MIDDLE EAST, 1 March 2015 – The 13th annual DISTREE EMEA created a wealth of channel business opportunities for delegations from 150-plus technology and consumer electronics brands. The event, which closed on 27 February, gathered more than 1000 industry delegates. A wide range of new products and brands were displayed at DISTREE EMEA, including a vast array of connected devices, smart technologies, accessories and peripherals.
Farouk Hemraj, Director and Co-Founder at DISTREE Events, said: “DISTREE EMEA is focused on high-level channel interaction designed to create new business opportunities for all delegates. More than 6,000 scheduled one-on-one meetings took place at this year’s event. As a result of meetings held at DISTREE EMEA 2015, new brands will enter the regional market and hundreds of new channel agreements will be signed.”
DISTREE EMEA 2015 was supported by Gold Sponsors Manhattan-Intellinet, Modecom and Ricoh; plus Silver Sponsors IBDL, Strontium, v-color and Valore. GfK was an Event Partner at this year’s event, delivering a comprehensive programme of speeches and workshops. Content Providers CONTEXT, Ocean Solutions, Red Dolphin, Regent and Quadmark, also contributed to a packed conference programme.
This year’s event saw an increased participation from Europe’s leading retailers with delegates from companies such as Amazon, Carrefour, Darty, Euronics and Media-Saturn, giving brands access to some of the region’s most influential consumer routes-to-market. DISTREE EMEA also relocated its exhibition area to the Grimaldi Forum in 2015, allowing the event more space to expand its remit and accommodate more exhibitors.
“DISTREE EMEA now covers the entire supply chain for technology and consumer electronics products. It allows retailers and distributors to coordinate their participation, and also their interaction with participating brands,” added Hemraj.
“We’re seeing increased participation from online marketplaces, e-commerce service providers and other market influencers that have a role to play in the supply and delivery of consumer technologies. We understand the complexity that now exists in consumer channels and DISTREE EMEA continues to evolve to reflect these changes,” he added.
The DISTREE Diamond Awards series also made their debut in Monaco at DISTREE EMEA 2015. The recipients of the DISTREE Diamond Awards was determined using on-site feedback from channel partners at each event.
Hemraj explained: “The DISTREE Diamond Awards served as recognition for companies that offer a compelling channel proposition. Selected by channel partners based on their interaction with exhibitors during the event, the DISTREE Diamond Awards are a hallmark of quality in terms of go-to-market strategy.”
The winners of the ‘EMEA Channel Academy: 2015 Awards’ were also announced during DISTREE EMEA 2015. Now in their seventh year, these awards once again recognised leading retailers, distributors and vendors within the region. Hosted at DISTREE EMEA, these independent awards collect votes from thousands of channel executives in the run-up to the event to determine the overall winners in each category.
DISTREE EMEA also included the first Smart Channels Summit, hosted by Content Provider CONTEXT. The summit focused on how the European retail channel will need to evolve to deliver smart technologies, solutions and services to consumers.
The ever popular 60s to Convince Awards also formed part of the conference programme at DISTREE EMEA with 35 brands delivering elevator pitches for their latest products. Channel partners voted live to select overall winners in three categories.
Port Designs won the Best Design Award for their Amsterdam backpack with built-in controllable lighting that could be used to signal directions to other road users. Modecom picked up the Best Innovation and Best Presentation Awards for its FreePC, a small device that makes possible to turn your TV or monitor into a big screen PC.
More than 150 senior retail executives from 32 countries attended DISTREE EMEA 2015, joining 300 distribution executives from 65 counties. The event continues to provide the ultimate business platform for all brands looking to manage, build or launch volume channels in EMEA.
In conjunction with the Sightline Group, DISTREE EMEA also hosted the Fresh session – a powerful opportunity for a limited number of innovative vendors to present their products to EMEA’s most powerful and influential channel audience. Participants in this year’s Fresh programme includedPlastc, LSTN, Eyesight, Ducere, InteraXon, Rocki, Azoi, Muzik, MEG, Prizm and Prynt.
“The initial feedback on this year’s DISTREE EMEA has been overwhelmingly positive,” stated Hemraj. “We will continue to innovate the structure and focus of the event to keep it relevant and rewarding for all participants. Planning is already underway for DISTREE EMEA 2016.”
