HP today announced that it is reinventing and expanding its global supplies portfolio to deliver more customer choice, greater value, and a dramatically simplified shopping experience, both in-store and online.
This is a major change in the way HP printing supplies will be offered to consumers globally; HP will provide a greater variety of print cartridges at new price point options and in new colour-coded packaging for easier selection in store and online. HP cited detailed research into customer requirements leading to the conclusion that customers want more control over their ink cartridge purchases, and that when it comes to meeting their printing needs, ‘one size does not fit all.’
In summary, the new line-up announced today is as follows:
HP Standard Print Cartridges
Customers who print in low volumes and relatively infrequently and are primarily interested in low prices at the till, can buy the Standard original HP Print Cartridges with HP Vivera Inks for a consistent, reliable HP printing experience, at a pocket-friendly cost.
HP Value Print Cartridges
Customers who tend to print more frequently, in higher volumes, and who are therefore most concerned with lower ongoing operating costs and intervention rates can purchase HP Value print cartridges with HP Vivera Inks, which provide savings of up to 55 percent.
HP Specialty Print Cartridges
Advanced ink technology in new HP Specialty Print Cartridges will enhance printer performance, offering best value and results for more specialised printing needs, such as home photo printing and other special projects.
For example, 6- and 8-ink photo inkjet print cartridges are ideal for photo printing, leading to a wider colour gamut, richer and more realistic skin tones and greys, and improved blacks.
Improved point of retail shopping experience
HP is improving the retail shopping experience with point-of-sale ink selection guides and displays, the new merchandising tools provide a simple solution for customer product needs, making it easier for channel partners to help customers choose the appropriate Original HP Print Cartridge and HP Printer.
HP is working with its retail partners to conduct ‘makeovers’ of in-store aisles and displays of HP Original Supplies. HP has extended its colour-coding system to point-of-sale materials that attract customers’ attention in retail aisles and direct them to the appropriate supplies, while minimising confusion among multiple options.
History in the making
This significant shift in strategy signals an extension of HP’s commitment to providing customers with a choice of supplies to meet their printing needs, and is a testament to its continuous focus on improving its customers’ overall printing experience. Now customers can benefit from HP’s industry-leading quality but with even more choice available and an affordability option to suit every need.
During its more than 20 years at the forefront of the printing industry, HP has developed a broad portfolio of printers that address a huge variance of customer printing needs and, during that period, customers were able to select the printer that met their printing needs best.
Around 18 months ago, HP recognised that even within the same printer platform printing requirements varied greatly. In order to best serve its customers, HP reacted immediately by expanding its portfolio with a range of HP Photo Packs, HP 2-packs, and other multi-packs and special print cartridges, all of which were designed to match specific printing needs. In doing this, HP became the first company to allow consumers to choose both the printer and the supplies that best fit their printing needs.
“The Standard, Value and Specialty ranges announced today are a further manifestation of the ongoing strategy: to provide customers with unrivalled choice – not only in printer platforms but also in printing supplies,” confirmed Alya Azar, Consumer Business Manager, Imaging and Printing Group, HP Middle East. “It’s a real departure from the way the supplies industry has operated to date and we’re confident it will be well-received by our customers”
About HP
HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $97.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.
About HP Middle East
HP is the largest technology and solutions provider in the Middle East with 670 employees and subsidiaries in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Khobar, Cairo, Ramallah, Oman and 2 service Joint Ventures in Kuwait and Bahrain servicing the GCC, Egypt and the Levant. HP has been present in the Middle East since 1968 and opened its first regional office in 1994. HP Middle East is the market leader for enterprise, small and medium business and consumer technology products and offers a large portfolio of solutions and services in various business domains.
