Editing Dell (section)

==Commercial aspects==

===Organization===
The board consists of nine directors. Michael Dell, the founder of the company, serves as chairman of the board and chief executive officer. Other board members include [[Donald J. Carty|Don Carty]], [[Judy Lewent]], [[Klaus Luft]], [[Alex J. Mandl|Alex Mandl]], and [[Sam Nunn]]. [[Shareholder]]s elect the nine board members at meetings, and those board members who do not get a majority of votes must submit a resignation to the board, which will subsequently choose whether or not to accept the resignation. The board of directors usually sets up five committees having oversight over specific matters. These committees include the Audit Committee, which handles accounting issues, including auditing and reporting; the Compensation Committee, which approves compensation for the CEO and other employees of the company; the Finance Committee, which handles financial matters such as proposed mergers and acquisitions; the Governance and Nominating Committee, which handles various corporate matters (including the nomination of the board); and the Antitrust Compliance Committee, which attempts to prevent company practices from violating [[antitrust]] laws. {{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

Day-to-day operations of the company are run by the Global Executive Management Committee, which sets [[Strategic management|strategic direction]]. Dell has regional senior vice-presidents for countries other than the United States.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

===Marketing===
Dell advertisements have appeared in several types of media including television, the Internet, magazines, [[Mail-order catalog|catalogs]], and newspapers. Some of Dell Inc's marketing strategies include lowering prices at all times of the year, free bonus products (such as Dell printers), and free shipping to encourage more sales and stave off competitors. In 2006, Dell cut its prices in an effort to maintain its 19.2% market share. This also cut profit margins by more than half, from 8.7 to 4.3 percent. To maintain its low prices, Dell continues to accept most purchases of its products via the Internet and through the telephone network, and to move its customer-care division to India and [[El Salvador]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090105132801/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2007/2007_03_20_ndi_000?c=us&l=en&s=corp Michael Dell Sees India Playing a Key Role in the Online World]. Dell, New Delhi, India, March 20, 2007.</ref>

A popular United States television and print ad campaign in the early 2000s featured the actor [[Ben Curtis (actor)|Ben Curtis]] playing the part of "Steven", a lightly mischievous blond-haired youth who came to the assistance of bereft computer purchasers. Each television advertisement usually ended with Steven's catch-phrase: "Dude, you're gettin' a Dell!"<ref name=SlateDell>{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Rob|title=The Mystery of the Dell Dude|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/ad_report_card/2002/06/the_mystery_of_the_dell_dude.html|website=slate.com|date=June 3, 2002 |publisher=Slate Magazine|access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref>

A subsequent advertising campaign featured [[intern]]s at Dell headquarters (with Curtis' character appearing in a small cameo at the end of one of the first commercials in this particular campaign).

In 2007, Dell switched advertising agencies in the US from [[BBDO]] to [[Working Mother]] Media. In July 2007, Dell released new advertising created by Working Mother to support the Inspiron and XPS lines. The ads featured music from the [[The Flaming Lips|Flaming Lips]] and [[Devo]] who re-formed especially to record the song in the ad "Work it Out". Also in 2007, Dell began using the slogan "Yours is here" to say that it customizes computers to fit customers' requirements.<ref name="engadget">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/11/21/dell-launches-star-studded-yours-is-here-ad-campaign/|title=Dell launches star-studded "Yours Is Here" ad campaign|work=[[Engadget]]|date=November 21, 2007 |access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref>

Beginning in 2011, Dell began hosting a conference in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Convention Center titled "Dell World". The event featured new technology and services provided by Dell and Dell's partners. In 2011, the event was held October 12–14.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dell World 2011 |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 16, 2013 |url=http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corp-comm/pk-dellworld-2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124094728/http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corp-comm/pk-dellworld-2011 |archive-date=November 24, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, the event was held December 11–13.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dell World 2012 Press Kit |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 16, 2013 |url=http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2012-dell-world-press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517115347/http://www.dell.com/Learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2012-dell-world-press |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, the event was held December 11–13.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dell World 2013 |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 16, 2013 |url=https://dellworld2013.activeevents.com/portal/newreg.ww |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217050630/https://dellworld2013.activeevents.com/portal/newreg.ww |archive-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, the event was held November 4–6.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2014/09/dell-world-speaker-schedule-without-star-keynote.html|title=Dell World speaker schedule without star keynote; panel to open show |website=bizjournals.com|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref>

====Dell partner program====
In late 2007, Dell Inc. announced that it planned to expand its program to [[value-added reseller]]s (VARs), giving it the official name of "Dell Partner Direct" and a new Website.<ref>{{cite web | title = Partner Direct | publisher=Dell | access-date =June 13, 2011 | url = http://partner.Dell.com/}}</ref>

