iXBT.com by Julia Kryakvina – 01/18/2005 - available here

A Dell Computer online shop is opening in Russia (iXBT.com) by Julia Kryakvina - January 18, 2005

Today Dell and PPE holding Group held a press conference for the signature of a formal distribution agreement with the direct supply of a wide range of Dell computer equipment in Russia and its distribution in the B2C segment and small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the opening of a specialized online store computer hardware firms Dell in Russia – CompuDirect.

PPE’s Group President Pascal Clement, commenting on the agreement signed and the opening of a new online store, said: «For our company, which is the leading distance sales in Russia, e-commerce and sales of electronics (PPE Group owns the largest Russian Internet shop Ozon.ru, the electronic trading platform Nadom.ru), PPE Group technological opportunities enable us to provide a high level of service to all components of a unified system of direct sales: logistics, receiving, processing and completion of orders, delivery orders to final consumers, work with references of clients and issues».

According to the contract terms, PPE Group is the first company in Russia, which will sell DELL equipment directly to consumers, bypassing resellers and retail businesses, as reported in press releases. DELL Direct selling techniques in Russia will be implemented through a web-shop CompuDirect.ru.

The Eastern Europe manager for DELL, Laurent Binetti, speaking on behalf of the company, emphasized: «The main reason for the conclusion of this agreement from our side is that the number of PCs and Internet use in Russia is growing at great speed. I was very pleased to learn that over the past year the number of users has doubled and now stands at no less than 15 million. We are confident that our partners in this project, Ozon and Rusfinance, can resolve the issues of logistics, maintenance and use all other resources to help us operate successfully in this market segment».

CompuDirect’s E-shop offers great opportunities for Dell Russian buyers: wide range of models of computer equipment and accessories, available for selection, ordering and delivery, which is carried out throughout the territory of Russia. The store offers Customer Service, and if necessary, CompuDirect can provide professional technical advice. Rusfinance, part of the PPE Group, provides web-store clients with availability of consumer loans for the purchase of Dell equipment.

CompuDirect proposes special terms and service conditions to Small and medium businesses : the study of business enterprises solution and advices on the optimal choice of Dell technology. According to these specifics, the dedicated Sales Manager brings up special commercial conditions of sale and delivery as well as flexible system of discounts.

Currently, CompuDirect specialists are  finalizing a configurator that allows customers to shop online by themselves, according to their needs and interests, to place  individual orders with customized computer configuration, which will, then, be made at the Dell Manufacturing Warehouse in Ireland and delivered to the Home or SMB buyer.