The importance of a sound relationship and partnership between vendor and distributor is crucial to the success of any product in Africa. The teaming up of Mustek Electronics and MINOLTA-QMS Africa is significant as the attitude of both parties towards achieving customer satisfaction is similar.
In the channel, both the reseller and end-user focus are of the highest importance, in order to keep the costs of getting to market to an optimum, to ensure pricing on par with international standards.
The exports division of Mustek, which already has a strong client base in Africa, will be doing the distribution to resellers, while the marketing and channel development through the channel will be handled by MINOLTA-QMS.
Technical support in every country is high on the agenda for MINOLTA-QMS. Where there is an independent service company which can handle the role of the vendor for technical support, warranty support, warranty swap-out, warranty on-site support, spare parts and call logging, such companies are being contracted to handle all the support. This will also be backed up by Authorised Service Partners - resellers that offer their clients good field support. All technical staff will be trained up to certification level to ensure that the high standard of service is maintained.
Mustek Electronics has committed towards this relationship to such a degree, that MINOLTA-QMS Africa is operating from Mustek`s premises, securing the close vendor/distributor relationship and offering even greater hands-on support to the reseller.
Many of the laser printer models from MINOLTA-QMS are ideally suited for the African markets. Mainly, the extremely aggressive priced workhorse, the Page Pro 1100L, a 10 page per minute monochrome laser printer. And the internationally successful magicolor 2200 DeskLaser, an A4 colour laser printer, priced close to that of a small network monochrome laser printer.
Robin Mowatt is the Area Manager for all sub-equatorial countries and the Indian Ocean Islands, while Mike Konson is responsible for Central, East and West Africa. Leonardo Brentar is directly responsible for SA, North Africa and Turkey.
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MINOLTA-QMS, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Minolta Co, Ltd, is an innovative developer, manufacturer and supplier of document printing solutions. The product line includes colour and monochrome laser printers and associated supplies and accessories for general office, electronic publishing, graphic design, advanced imaging and home office applications. MINOLTA-QMS is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, US, and distributes products through a global network of e-commerce, reseller, and distribution partners.
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