Dell India has started Online Ecommerce website<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-03/news/39714982_1_dell-india-consumer-products-vostro | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903202220/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-03/news/39714982_1_dell-india-consumer-products-vostro | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 3, 2013 | work=The Times of India | title=Dell enables online purchases through DESA platform | date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> with its Dell Partner www.compuindia.com GNG Electronics Pvt Ltd<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/dell-launches-online-estore-dell-express-ship-affiliate/article4777976.ece "Dell launches online e-store Dell Express Ship Affiliate"]. ''The Hindu''. June 3, 2013</ref> termed as Dell Express Ship Affiliate(DESA).
The main objective was to reduce the delivery time. Customers who visit Dell India official site are given the option to buy online which then will be redirected to Dell affiliate website compuindia.com.<ref name="tech.fortune.cnn.com"/>

====Global analytics====
Dell also operates a captive analytics division which supports pricing, web analytics, and supply chain operations. DGA operates as a single, centralized entity with a global view of Dell's business activities. The firm supports over 500 internal customers worldwide and has created a quantified impact of over $500 million.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Parker |date=2023-05-08 |title=Dell Global Analytics (DGA) Empowering Data-Driven Insights for Global Success |url=https://dellmenia.com/dell-global-analytics/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508034751/https://dellmenia.com/dell-global-analytics/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Dell Menia }}</ref>

====Criticisms of marketing of laptop security====
In 2008, Dell received press coverage over its claim of having the world's most secure laptops, specifically, its Latitude D630 and Latitude D830.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220173/dell-scolded-laptop-ads |title=Dell Scolded for Laptop Ads |publisher=Vnunet.com |author=Nichols, Shaun |date=June 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023034729/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220173/dell-scolded-laptop-ads |archive-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> At Lenovo's request, the (US) National Advertising Division (NAD) evaluated the claim, and reported that Dell did not have enough evidence to support it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20080623/dont-worry-Dell-your-laptops-are-still-the-worlds-ugliest/ |title=Dell's Claim as World's Most Secure Commercial Laptops? |publisher=Digitaldaily.allthingsd.com |date=June 23, 2008 |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref>

===Retail===
Dell first opened their retail stores in India.<ref name="tech.fortune.cnn.com"/>

====United States====
In the early 1990s, Dell sold its products through [[Best Buy]], [[Costco]] and [[Sam's Club]] stores in the United States. Dell stopped this practice in 1994, citing low profit margins on the business, exclusively distributing through a direct-sales model for the next decade. In 2003, Dell briefly sold products in [[Sears]] stores in the US. In 2007, Dell started shipping its products to major retailers in the US once again, starting with [[Sam's Club]] and [[Walmart|Wal-Mart]]. [[Staples Inc.|Staples]], the largest office-supply retailer in the US, and Best Buy, the largest electronics retailer in the US, became Dell retail partners later that same year.

=====Kiosks=====
Starting in 2002, Dell opened [[kiosk]] locations in the United States to allow customers to examine products before buying them directly from the company. Starting in 2005, Dell expanded [[kiosk]] locations to include shopping malls across Australia, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong. On January 30, 2008, Dell announced it would shut down all 140 kiosks in the US due to expansion into retail stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2008-01-30-00-direct-retail.aspx |title=Dell Focuses on Direct and Retail Business, Closes Kiosks in U.S |publisher=Content.dell.com |date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113024054/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2008-01-30-00-direct-retail.aspx |archive-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> By June 3, 2010, Dell had also shut down all of its mall kiosks in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/04/dell-closing-down-their-retail-kiosks-across-the-country/|title=Dell Closing Down Their Retail Kiosks Across The Country  |publisher=gizmodo.com |date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref>

====Retail stores====
{{As of|2008|2|alt=As of the end of February 2008}}, Dell products shipped to one of the largest office supply retailers in Canada, [[Staples Business Depot]]. In April 2008, [[Future Shop]] and [[Best Buy]] began carrying a subset of Dell products, such as certain desktops, laptops, printers, and monitors.

Since some shoppers in certain markets show reluctance to purchase technological products through the phone or the Internet, Dell has looked into opening retail operations in some countries in Central Europe and Russia. In April 2007, Dell opened a retail store in [[Budapest]]. In October of the same year, Dell opened a retail store in Moscow.

In the UK, [[HMV]]'s flagship [[Trocadero (London)|Trocadero]] store has sold Dell XPS PCs since December 2007. From January 2008 the UK stores of [[DSG International (retailer)|DSGi]] have sold Dell products (in particular, through [[Currys]] and [[PC World (retailer)|PC World]] stores). As of 2008, the large supermarket chain [[Tesco]] has sold Dell laptops and desktops in outlets throughout the UK.

In May 2008, Dell reached an agreement with the office supply chain, [[Officeworks]] (part of [[Coles Group]]), to stock a few modified models in the Inspiron desktop and notebook range. These models have slightly different model numbers, but almost replicate the ones available from the Dell Store. Dell continued its retail push in the Australian market with its partnership with Harris Technology (another part of Coles Group) in November of the same year. In addition, Dell expanded its retail distributions in Australia through an agreement with the discount electrical retailer, [[The Good Guys (Australasia)|The Good Guys]], known for "Slashing Prices". Dell agreed to distribute a variety of makes of both desktops and notebooks, including [[Studio]] and [[Dell XPS|XPS]] systems in late 2008. Dell and [[Dick Smith Electronics]] (owned by [[Woolworths Limited]]) reached an agreement to expand within Dick Smith's 400 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand in May 2009 (1 year since Officeworks—owned by Coles Group—reached a deal). The retailer has agreed to distribute a variety of [[Inspiron]] and [[Studio]] notebooks, with minimal Studio desktops from the Dell range. {{As of|2009}}, Dell continues to run and operate its various kiosks in 18 shopping centers throughout Australia. On March 31, 2010, Dell announced to Australian Kiosk employees that they were shutting down the Australian/New Zealand Dell kiosk program.

