Stone to Supply Customised Lenovo PCs to Education Market in UK Deal

STAFFORD, England, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Stone http://www.stonegroup.co.uk the technology solutions provider, today announces its new status as a preferred supplier of Lenovo products to the UK education ( http://www.stonegroup.co.uk/sectors/education.aspx) market. The new agreement will see the UK manufacturer harness its production and software configuration facilities to offer the complete Lenovo product range combined with Stone's bespoke configuration and service-wrap; ( http://www.stonegroup.co.uk/services--support/support-offerings/warranty--service-offerings.aspx) including five year next-day onsite warranty and secure recycling ( http://www.stonegroup.co.uk/services--support/professional-services/recycling.aspx) of redundant hardware free of charge.

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The agreement, which will commence on 10th May 2011, will enable Stone to leverage its long-standing reputation in the UK education market and extend its product portfolio to offer 'tier one' branded products complemented by its own commitment to after sales service and value-add configurations.

James Bird, CEO at Stone, comments, "We are delighted to announce that Stone will be supplying Lenovo products to the schools, further and higher education markets in this UK-exclusive deal. As the fourth largest PC manufacturer in the world, Lenovo products represent technical innovation and strong brand equity, and we can add to this Stone's exemplary reputation in the UK market to offer customers a unique and compelling proposition."

"The arrangement represents a move by Stone to meet the requirements of existing and new education customers with a varied product portfolio which includes tier one products in addition to Stone-manufactured devices," Bird continues. "As well as enabling more choice, this deal will give our customers access to Lenovo products as part of a configuration package that we are happy to put our name - and reputation for unrivalled service - against."

Stone customers will be able to purchase Lenovo products including the ever-popular ThinkPad Notebooks, in addition to ThinkCentre Desktop PCs. These will be offered alongside value-add configuration such as memory and hard drive upgrades, encryption capabilities and after-sales services such as free recycling of displaced hardware at Stone's approved on-site facility - the only manufacturer-owned facility of its kind - and a five year next-day onsite warranty.

Bird concludes, "We are confident that the way in which we are combining Stone's market experience and commitment to service with Lenovo's tier one products is a new and exciting prospect for customers, and indeed, even represents the creation of a new classification of 'manufacturing added reseller' in the Channel. This is something we are very excited about, and we look forward to this arrangement helping us achieve our aggressive growth targets for 2011 and beyond."

Notes to editors

About Stone

Stone is the UK's largest privately-owned computer hardware manufacturer and is wholly dedicated to the UK public sector, specialising in the supply and support of ICT and audio-visual solutions to schools, colleges, universities, local government, the emergency services, the NHS and the MoD.

Stone's directors and employees are UK based, paying UK taxes and the company pays UK corporation tax. That means that the company and its employees are all reinvesting as taxpayers back into UK PLC, unlike some competitors that are based abroad and contribute to other economies. Stone has recently invested in 100,000 sq.ft. of new manufacturing production line and office facilities in the West Midlands because it firmly believes in UK-based manufacturing.

Having acquired Rock in May 2008, Stone now sells direct to consumers, and offers high-end business and gaming notebooks to all sectors.

As well as achieving supplier status on all major educational and public sector frameworks, Stone has well-established relationships with leading manufacturers. Strong partnerships with Intel, Microsoft, LG, Seagate and Samsung ensure that all of its customers can be confident in the quality of the technology and receive the most competitive pricing structure.

    
    For more information please contact:

    Daley Robinson
    The Stone Group
    Tel: +44(0)8448-221-122

    Will Gardiner
    The itpr Group
    Tel: +44(0)1932-578-800