D&H Distributing will conduct its first virtual trade event, the D&H Server Expo–A Virtual Event for Real Growth, on April 2, 2009 from 10:11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. The event is free for customers of the Harrisburg, Pa.-based distributor, who will be able to interact with manufacturers and company and category experts, as well as attend seminars, participate in networking forums, and take advantage of special pricing and prizes–all from their own desktops.
The virtual Server Expo will teach D&H resellers and integrators who are working in the server and infrastructure marketplace, or who want to enter the market, how to best leverage industry opportunities in this still-growing space. Participants will visit a virtual campus featuring five main booths hosted by live, interactive representatives from Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, HP, and D&H Distributing.
Experts and salespeople from these respective vendors will man each booth and will be available to chat and answer questions about server and infrastructure technology throughout the event. The booths will include links to resources such as downloadable collateral and interactive demos. Attendees will also be privy to event-only product specials offered at each booth, just as they would at a physical D&H show.
“This is a one-of a-kind event whose time we think has come,” says Jeff Davis, senior vice president of sales at D&H. “It’s a terrific way to deliver specific technology-based knowledge and value to our customers without their having to spend gas money or accumulate travel downtime. It’s perfect for the current conditions: cost-effective, time-effective, yet with a whole schedule of resources, market expertise, and business acumen at the attendee’s disposal. And by focusing on the server market, we’re steering our VARs toward a technology that can help them grow sales even in this economy.”
The Virtual Server Expo will kick off with a welcome from D&H co-presidents Dan and Michael Schwab and will include a keynote presentation from Bill Hersh, D&H’s in-house server specialist. Opening remarks will be provided by Jeff Davis. Participants can attend audio presentations from each of the headlining vendors. The proceedings will also offer a Networking Lounge where attendees can chat in various forums focusing on server-related topics, moderated by the host manufacturers. A comprehensive Resource Center will provide links and information from leading manufacturers to round out the Expo’s server solution offerings.
Attendees will earn “event points” as they make their way through the virtual attractions by attending presentations, participating in chat forums, downloading collateral, and so on. The top three event-point winners will each receive a prize package valued at more than $1,000, and $100 Visa Gift Cards will be given away to 10 attendees throughout the proceedings.
D&H plans to conduct several virtual events in the future to increase its educational offerings without adding travel expenses to its customers’ budgets. Future virtual events will explore relevant trends and potential growth areas–such as mobility–to help its VARs keep their businesses thriving.
