Cellect helps Navman prepare for competition
Cellect has become the second local distributor for GPS and electronics company Navman.
Navman’s national consumer sales manager Richard Silver says it’s important to build the New Zealand channel ahead of looming competition.
He says Netherlands-based TomTom is set to hit the market in two to three months, and describes the firm as “massive in Europe”.
“It’s important to build as much reach into all possible markets that we can. It’s not just about dealing with retail and we’re now looking at non-traditional markets like the telco market.”
Silver says Navman’s first distributor here, Brightpoint, is stronger in the Vodafone or GSM market, while Cellect has a strong relationship with Telecom and some of the large retailers it already deals with through Brightpoint.
John Dunbar, Cellect general manager, says his firm is starting to specialise in “convergence-type” products.
“We’ve got a foot in both camps — in the IT and the telco channel,” he says. “It was an opportunity for them [Navman] to expand their range of resellers.”
Dunbar says he also wanted to support the New Zealand firm by taking on its products.
Cellect will stock recently released Navman models, along with maps and add-ons, Dunbar says.
Brightpoint country manager James Watters says his company has no concerns about Cellect’s appointment. He says Brightpoint has helped establish Navman in the channel and has loyal customers.
