Our Clients
Our Clients
Since you asked, our clients are quite simply the leading consumer technology and FMCG brands in the market...
We specialise in working with innovative, dynamic, gotta-have-it products that cry out to be touched, tried, tested, clicked on, plugged in, played with. Here are just a few of the brands we represent:
Sodastream
To support the product re-launch of the famous 80’s brand: SodaStream engaged Channel Advantage’s expertise to deliver a range of in store merchandising, demonstration and experiential activity.
Webroot
Tactical Support in DSG Stores and independent retailers: On behalf of Webroot, Channel Advantage fields a highly trained team of merchandisers / product specialists who represent the brand in the UK's top technology retail chain and provide additional presence in the influential independent retail sector. The team are the face of Webroot providing detailed training for DSG store colleagues and raise awareness for what is a dynamic and rapidly expanding internet security manufacturer. Parallel to training, the team check availability of stock, monitor store compliance and ensure that point of sale materials are in place as agreed and help to drive forward the battle for the hearts and minds of consumers.
Altec Lansing
Tactical Store Support: For Altec Lansing Channel Advantage initially delivered a trial activity in three territories, which was designed to support stores ranging Altec Lansing products by measuring the impact of relationship visits and providing training. Based on the success of the initial tactical work, we have now become Altec Lansing's strategic field marketing partners for 2010.
Cisco
MediaCentre Router Launch: Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, sought Channel Advantage's help in launching a MediaCentre router unit capable of streaming media content wirelessly from a Windows Vista PC. The perfect solution came in the form of a joint project, partnered by Microsoft and HP, for which Channel Advantage fielded a team of 98 highly-trained brand specialists who completed 7,800 technology retailer demonstrations over a nine-week period - an average of 142 demos per store - to increase public awareness and adoption.
CoPilot Live
Tactical Support in Mobile Phone Outlets: As part of our Windows Mobile Team activities, Channel Advantage was engaged by Windows partner, CoPilot, to train retailers on their satellite navigation application, which is loaded onto Windows Mobile handsets. We fielded a strategic team of 10 brand ambassadors to call into their top 1,000 stores resulting in an average of 2,600 retailers being trained per cycle.
Dextra Solutions
Tactical Support in Orange Stores: Channel Advantage worked with Dextra Solutions on a trial programme to establish the benefit of regular support visits to key Orange stores stocking Dextra accessories in the North West. Building on the success of the initial three-month trial, Dextra plans to roll out the programme across the UK in 2010.
Groupe SEB
Strategic Team "Team SEB": A strategic team of six dedicated brand ambassadors from Channel Advantage represent Groupe SEB's brands of Tefal, Rowenta, Krups and All Clad in a combined role split 40:60 between providing training and merchandising support to a mixture of high street department stores and electrical multiples (approximately 55 store visits per week) and delivering instore demonstrations to an average of 220 customers per week (achieving an average conversion of 17%).
HP
Strategic Team providing Demo Days: Since 2005 Channel Advantage has sourced, trained and managed a core team of brand ambassadors for HP's PC and printer divisions. Tasked with delivering the perfect brand experience in PC World, John Lewis Partnership, Comet and Staples stores UK-wide, the team's objective is to ensure HP protects its number one market position, develops retail sales and grows market share. During Christmas 2009 the team averaged 37% sales of PCs above £500 in stores visited vs an industry norm (GfK) of 10% and ultimately delivered over 10,000 demo days across 2009 - making this year our busiest yet.
Intel
Strategic Team in the Independent Sector: Intel has enlisted Channel Advantage to provide a full-time team of five staff to call in to the top 220 IT retailers in the independent sector and train proprietors on the features and benefits of new products to market; with the goal of gaining loyalty and encouraging purchase through preferred distributors.
Intel Vista Launch
Leveraging Vista Launch for Intel Core 2 Duo Processors: Back in 2007 Intel engaged Channel Advantage to provide compelling live demonstrations of Windows Vista using Intel Core 2 Duo-based premium HP equipment in key retail accounts. This was a tri-funded project between Intel, HP and Microsoft that was designed to maximise the Vista launch. Intel's brief was to demonstrate the benefits of Vista when utilising the Intel family of processors. Our team of brand ambassadors ultimately delivered more than 2,600 experience days, touching 98,000 consumers in Channel Advantage's longest campaign to date.
