Retail partnership places firm in front of end users

DALLAS--Monitronics teamed up with CompUSA in late April to promote and sell the company's alarm systems in the retailer's 230 stores nationwide. CompUSA customers can order a Monitronics monitored alarm system through the CompUSA web site or at a computer-based service kiosk located in all of CompUSA's locations. Either portal directs them to the Monitronics' web site, which details pricing and information on alarm systems. Customers then have the option to submit a request to purchase a package and those requests are passed on to one of the company's authorized dealers in the area. The service is currently up and running in stores and online. The partnership is the first national retail program to promote Monitronics' brand. "The benefits to Monitronics is the exposure in the retail marketplace," said Michael Gregory, vice president of marketing at the company. "We haven't had this type of exposure before. It will bring along greater awareness on our company and to the Monitronics dealer." The company, which currently accounts for approximately 400 dealers in its program, hopes the CompUSA exposure will bring in solid leads for its dealers. "Mostly, we see a quality lead as one from a homeowner that sees the value in a security system and that is close to making a deal to purchase one," Gregory said. Gregory declined to discuss how many leads or system purchases the company would like to see through the service in the coming months. The program was developed to address CompUSA's drive to become a full-service retailer. Calls to CompUSA were not returned by press time. "This really started with CompUSA's vision of providing customers in the stores with all the products and services they can use," Gregory said. CompUSA is also offering services, such as satellite radio through the program. .In addition to marketing materials inside CompUSA stores that will promote the security system offering, Monitronics has also redesigned its web site to provide greater name awareness. Although CompUSA developed the program, Gregory said dealer input was a force in becoming involved in the program. "We regularly have dialogue with our dealers on different services so that we can help them be more successful in the marketplace."