Johannesburg, 17 Mar 2005
Esquire Technologies is the first computer distributor in southern Africa to open a retail-type store, called Xpress Warehouse, aimed exclusively at resellers.
The opening takes place at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Esquire's head office in Samrand, where Xpress Warehouse is located, on Friday, 18 March to mark this first in the industry.
Mahomed Cassim, Sales and Marketing Director of Esquire, comments: "We spent the last six months analysing how we can improve efficiencies and reduce queuing for our SMB resellers, as time means money. After careful planning and restructuring to get the formula right, we open our doors on Friday to our customers.
"The warehouse retail concept will go a long way to expedite the sales cycle and introduce a more exciting purchasing experience. Customers enter the Xpress Warehouse, select a product off the shelf and pay for it at the counter. Trained sales representatives on the floor and a help booth are on hand to lend advice and assistance. From a payment point of view, we have on-floor Internet kiosks where customers can do direct transfers.
"The response from our customers and suppliers has been amazing. Instead of traditionally queuing and never seeing the variety of stock except on a Web site or brochure as is typical of a reseller's buying experience, customers can now browse around and physically view stock and compare. Products such as Manhattan, Altec Lansing, BenQ and TEAC will be on display where customers can feel and touch the product before making a purchase. We plan to open on Sundays, which will enable small computer shop owners to travel from afar, view our products and shop."
Cassim adds: "We hope that the smaller retail store will emulate this idea for their retail shops and purchase more products."
Esquire plans to roll-out this concept to all its branches over the next year and also open a branch in Nelspruit based on the Xpress Warehouse.
Esquire's contract and bulk orders will continue to be processed in the traditional way.
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