McAfee
Flexible Tactical Support in PC World Stores: For McAfee Channel Advantage fields a loyal team of 28 merchandisers/trainers who represent the brand in three of the UK's top technology retail chains. Going beyond the traditional model these ambassadors build effective retail relationships, protect market share in an ever-growing category and ensure RSPs are aware of and recommend the unique features of McAfee anti virus software to consumers. By also checking availability of stock, monitoring store compliance and taking corrective action where required, we have reduced 'out of stock' occasions consistently month-on-month.
Medion
Tactical Team providing Demo Days: Channel Advantage recruited a tactical demonstration team for Medion, training them to work in technology departments within Sainsbury's stores to promote and sell the key features and benefits of Medion laptops.
Microsoft
Strategic Team "Windows Squad": To strengthen Microsoft's position in the highly-competitive mobile market. Microsoft is probably one of the world's most well-recognised brands and certainly the top ranking computer software firm in the Fortune 500. However, even a global legend like Microsoft needs to put up a strong fight for position in a mobile market dominated by Nokia and RIM, and convince RSPs to recommend a Windows phone to customers.
Microsoft Windows Mobile
Tactical Team "Windows Hit Squad": Channel Advantage drew together a tactical team - or 'hit squad' - of 20 mobile experts to deliver the kind of rich brand experience that would bring to life the launch of the Microsoft Windows phone for consumers in the UK. This expert team was deployed in more than 1,800 retail outlets and trained more than 2,500 RSPs over the initial two-week launch period.
Navigon
In-Store Training & Promotion at Halfords: Navigon engaged specialist technology brand ambassadors from Channel Advantage to inform and educate Halfords store staff on Navigon products ahead of a forthcoming in-store promotion. The team also carried out customer demonstrations in store to increase Navigon product sales.
Polaroid
Product Launch into Teen Market: Polaroid approached Channel Advantage to conceive and deliver a set of promotional activities to support the launch of the PoGo instant digital printer in the UK by raising awareness within its target market of teens and young adults. Through sponsorship and product placement at summer concerts a team of enthusiastic and highly-trained PoGo brand ambassadors achieved a 26.5% propensity to buy.
SanDisk
Tactical Support in Mobile Phone Outlets: Another wave of our Windows Mobile Team activity saw Windows partner SanDisk sign up Channel Advantage to train retailers on Sandisk products and thereby maximise brand presence. The Windows Mobile programme involved a strategic team of 10 brand ambassadors calling into the top 1,000 Windows retail stores and resulted in an average of 2,600 staff being trained per cycle.
Seagate
Merchandising at PC World: Channel Advantage trained and deployed a tactical team of Seagate merchandisers to visit PC World and Maplins stores to ensure compliance to agreed head office promotional campaigns.
Sonos
Strategic Team "Team Sonos": Sonos has a strategic arrangement with Channel Advantage to train store staff and merchandise all Sonos products within both major and independent retailers (totalling approximately 570 stores across the UK). The chosen store groups include Currys, PC World, Carphone Warehouse and Richer Sounds.
Sony Pictures
Tactical Support for BluRay Launch: On behalf of Sony Pictures Channel Advantage provided the HMV Oxford Street store with a BluRay 'expert' to support the launch of their newly refurbished BluRay fixture. Our BluRay ambassador explained the features, benefits and differentiators of a BluRay disk to consumers shopping for films and gifts over the key Christmas trading period. The result was huge growth in incremental sales of BD films - as well as BluRay players - on the days our expert was present.
Toshiba
Training & Merchandising in Orange Stores: Driven by tight budgets and fierce market conditions, Channel Advantage successfully supported the consumer launch of the Toshiba TG01 handset by identifying and engaging a team of ten experienced telco retail demonstrators to become Toshiba brand ambassadors in Orange stores. These representatives trained over 1,500 RSPs and significantly raised the rate of recommendation and compliance during the programme lifecycle.
