D&H Distributing is betting on cutting-edge mobility, digital imaging and flat-panel display products — the latter featuring LED and OLED technology — to be key drivers of new purchases this holiday season.
The distributor is advising its dealers and online customers to leverage the new features and technologies of these devices to gain a marketplace edge while the economy recovers and consumer confidence returns.
“We’ve always found that focusing on breakout functionality is a good strategy for our customers, even if as a distributor we’ve had to make early investments in nascent technologies in order to make those items available,” said purchasing VP Rob Eby. “The earlier we’re able to embrace new capabilities, the more our customers can leverage those developments to differentiate themselves.”
D&H’s display offerings include LED desktop monitors and TVs, some with Internet connectivity, and Sony’s 3mm-thick XEL-1 OLED TV.
In digital imaging, the distributor is stocking Samsung’s DualView digital cameras, which have front and back LCD viewscreens that allow subjects to preview the shot before it’s taken.
Its netbook selection reflects such category improvements as longer battery life, larger keyboards, reduced weight and sleeker profiles, the company said. Models include Acer’s 8.9-inch, 2.2-pound Aspire One A150; the Asus Eee PC line; and MSI’s new Wind U110 Eco, whose nine-cell battery provides 15 hours of power per charge.
D&H is also bulking up on all-in-one computers, which take up less space and often use less energy than traditional desktop models. Examples include Hewlett-Packard’s TouchSmart IQ500t with 22W-inch touch screen; Acer’s Aspire Z5600, whose Windows 7 touch capabilities can replace a keyboard and mouse; and Lenovo’s IdeaCentre A-series models with integrated Blu-ray Disc player and multimedia remote control.
Other high-tech gift ideas from D&H include HD-capable USB camcorders from Flip, Vado and Aiptek; new titles and high-capacity storage devices for gaming consoles; electronic book readers; and price-competitive Blu-ray Disc players.
In addition, the distributor has “put a lot of energy into initiatives designed to pay off for our customers,” said marketing VP Mary Campbell. “Much of that has gone directly to helping those dealers and retailers face up to the economy and come out thriving. Now, our efforts will focus on new opportunities for them to present a better value proposition and bring themselves to a more competitive place. It’s all part of making sure they maintain an edge in a changing market.”
In other D&H news, the company recently held its Mid-Atlantic Fall 2009 Technology Show in Hershey, Pa. Some 140 vendors showed customers their wares, including Acer, Asus, Intel, Lenovo, Pure Digital and Toshiba.
The 91-year-old company ships out of five separate locations in North America, including its U.S. headquarters in here in Pennsylvania and its Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. It operates additional U.S. warehouses in Atlanta, Chicago and Fresno, Calif. For more information call D&H toll-free at (800) 340-1007 or visit www.dandh.com.
