GSA Technology Council

Archive for October, 2004

QS/1 Announces New Business Relationship With eVitamins

ScanSource, Inc. has created ScanSource Security Distribution in an effort to provide security dealers with the benefits of an efficient two-tier distribution model. The new business unit will have its own sales and merchandising teams and its own president.

The ScanSource Security product offering will include access control, surveillance, intrusion, and fire-related products. ScanSource Security is focusing on hardware distribution and does not plan to enter the monitoring side of the business.

“We’ve always believed that our two-tier distribution model can be adapted to serve a variety of marketplaces, each with a focused sales and merchandising team, while gaining the economies of scale of a billion dollar distributor for logistics and back-office activities,” said Mike Baur, president and CEO of ScanSource.

John Gaillard has been named president of the new business unit. Gaillard most recently served as vice president of sales and business development for the company’s Catalyst Telecom sales unit. Gaillard brings more than 10 years of distribution experience in various industries.
—–

QS/1 Announces New Business Relationship With eVitamins

The South Carolina Silver Crescent Award for Manufacturing Excellence was established to recognize outstanding manufacturers in the State, based on their economic impact, commitment to the workforce, and involvement and contributions to their communities.

The honor is awarded each year to one manufacturer in each of three categories and is presented at the annual South Carolina Salute to Manufacturing Luncheon, which is held in conjunction with the Automated Manufacturing and Productivity Exposition in Greenville each spring.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS FEBRUARY 14, 2005 (website)
—–

QS/1 Announces New Business Relationship With eVitamins

QS/1 announces a business development relationship with eVitamins to create a new revenue opportunity for CornerDrugstore customers by offering eCommerce shopping. As a result of this new relationship, CornerDrugstore will roll out its online shopping solution, eSupplements, later this year. This will provide an opportunity for CornerDrugstore pharmacies to generate a new revenue stream and increase traffic to their pharmacy’s web site without being required to make any additional expenditures. more
—–

QS/1 Announces New Business Relationship With eVitamins

Spartanburg, SC – October 9, 2004 – QS/1 announces a business development relationship with eVitamins to create a new revenue opportunity for CornerDrugstore customers by offering eCommerce shopping. As a result of this new relationship, CornerDrugstore will roll out its online shopping solution, eSupplements, later this year. This will provide an opportunity for CornerDrugstore pharmacies to generate a new revenue stream and increase traffic to their pharmacy’s web site without being required to make any additional expenditures.

Via this relationship, CornerDrugstore web sites will offer their customers a large selection of over 300 different brands of vitamins, supplements, and herbal products without adding any additional inventory or shelf space to the pharmacy.

By offering this broad range of nutritional supplements on the CornerDrugstore web sites, pharmacy patients can save time searching for nutritional products and eliminate multiple transactions associated with ordering from various web sites.

“This relationship will offer the CornerDrugstore customers a one-stop solution for ordering prescription refills and nutritional supplements.” said Randy Burnett, QS/1’s network services coordinator. “CornerDrugstore is now a convenient means for a patient to submit an online prescription refill and simultaneously order nutritional supplements to replenish nutrients that may be depleted by their prescription.”

“eVitamins is excited to have the opportunity to team with QS/1 in offering this innovative service on CornerDrugstore.com, benefitting pharmacies and their customers alike, and enabling consumers to regain control of their health,” said Thomas Wick, managing director, eVitamins.

CornerDrugstore.com customers can expect to receive a healthy portion of the purchase price for all products ordered through their pharmacy’s web site without incurring any costs associated with credit card transactions, inventory, shipping or personnel.
—–

Classroom Connect Putting 1200 HP Laptops in SC Schools

Classroom Connect, an educational technology division of Harcourt, Inc., announced that the Kershaw County School District has selected Classroom Connect as its professional development provider for the district’s laptop learning initiative, the first of its kind in the state of South Carolina. 1,200 Hewlett-Packard laptops will be distributed annually to all entering ninth grade students and their teachers beginning this fall. For the first year, a $248,000 professional development “Laptop Institute” package from Classroom Connect will train educators across the district on technology integration best practices. This is the third large-scale laptop program partnership for Hewlett-Packard and Classroom Connect, with similar initiatives currently underway in Michigan and New Mexico. (http://www.classroom.com/)
—–

ScanSource Names New Board Member; Mike Grainger

GREENVILLE, S.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 11, 2004–ScanSource, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCSC), a leading value-added distributor of AIDC (automatic identification and data capture), point of sale and communications products for the reseller market, has named Michael J. Grainger to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Grainger, of San Juan Capistrano, CA, was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ingram Micro, Inc. from January 2001 to April 2004. He has nearly 14 years of experience in the distribution industry including 8 years with Ingram Micro, where he previously served in the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and 6 years with Ingram Industries, Inc., its former parent. Earlier in his career Mr. Grainger held executive financial positions with two companies and served as a Certified Public Accountant with Price Waterhouse.

“Mike brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leading a global, multi-billion dollar business,” said Steve Owings, Chairman of ScanSource. “The addition of his financial expertise and knowledge of the IT distribution industry will strengthen our board as we look to continue to expand our business.”

