Gateway in sales tie-up with BT

Build-to-order computer manufacturer Gateway is to open 65 stores in BT retail outlets.

The deal will allow Gateway to expand into major towns and cities across the UK. It already has 18 stores of its own.

Gateway will initially open ten stores within BT Concept units, mainly in the South-east but also Birmingham and Newcastle. It plans to unveil a further 55 outlets in BT Concept units by September.

Gateway’s Performance models, 2150 and 9300 portables and the recently-launched Astro and Profile 2 PCs will be sold at the outlets.

Gateway has similar deals with other retail outlets: Office Max in the US, KPN in the Netherlands and La FNAC in France.

It is understood that Gateway is not seeking other retail partners in the UK. It is also believed to have shelved plans to open more wholly-owned stores for the time being in order to concentrate on the BT Concept roll-out.

A Gateway spokeswoman says: “The partnership with BT takes Gateway’s successful build-to-order model to customers through a different sales channel.

“The alliance involves stores-within-stores, combining sales advice and Internet ordering, joint marketing programmes and BT sales people fully-trained in Gateway products.”