Pentax creates an online store for Europe

Press release:

Digital River to Manage Online Sale of Cameras for Pentax

MINNEAPOLIS Nov 2009–Digital River, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRIV), a leading provider of global e-commerce solutions, announced that it signed a new e-commerce agreement with PENTAX Europe Imaging Systems. Under the agreement, Digital River will be launching an online store and providing a full range of e-commerce services to support online consumer sales of PENTAX cameras in the UK, Germany, France Switzerland and Hungary. The PENTAX Europe store is expected to launch in 2009. PENTAX is a leading manufacturer of digital camera technology, digital SLRs and lenses for digital photography.

“Today’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers are looking for new ways to build brand equity and add market share,” said Joel Ronning, Digital River’s CEO. “Direct to consumer sales is one way we can help them accomplish just that. We know what it takes to build a multi-channel strategy that both works in concert with traditional channels and reaches consumers when and where it is most convenient for them.”

“PENTAX dealers know, just like we do, that consumers want a relationship with our brand in stores and online,” said André Dierickx, commercial director for PENTAX Europe Imaging Systems. “We needed to find an e-commerce partner that understood our industry, the importance of our dealer relationships, and the value of multi-channel approach where everyone is a winner. Digital River was the clear choice.”