KEY POINTS:
Renaissance Corporation has added leading Asian manufacturer NEC Computers to the stable of international brands it represents.
The development is a welcome boost for the IT and consumer electronics marketer, which last month saw the end of its exclusive deal to distribute Apple Mac and iPods.
NEC Computers, which supplies notebook and desktop products to retailers and small to medium business, had previously been looking after its own retail channel in New Zealand, but announced yesterday that it was consolidating its efforts into one business unit under the Renaissance banner - a move that would see it handle all the distribution, sales and marketing of NEC computer products.
NEC is launching a push into the small business market, where it is a relatively new player.
The alliance with Renaissance was also expected to boost the retail segment of the brand.
Renaissance managing director Paul Johnston said it had been representing the brand on a distribution level for the past five months.
"I think it's a great brand - we're looking forward to a very long term relationship with the company and building the brand up quite significantly in New Zealand."
Johnston stressed the NEC deal was quite separate to its Apple arrangement. Renaissance remained the only distributor in New Zealand for Apple products.
"Apple have always had the ability to sell directly into New Zealand - they've just formalised that with a couple of the larger customers now.
"It's not a them or us, they can make the choice where they can buy."
Renaissance Brands general manager Mark Dasent said NEC, the leading brand in Japan, had a comparatively low market share in New Zealand compared with other countries, and the company was looking forward to increasing its presence here.
"It certainly fits in with our strategy - we've said for a number of years now that our core competency is around brand representation."
