|
Chennai
27th December,2006
Resellers of Pondicherry and Vellore hope this new year will be different and
special for them. The channel fraternity here are busy preparing themselves to
welcome 2007 with mega IT expos. To be held in the next couple of weeks,
resellers hope the expos will give them a good start to their business in the
new year. While Vellore's local association VAIT (Vellore Association for
Information Technology) is organizing the third edition of their expo-The
Great Vellore Bazaar, from Dec 30, 2006 to Jan 1, 2007, ITTA ) Information
Technology Traders Association) in Pondy has announced that its fifth edition of
Comp-Ex would be held from Jan 5 to 7, 2007. "Expos like these have
definitely helped to increase the business in the local market," said
office bearers of both ITTA and VAIT.
The Great Vellore Bazaar is expected to attract over 15,000 people in the
three days, from in and around Vellore. "We are covering all nearby markets
such as Gudiyattam, Aarni, Ambur, Arcot, Tirupattur, Vaniyambadi, Wallajah and
Ranipet. And the response is encouraging from these markets," said M
Kumaran, President, VAIT. The association is conducting the expo in Sangamam
Hall and has put up 70 stalls.
This time, VAIT has tied-up with Rotary Club of Vellore to market its stalls
to non-IT companies. The association has allotted nearly 30 stalls for non-IT
customers, which include consumer durables, telecom and office automation
companies. “Telecom segment is very hot and there are more takers for it,”
he quipped. The theme of this year's exhibition is 'digital and life-style
products' and Canon has agreed to be the prime sponsor for this event.
"We could not rope in many sponsors since it is year-ending," he
added.
VAIT is making hectic campaigns to promote The Great Vellore Bazaar and turn
it into a successful event. "Though there are many resellers here and a
wide range of products are being offered by them, unless you educate and hold
exhibitions for the local market potential, customers tend to go to Chennai to
buy their IT products," said Sadhanandan, VP, VAIT. He also added that VAIT
played a big role in controlling of local purchase potential going to outside
markets, especially to Chennai because of its proximity.
Meanwhile, ITTA in Pondichery is also gearing up to make their Comp-Ex a
grand success. The association claims to have sold more than 85 percent of the
80 stalls planned and is in the last leg of preparations. Though the vendor
support is poor, ITTA is spending from its own pocket to make Comp-Ex a
successful one. "Resellers are quite supportive here and the only fund
raised for this expo is through sale of stalls. If we get vendors (sponsors),
ITTA would plan for many special programs in this three-day expo," said PN
Prasad, President, ITTA. Comp-Ex usually attracts more than 25,000 visitors
(from home, SOHO, corporate and education segments) in three days.
"Usually, Dec/Jan is the right time to hold expos as you sow the seeds
now and wait for them to mature and harvest. Similarly, whatever campaigns and
promotional activities you do now will surely help the resellers in JFM quarter
to achieve their sales and targets," said T Sivakumar, Secretary, ITTA.
So both VAIT and ITTA expect to provide its resellers a good start in the new
year. Page(s) 1
| 
