Tiny Computers, the consumer PC manufacturer and retailer, is trying to crack the corporate PC market to boosts its sales by 25 per cent.

It sees a gap for itself in supplying PCs to corporates and SMEs which want to get their employees tech literate, and are introducing staff PC purchase schemes. In other words its gunning for the space identified by PeoplePC.

Tiny's first contract is with Avon Cosmetics - the door-to-door home selling beauty gunk business. Avon wants all its 160,000 UK reps, who are self-employed and sell on commission, to get online and communicate with their Avon managers via the PC. So it's negotiated a bulk discount deal with Tiny.

Not all the Avon ladies (and presumably men) will want a PC, but just 20 per cent of them have got a computer at the moment. So Tiny's got a good shot at selling quite few boxes - and the other bits of kit which make up a home office.

Tiny sales director Martin Breffit said: "This is our first major break into the corporate market. Not only will the move increase our unit sales significantly, but it will also open up new avenues for creating partnerships and affinities with other major household names."

Avon sees the deal as a major cultural event which will emancipate its employees. Kathy Slater, a director of Avon Cosmetics, said: "It demonstrates our commitment to making technology more accessible and affordable to thousands of women and their families. This deal is a great step forward and puts Avon at the forefront of companies that are beginning to bridge the gap between those with access to modern technology and those without."

Tiny is setting up a sales division to solely target the corporate sector. It has brought in James Mahon, business development manager, to head this up. ®