HOME iLife receives Microsoft award in Middle East
Mobile device brand iLife Digital technology has picked up an award from Microsoft in the Middle East. iLife was recognised as a ‘Compete Partner’ of the year for 2017 for its devices designed for the Middle East’s budget concscious consumers. The annual awards hosted by Microsoft Gulf celebrated and recognised partners that had made a significant contribution to the vendor’s business.
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Optoma signs Redington Gulf as distributor
Projector brand Optoma has appointed Redington Gulf as an authorised distributor in the Gulf region. Redington will distribute Optoma’s lightweight and portable business models. The new partnership will give Optoma access to Redington Gulf’s extensive channel network of IT resellers through the distributor’s IT volume business division.
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Jarir opens new outlet in Kuwait
Retailer Jarir Bookstore has extended its regional network, opening a new store in Kuwait. Jarir’s now operates a network of 49 stores across the GCC with four in Kuwait. The new Kuwait store covers more than 3400 square metres and is located in Salmiya Park Boulevard. Jarir has invested just over US$5m in its latest store, which is the fourth new outlet it has opened since the beginning of 2017.
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Ingram Micro signed as Kaspersky Middle East training partner
Ingram Micro Training MEA, a provider of instructor-led technical training, has partnered with Kaspersky Lab as training provider for the Middle East Region. With this partnership, Ingram Micro is now authorised to provide certified training for end point solutions of Kaspersky Lab in the GCC. Ingram Micro will provide training services to all Kaspersky Lab customers and partners, aiming to further strengthen the vendor’s training offerings for the channel community.
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Saudi Arabia-based consumer tech retailer Extra, part of United Electronics Company, has opened its ninth store in Riyadh, extending its GCC retailer network to 43 stores in total. CEO Mohammed Galal said: “Our company is working according to a clear strategy for expansion, to be closer to our customers. Our ongoing investment in expansion by opening new stores or developing our e-commerce platform - www.extra.com - is based on market research and understanding the demands of our customers.”
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Ring signs ABM as MENA distributor
Smart home solutions vendor Ring has appointed Arab Business Machines (ABM) as a distributor for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. ABM will promote and distribute Ring’s home security products and solutions and offer value-added services through its extensive channel partner network. ABM will distribute Ring’s products in the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Iraq.
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Huawei CBG eyes Middle East potential
Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) has reiterated its commitment to Middle East markets and highlighted the growth opportunities that exist in the region. Glory Cheung, chief marketing officer at Huawei CBG, stated: “We see tremendous potential in the Middle East markets and are pleased to support the region’s agenda of fostering innovation.”
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Panasonic plans MEA marketing push
Consumer tech brand Panasonic will launch a new marketing campaign in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region with the tag line, ‘Makers of Quality. Mastered in Japan’. The brand hopes to reinvigorate itself as a leading Japanese brand offering innovative and premium quality products. Panasonic also wants to increase its market penetration through strategic alliances with key retailers in the region.
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Huawei appoints retailer director in UAE
Huawei consumer business group (CBG) has appointed Rishi Kishor Gupta as retailer director for the UAE. Based in Dubai, Gupta will spearhead Huawei’s retail channels in the UAE and strengthen retail partnerships, aiming to provide customers easy access to Huawei’s cutting-edge technologies. Gupta has a wealth of retail channel experience and joins Huawei from regional retail powerhouse Sharaf DG.
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INTERVIEW: Dikran Tchablakian, Tecbuy
If wisdom comes from experience, then it is little wonder that Dikran Tchablakian can offer deep insight into the trends impacting consumer tech retail in the Middle East. Tchablakian was awarded the Retail Executive of the Decade honour in 2016 by DISTREE Middle East, in recognition of his achievements and position within the retail channel. With vast experience across the region, spanning physical retail and e-tail with CompuMe, Tecbuy and now also letstango.com, Tchablakian’s views on the structural dynamics of the Middle East retail channel are more important than ever as we enter a period of accelerated change.
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