Dell's Retail Push

During the fourth quarter of 2007, Dell announced deals with five substantial retailers of desk tops and note books. On 22nd October it was Staples. On 27th November, it was Carrefour. On 6th December, it was Best Buy. On 13th December, it was DSGi. And on 21st December, Dell announced a deal with Tesco. Deals were announced earlier in 2007 with a number of other retailers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the years, Dell has blown hot and cold with the channel, and anyone who can reach back to the mid-1990s will know that commitment to the channel has not been one of Dell's fortes in the past. Now, though, with HP securing and retaining the No.1 slot globally for the past year or so, Dell realises that retail channels are a necessary route to market if it is to gain market share in the fast-growth consumer segment.