anywhere.

This is where Prestigio adds value because we are one of the few vendors who has a dedicated application team that can help the retailer in this area.”

Indeed, e-commerce has seen a sizeable growth in the region over the last few years and is also one of the highlights at DISTREE Middle East 2014.

Tablet Vendor of the Year Asus, Eurostar, Huawei, Lenovo, Prestigio, Touchmate PC Accessories Vendor of the Year Belkin, Genius, Logitech, Microsoft, Targus Tablet & Phone Accessories Vendor of the Year Belkin, Cellularline, Casemate, Promate, Targus Imaging Vendor of the Year Canon, Fujifilm, GoPro, Nikon, Sony Storage Vendor of the Year Sandisk, Seagate, Toshiba, Transcend, WD Smartphone Vendor of the Year Blackberry, HTC, Huawei, Nokia, Sony

Specialist UAE Retailer of the Year Emax, Jacky’s, Jumbo, Plug-Ins, Sharaf DG Saudi Arabia Retailer of the Year Carrefour, Emax, Extra, Lulu, Panda, Virgin Bahrain Retailer of the Year Carrefour, Geant, Lulu, Sharaf DG, Virgin Kuwait Retailer of the Year Alghanim (X-cite), Best United, Carrefour, Eureka, Lulu Oman Retailer of the Year ABT, Carrefour, Emax, Lulu, Sharaf DG Qatar Retailer of the Year Carrefour, Lulu, PC One, Qatar Duty Free, Sharaf DG Egypt & Levant Retailer of the Year Carrefour, CompuMe, Khoury Home, Radioshack, Smartbuy

Home Networking Vendor of the Year Belkin, D-Link, Edimax, Linksys, TP-Link

Middle East E-tailer of the Year Alshop, Crazydeals, JadoPado, Jumia, Souq, LetsTango

Software Vendor of the Year Bitdefender, Eset, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton

Middle East Volume Distributor of the Year FDC, Redington, Jumbo, Metra, BDL

Audio Accessories Vendor of the Year Beats, Bose, Logitech, Sennheiser, TDK

Middle East Retail distributor of the Year ITE, Redington Lifestyle, Grand Stores, Trigon, GCT

Wearable Tech & Connected Devices Vendor of the Year Fitbit, GoPro, Jawbone, Pebble, Xtouch Overall UAE Retailer of the Year Carrefour, Emax, Jumbo, Lulu, Sharaf DG

Middle East Accessories Distributor of the Year Max Electronics, Jurassic, Lionfish, Gadgitech, Shift

11th June 2014

Godolphin Ballroom, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai

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Motorola introduces Moto X in UAE Motorola Mobility has unveiled its flagship device, Moto X with its Middle East and Africa distributing partner, Redington, in the regional market.

Talking at DISTREE Middle East 2014, Marcus Frost, Senior Marketing Director, EMEA & APAC, Motorola Mobility says, it’s no longer about the hardware but today it’s about how efficient the software is.

“Moto X fuses our history of mobile innovation with the best of Google mobile services to create experiences that no other smartphone can match. The UAE consumer is discerning and we are bringing a strong proposition to this market so that it changes the mobile experience for them.

Moto X has been very well received across markets and would continue to add to Motorola’s momentum in

the region and across the globe,” explains Frost.

“At Redington, we are quite enthused to be the exclusive MEA partners for the Moto X launch. We are also launching the product in Ghana in Africa. The appointment of Redington by Motorola as a distributor for the Moto X in the Middle East is a strong endorsement of our distribution capabilities across MEA markets and of our strong relationships with the channel partners in this region. The stateof-the-art supply chain system at Redington can offer fast and efficient delivery services to mobile dealers and retailers throughout the region. We are working closely with Motorola Mobility to optimise availability across markets,” says Jim Matthews, Vice President, Telecom Vertical (MEA).

According to the company, Moto X aims at making the customers’ lives even simpler. With its ‘OK Google Now’ feature, the user can get directions while driving, set an alarm or simply find out about the weather without touching the screen.

The company is expecting to bring about many welcome changes in the user’s lifestyle by controlling the phone through voice. Added to that, the device gives useful information at a glance through Active Notifications, which appear on the screen. This way, the user doesn’t have to power up the entire phone just to know the time or notifications, says Frost. One of its other features include simply twisting the wrist twice to have the 10MP camera application instantly ready for use. Also, says Frost, the user could touch anywhere on the screen to capture a picture.

Moto X will be available in the market in June in black or white for AED 1599.

Day 1 at DISTREE Middle East 2014

Basil Ayass, Marketing Director, Dell

Jack Lee, Sr. Vice President, XTouch

Dr. Rudolf Aunkofer, Global Director IT, GfK Retail & Technology