Latest retail statistics released by The Connection Group, show that 3Com`s US Robotics 56k modem, its Office Connect Networking Kit and the Palm III Personal Diary Assistant (PDA) are the top selling products in their respective categories, in all the Connection Group`s retail stores nationwide.
The statistics are based on data accumulated from all three retail chain stores that the Connection Group now owns, including Software Connection, Incredible Connection and its recently acquired Computer Superstore.
3Com`s 56k modems are the Connection Group`s top selling hardware product, the 3Com Office Connect Networking Kit is the top selling networking product and 3Com`s new Palm III is the top selling personal diary assistant (PDA).
"Infiltrating the Small Office and Home Office (SOHO) market hasn`t been such a difficult task since the packages we offer through the retail channel are targeted specifically at the SoHo market," says Sean Heyes, 3Com`s Retail Program Manager. "3Com started selling products through the retail stores just under a year ago. Six months ago R 100 000 worth of stock was moving off the shelves, now the stock being sold totals over R1-Million a month."
"From the time the 3Com-US Robotics x2 Modem was launched last year, sales have rocketed in all the retail stores, making it the top selling hardware product," says the Connection Group`s group buyer, Laurence Friedman. "With the incorporation of 56k technology and the new V.90 standard, mobile users can get access to the Internet over standard analog phone lines, with download speeds nearly twice as fast as 28.8 modems. This means users are achieving increased productivity with faster downloads, faster data flow of critical business information, and reduced time and cost of access."
The Office Connect Networking Kit has become the top selling networking product because, according to Friedman, apart from the fact that the product is easy to install and cuts out installation costs of a LAN by an expert, it offers all the hardware necessary to connect up to three personal computers, enabling network beginners to build a new network or expand an existing one.
"More and more small businesses are seeing the benefits of installing Local Area Networks (LANs) as they are fast becoming an intricate part of the small business," he says. "There are a lot of smaller businesses and home businesses that are opting for the convenience of buying network products off the shelves and are looking for a cost effective easy to install solution to do this."
3Com`s new Palm Pilot, the Palm III is currently the top selling PDA in the computer retail stores. As we move towards the 21st century we are seeing death of traditional diaries and filofaxes, as people make way for a paperless solution in the form of Personal Diary Assistants (PDAs), explains Friedman.
He says that the additional benefits offered by the new Palm 111 include its seamless desktop synchronisation, ease-of-use, fast data access as well as its infrared (IR) beaming capabilities, increased memory, optimised user interface and sleek new industrial design.
"With the Palm III`s IR capability, users can share records and applications wirelessly by simply "beaming" information into another user`s Palm III organiser at the touch of a button," says Friedman. "This provides new data communications opportunities for both individual users and organisations."
"Judging by the feedback we have received from the various retail outlets, one of the reasons for 3Com`s products taking off as well as they have done is that customers realise that 3Com products offer superior performance," says 3Com`s Heyes.
"With people buying hardware and software from retail stores, we have recognised the fact that sales staff need to have an intricate knowledge of all products being sold. With this in mind we have made a concerted effort to make sure that we train retail sales staff in all outlets."
"Customers are becoming more familiar with the 3Com brand as we increase our presence in the retail arena and we are confident that sales will further increase as we release more products targeted specifically to the SoHo market via retail outlets," he concludes.
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