PC maker Lenovo has opened an online store in the UK designed to allow very small businesses (VSBs), home offices and consumers to buy directly from the company.

Lenovo will continue to sell to large businesses through its Lenovo Business Partners programme and via indirect channels. But the new online shop will give smaller customers the ability to configure up to five custom built PCs directly from the computer maker, which will be delivered within 10 working days.

The site offers a complete range of ThinkPad notebooks, ThinkCentre PCs, IdeaPad netbooks and a range of accessories.

"The new Lenovo web shop expands our horizons beyond our traditional small to medium sized business (SMB) base into home offices, VSBs and consumers," said Alan Munro, vice president of Lenovo in the UK and Ireland.

"This strategic new direction complements our existing indirect sales through our channel business partners."

Figures from analyst firm IDC suggest that 16 per cent of UK PC sales to homes and small offices/home offices are direct sales.

Munro stressed that the move does not mean that Lenovo is abandoning its indirect route to market, but is simply expanding to give customers greater choice and more flexibility.

"Our channel business remains strategically important to us, particularly in enabling us to satisfy demand from customers in the SMB market, and we will continue to drive demand for both direct and indirect routes to market through various web and marketing programmes," he added.

Visitors to the UK store will also have the option of registering on the site, making them eligible for special offers and extra discounts on future orders.