In Germany, Dell is selling selected smartphones and notebooks via [[Media Markt]] and Saturn, as well as some shopping websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netzwelt.de/news/87864-discounter-check-dell-venue-pro-media-markt.html |title=Dell Venue Pro offered by Media Markt |publisher=Netzwelt.de |date=February 22, 1999 |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref>

===Competition===
Dell's major competitors include [[Lenovo]], [[Hewlett-Packard]] (HP), [[Hasee]], [[Acer Inc.|Acer]], [[Fujitsu]], [[Toshiba]], [[Gateway, Inc.|Gateway]], [[Sony]], [[Asus]], [[Micro-Star International|MSI]], [[Panasonic]], [[Samsung]] and [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]. Dell and its subsidiary, Alienware, compete in the enthusiast market against AVADirect, [[Falcon Northwest]], [[VoodooPC]] (a subsidiary of HP), and other manufacturers. In the second quarter of 2006, Dell had between 18% and 19% share of the worldwide personal computer market, compared to HP with roughly 15%.

{{As of|2006|alt=In late 2006}}, Dell lost its lead in the PC business to Hewlett-Packard. Both [[Gartner]] and [[International Data Corporation|IDC]] estimated that in the third quarter of 2006, HP shipped more units<ref>Kirdahy, Matthew (October 19, 2006) [https://www.forbes.com/2006/10/19/dell-computer-earnings-markets-equity-cx_mk_1019markets07.html]. Forbes.</ref> worldwide than Dell did. Dell's 3.6% growth paled in comparison to HP's 15% growth during the same period. The problem got worse in the fourth quarter, when Gartner estimated<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070117006106&newsLang=en |title=Gartner Says Hewlett-Packard Takes Clear Lead in Fourth Quarter Worldwide PC Shipments and Creates a Virtual Tie with Dell for 2006 Year-End Results |publisher=Business Wire |date=January 17, 2007 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721195555/http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070117006106&newsLang=en |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> that Dell PC shipments declined 8.9% (versus HP's 23.9% growth). As a result, at the end of 2006 Dell's overall PC market share stood at 13.9% (versus HP's 17.4%).

IDC reported that Dell lost more server market share than any of the top four competitors in that arena. IDC's Q4 2006 estimates show Dell's share of the server market at 8.1%, down from 9.5% in the previous year. This represents an 8.8% loss year-over-year, primarily to competitors EMC and IBM. As of 2021, Dell is the third-largest PC manufacturer after Lenovo and HP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canalys Newsroom - Global PC shipments pass 340 million in 2021 and 2022 is set to be even stronger |url=https://canalys.com/newsroom/global-pc-market-Q4-2021 |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=canalys.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Partnership with EMC===
In 2001, Dell and EMC entered into a partnership whereby both companies jointly design products, and Dell provided support for certain EMC products including midrange storage systems, such as [[fibre channel]] and [[iSCSI]] [[storage area network]]s. The relationship also promotes and sells OEM versions of backup, recovery, replication and archiving software.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/us/2001/20011022-1125.htm | title=Dell, EMC Sign Multi-Billion-Dollar Enterprise Storage Agreement | publisher=[[Dell EMC]] | date=October 22, 2001}}</ref> On December 9, 2008, Dell and EMC announced the multi-year extension, through 2013, of the strategic partnership with EMC. In addition, Dell expanded its product lineup by adding the EMC Celerra NX4 storage system to the portfolio of Dell/EMC family of networked storage systems and partnered on a new line of [[data deduplication]] products as part of its TierDisk family of [[data storage device]]s.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2008/20081209-01.htm |title=Dell, EMC Extend and Expand Strategic Alliance | publisher=[[Dell EMC]] | date=December 9, 2008}}</ref>

On October 17, 2011, Dell discontinued reselling all EMC storage products, ending the partnership 2 years early.<ref>{{cite news | title=Dell, EMC End Storage Reseller Partnership Two Years Early | url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Dell-EMC-End-Storage-Reseller-Partnership-Two-Years-Early-705362/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730100730/http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Dell-EMC-End-Storage-Reseller-Partnership-Two-Years-Early-705362/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 30, 2012 | work=EWeek | date=October 17, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Dell ends 10-year reseller relationship with EMC | url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2499048/data-center/dell-ends-10-year-reseller-relationship-with-emc.html | first=Lucas | last=Mearian | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=October 17, 2011 | access-date=July 3, 2018 | archive-date=July 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704034559/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2499048/data-center/dell-ends-10-year-reseller-relationship-with-emc.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> Later Dell would acquire and merge with EMC in the largest tech merger to date.