Dell has announced a partnership with The Good Guys that will see its products sold through the retailer’s 87 stores across Australia in time for Christmas.
The Good Guys’ shoppers will be able to buy Dell products with standard configurations, including Inspiron desktops and laptops, Studio Hybrid and Studio laptops, XPS laptops and three different monitors from mid-December.
Dell's general manager of consumer sales and marketing, Evan Williams, told ARN the company is excited about getting its consumer technology out to a wider retail audience, and that the deal is a good fit for both companies.
"The Good Guys is a great retailer looking to expand its technology proposition. We’re excited to be part of that and look forward to working with them," Williams said.
“We’re really happy with the relationships we’ve got in the Australian marketplace, and we’re happy about the good feedback we’re getting on the products."
A Good Guys’ spokesperson told ARN prices will start from $549 for a netbook, and $799 for a notebook.
Initially, customers will not be able to customise Dell products to order.
“Customers will be able to customise their products from January 2009. Products in store from mid-December are pre-configured based on our customer feedback and demand,” The Good Guys spokesperson said.
Dell said it believes the ability to personalise offerings in store will be a successful model both for the retailer and the market.
The Good Guys’ main laptop brands include Toshiba, Hewlett Packard, Asus and Acer. The Dell range will make its way into catalogues in January.
“The partnership with Dell enables The Good Guys to expand our assortment of leading brands in technology products and meet customer demand,” the retailer said.
The deal follows Dell’s move into the retail channel when it partnered with its first local retailer, Officeworks, in May this year, and the announcement of a local partner program in September.
The vendor has also been in discussions with local integrators and resellers throughout the year, and has appointed several managers to oversee its channel strategy.
Williams said Dell will continue to evaluate the retail market regarding new partnership announcements.
"We’re really happy with the relationships we’ve got at the moment and we look forward to making them work," he said.
Dell will continue to operate 18 kiosks located in shopping malls across NSW, Queensland, Sa, Victoria and Wa. The company said its kiosk footprint has expanded to include two new states and five new locations since the May deal with Officeworks.
