December 06, 1999, Issue: 872
Section: Logistics & Assembly
Pinacor To Move Beyond IT Products
Scott Campbell
Tempe, Ariz. - Pinacor Inc. plans to expand its distribution business beyond IT
products, said Jim Manton, president of the distributor.
Pinacor, based here, will not disclose any decisions until 2000, but discussions
with manufacturers in different industries have gained momentum in recent
months, Manton said.
"Part of it is being driven because we've launched our integrated logistics
division. That's their charter," he said. "We're building relationships in our
industry and other industries where our skills are appropriate. We've taken a
look at our capabilities, created a footprint-with our skills in bar coding and
packaging of products-and overlaid that on other industries."
The idea of IT distributors supplying more than IT products is nothing new.
Ingram Micro Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., has been approached to distribute
everything from books to sporting goods, said Ingram Micro Chairman and
Chief Executive Jerre Stead. But the distributor turned down the offers, Stead
said. "We have enough to focus on now," he said.
Executives agree distributors and manufacturers will partner more closely in the
future. Compaq Computer Corp. is in talks to buy a logistics center from Inacom Corp. or Ingram Micro, sources said. Pinacor is not involved in those
talks, Manton said.
"[But] the aspect of an OEM partnering with a channel partner to assist with
direct sales is becoming commonplace. There are a wide range of discussions
going on right now," he said.
|
