Lenovo is broadening its commercial relationship with brick-and-mortar retailer Best Buy, saying it will work with the computer and electronics chain to sell notebook and desktop PCs to small-business customers. Under the deal, Lenovo will sell ThinkPad laptops and ThinkCentre and Lenovo 3000 desktop systems through more than 135 "Best Buy For Business" retail outlets, in addition to online, phone and VAR channels. The companies said Lenovo"s products would be sold via "Lenovo-trained" sales employees.
The Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based computer maker last year said it would begin offering its products through retail outfits and focus on increasing its sales to small and midsize businesses via the retail channel. Among its earlier deals with retailers was one with Office Depot, which is selling ThinkPads to small-business users.