Book Review

DISTREE debuts first APAC Summit in Singapore

Ashish Kapahi,
Regional Director Asia Pacific
DISTREE

“Bringing together retailers from across the region to explore common channel issues can offer real insight. The presence of hundreds of vendors, distributors and retailer executives in one place at one time gives delegates an opportunity to look at the bigger picture and work together towards positive solutions. The conference programme forms a core part of the overall DISTREE experience and adds real value. As an independent event, we can bring together channel experts from multiple research houses, giving delegates access to different perspectives on market development.”

Aiming to bring high-level buyers into productive contact with vital vendors, DISTREE creates a platform that allows vendors to build in-depth relationships with key customers from across the regions. DISTREE Events, a Paris−based company owned by Infopro Digital has been organising events in the ICT & CE channels across the emerging markets of Russia & CIS, Latin America and the established markets of Europe and the Middle East. To emerge in the APAC region, for the first time, DISTREE concluded its DISTREE APAC 2013 at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore.

The event primarily focuses on the consumer channel for ICT and CE (Consumer Electronics) products. It brings together technology Distributors, Retailers and e-tailers under a platform to showcase their gamut of products. In its three days event, 12th -14th November, 300-plus delegates representing APAC’s most influential channel partners, plus vendors from across the globe gathered together. More than 150 companies were represented at DISTREE APAC 2013. The delegate list includes 90 retailers and e-tailer executives, 60 distributor executives, 100-plus technology vendor executives, as well as expert speakers, channel analysts and media partners.

DISTREE APAC 2013 was supported by Platinum Sponsor HP, Gold Sponsor Strontium and Silver Sponsor Energy Sistem; Event Partners GfK, IE Singapore, Pikom and AiTI; Content Partners CONTEXT, Forrester, VIA. VARINDIA participated as a media partner this year.

DISTREE APAC offered a compelling combination of pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings, conference programme, exhibition, awards, new technology showcases and workshop sessions to deliver a comprehensive business development platform for both vendors and channel partners.

Farouk Hemraj
Managing Partner
Distree Events

"DISTREE now a part of Infopro, focuses only on channel events for the consumer across the entire emerging market and the technology channel sector. Our plan is to increase the number of events beside the already existing five events. We want to grow our brand in other regions as well. Our next focus would be the Africa event. Even though we are present in EMEA, but in Africa, the positioning would be different. The African event will be focused only on the Reseller channel. For each event we look at the geography, the market situation and then based on the local conditions, and is positioned slightly differently."

In a unique and unbiased way of recognising the outstanding vendors, DISTREE APAC 2013 included the popular ‘60 Seconds to Convince’ awards programme, which gave vendors the opportunity to deliver a one minute elevator pitch for their latest product. Using a live electronic voting system, channel partners selected the top entrants in three categories: Best Product Innovation, Best Product Design and Best Presentation.

Incipio secured the Best Product Innovation award after successfully showcasing its ATLAS Waterproof Ultra-Rugged Case for iPhone. Parrot bagged the Best Product Design award for its AR Drone product. Incipio also received the Best Presentation award after an entertaining pitch demonstrating just how rugged its smartphone cases really are.

HP and Samsung were the standout vendors, picking up three awards. HP emerged winning in the PC and Printing categories and was also recognised as Outstanding Vendor of the Year by retailers and distributors participating in the voting.

The ‘APAC Channel Academy: 2013 Awards’ covered 13 different product categories, plus one special award for outstanding performance during the last year.

A Strategy Forum session was also included, allowing senior executives from across the industry to hold open talks on major issues impacting the channel, and work together to develop possible solutions. Topics covered were multichannel strategy, future growth opportunities, retail experiences and the evolution of traditional channels in APAC markets.

Each participating vendor was able to pre-schedule a personalised agenda of one-on-one meetings with channel partners that suit their precise business needs. Each vendor had a standard booth in the exhibition area where they conducted their one-on-one meetings and showcased their latest products.