DISTREE Asia Pacific offers powerful platform for regional channel development

Final preparations are underway for DISTREE Asia Pacific (APAC) 2013, which takes place from November 12-14th at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore. DISTREE APAC 2013 unites senior executives from the regional ICT and consumer electronics (CE) channel community for three days of pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings, conference sessions, awards programmes and business networking opportunities.

Ashish Kapahi, Event Director for DISTREE Asia Pacific, provides more details on next month's event and the business benefits it offers to participating vendors.

There are many technology exhibitions and trade shows in APAC. What makes DISTREE APAC different from all the other events that are already out there?

DISTREE APAC is a business-focused channel development event that offers ICT and CE brands a powerful opportunity to manage, build or launch volume channels in the region. The event gathers senior buyers from APAC's most influential distributors, retailers and e-tailers for three-days of pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with vendors.

As an ‘invitation only' event, the DISTREE recruitment team ensures that only delegates that meet strict criteria attend DISTREE APAC 2013. For exhibiting vendors, this means a superb return on investment for their three days spent at the event. No timewasters, no tire kickers, no freebie hunters - just three days of back-to-back meetings with buyers from top channel partners from across the entire region.
The event is focused on the volume channel - ICT and CE products that are targeted at the consumer market and sold through retailers and e-tailers. This is a huge sector with hundreds of brands vying for market share and looking to build strong routes-to-market. Distribution and retail channels are evolving fast in APAC and this year's DISTREE APAC gives all delegates a chance to get up to speed on the latest product and business developments.

Can you explain more about who is invited and what the benefits are for vendors?

Our research team identifies the region's leading retailers, e-tailers and distributors and invites their senior executives and buying teams to attend DISTREE APAC. All the vendors that participate in
the event use our powerful web tools to request one-on-one meetings with the channel partners they wish to meet. This is done before the event begins so that everyone attending has a clear and purposeful personal agenda to follow during the three days of DISTREE APAC.
We bring the right people together in one place at one time and give them the tools and resources needed to create or expand partnerships. APAC is a vast region full of markets at different stages of channel development.
DISTREE APAC is the only event where a vendor can pre-schedule back-to-back meetings with a retailer from Australia, an e-tailer from Malaysia, an existing distributor from India and a potential channel partner from Indonesia - all in one afternoon if they wish. It is the perfect platform for brands to accelerate their channel development across the region.

How satisfied are delegates with this approach and will it work in the APAC market?
Hundreds of new and expanded distribution deals have been struck across the globe as a result of meetings and business relationships initiated at various DISTREE events. Vendors appreciate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency offered by the event platform. This is the first annual DISTREE APAC, based on a tried and tested event format that is already established in Europe, Russia & CIS, the Middle East and Latin America.
Vendors can achieve as much in three days as they could in three months if they were traveling around the region trying to set up meetings on their own. The channel partners like the event because they get to meet multiple vendors in quick succession. In addition to meeting with existing product suppliers, they can also meet and evaluate potential new vendors. This creates a real win-win event format for all attendees.

Is DISTREE APAC aimed at vendors that already have channels established in the region?
DISTREE APAC provides a powerful window of opportunity for manufacturers recently launched in the region or those carrying out market assessments ahead of possible entry into the market. At the same time, it is also an incredibly cost-effective event for vendors that already have operations established in the region. DISTREE APAC is poised to become the most influential gathering of channel executives in the region.
With representatives from hundreds of leading channel organisations - including the region's major distributors and retailers - this event, more than any other, helps drive the agenda of channel development and gives vendors unique market insight.

Although this year's event takes place in Singapore, it is important to stress that is a continent-wide business development platform with delegates from 20-plus countries from India to Australia. The event offers tangible business benefits for all vendors - from start-ups to A-brands.

What other benefits are there for delegates attending DISTREE APAC?
During DISTREE APAC, delegates will also have the opportunity to attend a keynote speech from Dr. Rudi Aunkofer, Global Director IT at GfK Retail & Technology. Platinum Sponsor HP will also present an update on its consumer channel strategy in the region. The DISTREE APAC agenda also includes the popular ‘60 Seconds to Convince' new product awards where dozens of vendors deliver an elevator pitch to the channel. Press partners will also attend, giving vendors the perfect opportunity to showcase their latest products and solutions and build channel awareness.

As an independent event, DISTREE APAC also reaches out to leading research houses and consultancies as part of its conference agenda. DISTREE APAC 2013 will include a number of Channel Academy sessions run by CONTEXT, Forrester, GfK and VIA exploring some of the current issues and trends shaping regional channel development.

Can you tell us more about the ‘APAC Channel Academy: 2013 Awards' that form part of the overall event agenda?
Yes, DISTREE Events has also announced that it will host the ‘Asia Pacific (APAC) Channel Academy: 2013 Awards' as part of the three-day programme for DISTREE APAC. The awards ceremony will recognise ICT and consumer electronics (CE) channel excellence in the region, with hundreds of top retailers and distributors voting live at a Gala Dinner on November 13th to identify overall vendor winners across 14 separate categories.
These awards offer real insight into how vendors are perceived in the channel. We have established a Retail Executive Committee that has worked together to select the nominated vendors in each product category. It promises to be an exciting night. The important point here is that these awards are independent and not just restricted to vendors that are participating at DISTREE APAC. All nominated vendors will be invited to attend the Gala Dinner.

What would you say to vendors that still might be unsure of whether to attend or not?
APAC represents a huge and fast-growing market opportunity. However, to be successful in this market you need to understand the channel landscape, the business culture and the importance of face-to-face meetings as a means of establishing lasting relationships.
We do the hard work for vendors by researching, selecting and inviting the region's leading partners. By giving the vendors the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with these partners we simplify their channel development and management process.

It is all about saving time and maximising business efficiency - and this is just as true for the channel partners as it is for participating vendors. Senior channel executives attend DISTREE Events because they know they can organise multiple meetings with a number of different suppliers and trade partners in one place at one time.

If you're looking to develop in APAC and build new channels to increase your sales, attending DISTREE APAC is the smart option - maximum benefits, minimal risk and a compelling return on investment. The region's top distributors and retailers in one place at one time - just think about that. If you're involved in the APAC channel, you need to attend DISTREE APAC.