Axiz makes an impact at the HP Channel Awards

Axiz won several awards at the HP Channel Awards held on 13 February. These awards are made annually by HP to recognise excellence in the channel, according to Bradley Hopkinson, PSG Group Director at HP. "It was particularly difficult this year because we were merging the classic HP and classic Compaq channels. That makes the winners even more deserving," he states.

Axiz CEO, Anthony Fitzhenry, received an Executive HP Channel Champion award. This award is adjudicated based on votes from the HP team members that are directly involved with the channel; it recognises individuals for their outstanding contribution in their area, according to Hopkinson. At the executive level, it also recognises how well the person manages their team, the individual`s work ethic, teamwork and attitude.

The HP @ Axiz Team also collected the award for Best New Distributor of the Year. Axiz became an HP distributor a year ago as part of the company`s decision to move out of its previous niche of being a specialised component distributor. "This category is adjudicated on the basis of revenue, revenue growth, team work, work ethic and the team`s performance and commitment overall," Hopkinson explains.

Steven Kramer, HP business unit manager at Axiz, explains the significance of this award to Axiz: "Since there were three new HP distributors in the running this year, an important point to us is the recognition from HP itself regarding our performance in the channel, particularly coming from a zero base almost a year ago. What is also significant is that we`ve achieved this in spite of only receiving the distribution rights for the Compaq range in August last year. Our success is attributable to the entire Axiz team, not just the HP team. All our sales people have been on HP sales training and have committed to the product range. This has enabled us to prove our willingness to grow the HP business working from a sound knowledge base."

Axiz`s HP Product Manager, Margie Adam, won the award for HP Product Manager of the Year. This award is given to the leading product manager as voted by the HP team, based primarily on the criterion of outstanding sales performance. Other factors that influence the decision relate to the person`s attitude, work ethic and teamwork. HP`s Networking Sales award, which is based on revenue, also went to Axiz.

Charlene Travis, Axiz account manager at HP, congratulated the Axiz team on their achievements: "Becoming a new HP distributor in a highly competitive market is no easy task, and this has been even more challenging this year because of the merger of the two classic channels into a single entity. Axiz can justifiably be proud of their achievements," she states.

Kramer adds: "Axiz would also like to congratulate all of its resellers that received recognition and awards from HP; without their support, Axiz could not have achieved the success that it has to date."

Fitzhenry concludes: "We`re grateful and very privileged to receive these awards. We`re thankful to our customers for their patience and tolerance while we build this business and strive to improve our service to the level where we deserve their ongoing business."