Here we go again! As I do each week, I am really enjoying bringing our readers a quick round-up of the blog coverage I didn’t manage to get to during the week prior. Note that this week’s “5 we missed” is coming to you a couple of days later than usual due to the New Year holiday. SMB Nation’s offices were closed this past Monday and Tuesday, and yours truly has been (for the most part) off the grid since the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 21.
This year’s holiday season was very special for my husband Michael, and I, since our son, Henry, celebrated his very first Christmas! Of course, his wide-eyed looks of confusion when we took him to see Santa proved to me that he probably just saw him as a “big bearded guy in a red suit!” Even though Henry didn’t really understand much of what was going on, and also the amount of gifts he received, it was still magical to see Christmas from his perspective; keeping in mind that my New Year’s Resolution this year is to step back and really take a look at the world around me, and to take time to breathe and focus. I am a true believer in what Karl Palachuk, one of our community members often says: “Relax, Focus, Succeed.” I have decided that is going to be my mantra for 2013!
While you are undoubtedly getting back into the swing of things following the holiday break, please take some time today to peruse a few snippets of information that we didn’t get a chance to bring you last week. Let us also know if there was something we might have missed, which is not mentioned in this entry…because as you know…we love news!
Also, on behalf of me, and all of us at SMB Nation, we would like to wish all of our valued partners, readers and community members a Happy New Year!
1.) Epson Mourns the Loss of Barry Wise, Longtime Real Industry Expert: Over the holiday break, I found out via my Facebook Newsfeed that one of my colleagues and friends, industry consultant Barry Wise, had passed away. I first met Barry in person in early 2008, when I was the Editor of Vertical Systems Reseller (VSR) Magazine. Barry, who was the president of Wise Retail Consulting, worked as a marketing consultant for Epson, and we had an interview scheduled at the company’s booth at the annual National Retail Federation (NRF) Show. During the interview, Barry and I connected on a professional and personal level, and we continued to grow those relationships, even after I left VSR in 2010.
I was saddened to hear of his passing, and I know the retail (and SMB) industry alike will miss him dearly. Per an official press release issued this morning by my friend Angela Diffly, who is Epson’s PR representative, the company had the following to say regarding Barry’s passing and his work with Epson: "Barry was a one-of-a kind visionary who made an indelible mark in the retail technology industry," said Mike Helm, Director of Sales for Epson's Business Systems Division and longtime colleague of Wise. "Barry was passionate and insightful about how technology could make a difference to retailers. He helped bring key Epson products to market over the years and forged partnerships that made a significant impact on our business. Epson has lost a dear friend and a valuable partner.”
2.) Go Daddy Hires Google Alum to Focus on Site Builder Product Line: Go Daddy has hired two new executives to boost expansion around technology partners and products. David Popowitz will serve as the company’s first Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, and Raj Mukherjee as Vice President and General Manager of its Site Builder Product line.
Popowitz leads Go Daddy's effort to acquire and partner with companies that offer best-in-class products and services which enhance the customer experience and their success. Mukherjee is leveraging his past SMB experience to bolster Go Daddy's Website Builder and other related products.
Both Popowitz and Mukherjee are based in Go Daddy's new Mountain View, California office.
Mukherjee led Google's SMB application business, which is a natural fit for Go Daddy's 7 million-plus small business customers.
Prior to joining Go Daddy, Popowitz was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and most recently Credit Suisse where he led the Technology Investment Banking Group.
3.) Schneider Electric Releases Pelco HD Dome Positioning System: Schneider Electric today announced the release of its new Pelco by Schneider Electric Spectra High-definition (HD) 1080 dome positioning system, featuring a clearer image with stronger resolution without sacrificing low-light or programmable performance. The Spectra line has been a cornerstone of security applications for nearly 20 years, delivering unparalleled reliability, drive/control technology and image quality.
Designed for security professionals who demand the very best in image quality, Pelco’s Spectra HD 1080, built on the Sarix technology platform, is an all-digital system that delivers 2.0 megapixel resolution, high-profile H.264 compression and built-in analytics.
4.) ConnectWise Reaches 70,000-User Milestone: ConnectWise, announced before the New Year that it has achieved a growth milestone of 70,000 users. This company’s partner base has adopted the ConnectWise platform for integrated CRM, sales, service, project management, mobile support, service level agreements (SLAs), billing, and employee scheduling.
5.) Tech Data Offers VARs Instant Access to Microsoft ESD: Tech Data Corporation last week expanded its partnership with Microsoft to offer select Microsoft products, including the Microsoft Office suite, through Electronic Software Delivery (ESD). Through ActivateHere, a proprietary end-user activation portal powered by the company's StreamOne engine, Tech Data's channel of more than 60,000 resellers can now instantly purchase Microsoft products through a convenient and secure download from
techdata.com.
Microsoft ESD can significantly reduce reseller costs, eliminating the need to order, deliver and store boxed product by offering an alternate delivery of the same software within minutes. By ordering these Microsoft products on techdata.com, resellers can maximize opportunities by efficiently adding a business category within minutes, capturing all software sales at point of purchase and gaining incremental revenue, including high-spec SKUs at just a click of a button. Microsoft ESD offers a quicker, greener and more convenient solution.
