SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY : Toshiba Subsidiary Agrees to Sell Laptops in BizMart Stores

Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. in Irvine, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corp., said Monday that it has reached an agreement with BizMart Inc. to sell Toshiba’s line of laptop computers at the chain’s 60 office super-stores.

The move reflects a trend among computer manufacturers to sell their wares in so-called super stores, which are large stores that advertise heavily and sell high volumes of equipment at low prices.

Tom Scott, vice president of sales at Toshiba America’s Computer Systems Division, said the company is trying to reach the individual consumers and small business owners known as the mass market.

“These shoppers are becoming more sophisticated, and they want to go someplace where they can have a good selection of a lot of different brands under one roof,” Scott said.

Intelligent Electronics, owner of the Entre Computer Center stores, agreed in May to acquire BizMart. Toshiba computers are also sold in Entre stores.