HP launches store in Tropical Plaza

Sunday, September 19, 2010

INFORMATION technology company Hewlett-Packard (HP) on Thursday opened its first store in Jamaica in partnership with Royale Computers & Accessories, which will offer consumers the opportunity to get to know and experience the latest HP technology.

The store, located in the Tropical Plaza on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew, will distribute HP products, namely personal computers, printers, telephones and accessories. According to HP territory manager and personal system group sales specialist for the Caribbean, Pedro Cheng, the store will provide entrepreneurs with a medium to verify the security and benefits of the HP business line products in a space designed for understanding the necessities of the corporate market.

"The idea of the HP Stores arises as part of the geographic expansion strategy that is getting HP closer to its customers," said Cheng in a press release.

"HP also bets on technology transference, quality and the service of all of its products in collaboration with the business partners, ratifying once more the leadership of HP with 36 per cent of the computer market based on market intelligence firm International Data Corporation's (IDC) latest announcement for RoLA (Rest of Latin America)," he added.

According to Cheng, the Caribbean is really important for HP because it has shown valuable figures of sustained development, particularly in the last two years.

"The Caribbean duplicated its market in a year's time and it continues to grow," he noted.

Said Jack Khemlani, head Royale Computers and Accessories: "The opening of this HP store in Jamaica is an exciting time in the history of technology... It is now Jamaica's chance to experience the latest technology and the most advanced tech store."

With the HP store, customers will have the opportunity to know and adapt to the fastest revolution of the digital world's technology, added Cheng, noting that as a customer-oriented company it was HP's objective to have a close relationship not only with their final custumers but with the small and medium enterprises which are a key sector for the development of the Caribbean.

"The commitment of HP towards the Caribbean market will be reinforced with the opening of HP stores, understanding that this market represents 41 per cent of the total of HP PSG business in CAC (Central American and Caribbean) region," Cheng said.

The new HP store joins the chain of HP Stores that started activities in Latin America in the the middle of 2008 and are operated by HP business partners. HP's target plan for the 2010 financial year is to open more than 25 stores, including six in the Caribbean.

HP said that during three consecutive weekends of inauguration, the HP Store in Jamaica will offer instantaneous discount bonus for custumers applied to all products in the store.