14 DAY TRIAL // Dell had some serious problems a while back, both with its retail channels and with the chain of suppliers. But it looks like it learned a lesson from those past problems as now it looks for more and more retail dealers in order to expand its market reach. Until now, Dell's presence in Japan has been spotty at best. Well, some things are about to change, as the American company signed a partnership with the hardware and computer systems retailer Big Camera in order to sell a number of Dell branded computer systems in Big Camera stores across Japan.
Of the intended products for the Japanese market there are three notebooks (XPS M1330, Inspiron 1520 and Inspiron 6400) and a desktop computer system, the Inspiron 530s, according to the new site News.com. Those Dell branded systems will be available in 22 stores of the discount-electronics retailer Big Camera starting in August. This is Dell's first serious attempt to enter the Japanese computer market, the American company only having a series of "Real Site" booths in some Big Camera stores before, that were mainly for advertising purposes and less for selling computers. According to Dell spokesman Bob Kaufman, the kiosks in the Big Camera stores will continue their work and customers will have the option of ordering a Dell desktop or notebook system and have it shipped directly at their doorstep.
If you doubt that Dell is taking the computer retail channel seriously, please remember that only last week, the same American firm founded a new partnership in Europe with the mobile services retailer Carphone Warehouse. Dell also announced that will expand its product line available through the Wal-Mart stores with which it has a long-standing partnership. According to News.com "he move surprised many since it signaled a partial shift away from Dell's direct-to-consumer sales model it's employed since the company's beginnings two decades ago".