About ScanSource

ScanSource, Inc. is a leading international distributor of specialty technology products, including automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) and point-of-sale (POS) products through its ScanSource sales unit; Avaya voice, data and converged communications products through its Catalyst Telecom sales unit; and communications products from Intel and NEC through its Paracon sales unit.

The Company serves the North America marketplace and has an international segment which sells AIDC and POS products in Latin America and Europe. Founded in 1992, the Company markets products from more than 80 technology manufacturers to over 15,000 value-added technology resellers and is committed to empowering them with tools and services designed to help them grow. For more information, call the toll-free sales telephone number at 800.944.2432 or visit www.scansource.com.
—–

ScanSource Launches RFID Edge Initiative

GREENVILLE, S.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 4, 2004–ScanSource, Inc., a leading international value-added distributor of specialty technology products, has developed an initiative aimed at helping resellers be successful and profitable in selling RFID solutions. RFID Edge(TM) will provide resellers with a competitive edge when it comes to RFID, by supplying the sales and educational tools they need to be ready to sell RFID solutions when opportunities arise.

The RFID Edge initiative will encompass educational webinars; a strong focus in the Solution City(TM) web portal, ScanSource’s electronic vertical sales initiative; wide visibility in ScanSource’s nationwide Solution City Road Show; participation at RFID Bootcamp workshops; and a dedicated RFID web site, which will provide the latest news and developments on the world of RFID in one central location. Full Story
—–

ScanSource Launches RFID Edge Initiative

GREENVILLE, S.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 4, 2004–ScanSource, Inc., a leading international value-added distributor of specialty technology products, has developed an initiative aimed at helping resellers be successful and profitable in selling RFID solutions. RFID Edge(TM) will provide resellers with a competitive edge when it comes to RFID, by supplying the sales and educational tools they need to be ready to sell RFID solutions when opportunities arise.

The RFID Edge initiative will encompass educational webinars; a strong focus in the Solution City(TM) web portal, ScanSource’s electronic vertical sales initiative; wide visibility in ScanSource’s nationwide Solution City Road Show; participation at RFID Bootcamp workshops; and a dedicated RFID web site, which will provide the latest news and developments on the world of RFID in one central location. Resellers can also access a Special RFID Help Desk, which is made up of specifically trained ScanSource Technical Sales Specialists, who can support resellers with pre- and post-sale questions, product selection and application scenarios.

“Standards-based RFID products are currently being developed, and now is the time for resellers to become educated about all aspects of the technology,” said Bobby McLain, vice president of marketing, ScanSource, Inc. “Our initiative can help provide all of the information resellers will need to be successful with RFID. We want them to be ready to sell RFID products as they become more and more available to the channel. This initiative will evolve as the RFID industry does, and with that, new vendors, services and opportunities will certainly present themselves.”

Through its RFID initiative, ScanSource will provide resellers with access to RFID solutions for the supply chain, healthcare, pharmaceutical, asset tracking and many other critical applications. These RFID Solutions will include handheld and fixed readers, thermal label printer/encoders, RFID tags and smart labels, as well as access to application software and middleware partners.

The monthly RFID webinars will provide resellers with educational tools and in-depth RFID information. The series of six webinars will take resellers through understanding the basics of RFID to creating and executing an RFID business plan. To register, visit www.scansource.com. There will also be a targeted focus on the Solution City web site (www.solutioncity.com) and at the Solution City Road Shows. ScanSource is also the sole distributor sponsor of RFID Bootcamp, a series of one-day educational workshops in various cities across North America, at which leading RFID experts will be on site to answer important questions about RFID technology and the solutions available in the market today. In addition to these valuable tools, ScanSource is creating an RFID web site, which will provide in-depth information on the technology and its benefits, as well as success stories, case studies and solutions.

ScanSource will be distributing RFID products from many of its best-of-breed manufacturers, including Datamax; HHP; Intermec; Monarch/Paxar; PSC; Sato; Symbol; Zebra; and Matrics, with regard to Symbol’s acquisition.

For more information about RFID and ScanSource visit www.scansource.com.
—–

ScanSource Posts Record Quarterly Sales

GREENVILLE, S.C.– ScanSource, Inc., a leading value-added distributor of AIDC (automatic identification and data capture), point of sale and communications products for the reseller market, today announced that sales results for its first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2004 are expected to be in a range of $353 – $363 million compared to $276.5 million for the same period one year ago.

ScanSource, Inc. is a leading international distributor of specialty technology products, including automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) and point-of-sale (POS) products through its ScanSource sales unit; Avaya voice, data and converged communications products through its Catalyst Telecom sales unit; and communications products from Intel and NEC through its Paracon sales unit.
—–

ECPI College of Technology Seeking Advisory Board Members

“Advice and guidance from employers about industry trends and demands are the building blocks that create a strong foundation for ECPI College of Technology.” says ECPI’s Mary Jo Spitzmiller. In order to establish the needs of local employers to facilitate the employment of ECPI graduates, the school holds regular open discussions to review the college program curricula, objectives, and content. Advisory Board recommendations are then considered when major Academic programs are added, revised, or removed from the curriculum. This fall ECPI hopes to expand its advisory board by inviting additional information technology professionals to paricipate. Interested individuals should contact Mary Jo Spitzmiller at 864/288-2828 or mspitzmiller@ecpi.edu
—–