HP confirms end to its Print Station development programme
HP has confirmed that it has ceased any further development of its Print Station programme.
The company said in a statement: “The HP Print Station Programme has opened a total of 57 co-branded Print Stations to date in EMEA, but further programme development has been terminated for strategic planning reasons. All future related activities will therefore be partner-led, starting 1 November 2011. However, all legal commitment for HP's financial fourth quarter (1 August – 31 October 2011) will be honoured, and stores that were scheduled to open will be unequivocally supported by HP, as per prior legal agreement.
“To avoid business disruption, all existing HP Print Stations will be granted the right to use the HP co-branding until 31 Oct 2012, free of charge. Partners are, nevertheless, encouraged to use this time to shift their branding and marketing from HP co-branding to 100% partner branding, expanding where possible this messaging.”
In June this year the first UK HP Print Station was opened within John E Wright in Nottingham as a co-branded service encompassing signage and branding, digital printing and copying, business and student print services. At that time ten HP Print Stations were expected to open in the UK by the end of 2011, with John E Wright effectively acting as a middle man in expanding the HP Print Station concept in the UK, and with plans to open HP Print Centres in other of its own UK sites, with Leicester and Northampton next on the list.
120 stores were expected worldwide by the end of 2011.