Vendor representatives from АРС, Avaya, Cisco Systems, CTX, D-Link, Hewlett-Packard, ProCurve Networking by HP, Intel, Lexmark, Maxtor, Oki, Powercom participated in the Academy and presented their new marketing programs and shared the plans for 2005. Avaya and Oki were the ones to have attended the Academy for the first time. The general sponsor of the Academy was APC.
The agenda included presentations by Marvel top managers, namely, Konstantin Shlyakhov, General Distribution Manager, summed up the final results of Computer Distribution Dept. in 2004. He reported that in 2004 Marvel dealer network increased up to 1594 companies in 115 cities of Russia, whereas best dealer's share made only 2,8%. Sales volume on all territories where Marvel has its business (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaidzhan) grew by 22% and in Russia it made 30%.
Among the most important achievments of 2004 was Computer Equipment Distribution Dept. restructuring completion, logistics and customer service improvement.
In 2005 Marvel plan to increase vendor list and product range, as well as to further develop regional representative network all over Russia (currently Marvel representatives are working in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Samara and Krasnodar) and to expand the number of regional warehouses in addition to 50 warehouses that are now in operation in 30 Russian cities.
During the sojourn on Borneo, the participants of the Marvel Dealer Academy joined different excursions and entertainment programs. The Marvel team was to explore the eastern, Malaysian part of Borneo. This part of the island is sparsely populated, especially Sabah and Sarawak states. The two major ethnic groups are the Dyaks and the coastal Malays, but there are around 32 indigenous tribes in the eastern part of the island. The island is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the world.
The guests took part in traditional Malaysian contests on a picturesque coral island. Besides, from 2005 on, Marvel launched a series of extreme tours. The most courageous and brave participants effected the ascent of Mt. Kinabalu, the highest point of Borneo.
"Our hope is that the 8th Marvel Dealer Academy on Borneo provided its members unforgettable and enjoyable rest in the circle of business colleagues and friends and will contribute to our mutual business development ", - commented Sergey Patskevich, Marvel Marketing Vice-president and Peripherals and Components Department Director.
