PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Laura Barnes sits down with Speedy PCs’ technical director, Azeem Anwar, to find out if wearable tech will have an impact on the business and how they help customers who are worried about data security…
How and when did the company begin?
After I graduated in Computing Science BSc I decided that I wanted to open my own business. After searching around for a location, I secured a store in Finnieston, Glasgow. Eight years later we are still here and have since opened two more branches in Glasgow.
What products and services do you offer?
The main products we offer are desktop parts, consumables and cabling. As well as this, we stock various laptop accessories such as chargers. Recently we have introduced mobile phone accessories too.
Our main income, however, is from laptop and desktop servicing. We repair Windows and Mac products as well as gaming consoles.
How helpful do you find distributors? What would you change about them if you could?
I feel distributors are doing a tremendous job in an ever- changing technology environment. If I could change anything it would be that there would be some more mobile phone accessory parts on offer along with subsequent support.
What do you think of educational products like the Raspberry Pi?
Would you consider stocking it? We would love to stock the Raspberry Pi, but unfortunately we have not been able to source the product at a competitive price point.
How important is an online presence to your business? Primarily we use our website to advertise our services, although we are intending to set up an online shop soon. We plan to make our website so that customers can book in a service online and then drop off the machine in-store. They will then be able to track the progress of the repair online.
Do you use third-party marketplaces?
In our business we end up with a lot of laptop spares and repairs, so we are currently developing a customised system that will list these items as individual parts on eBay, which can be sychronised to our website. We think this will be a great step forward for us.
Would you ever consider accepting virtual currency?
At present we have no intention to do so. However, if there is enough demand for it we will need to re-evaluate our stance.
How about wearable tech? Is it worth selling/repairing?
The problem with wearable tech is that I doubt we would be price competitive on sales. However, repairing these devices is an aspect we are keen to look in to.
What new types of products are you looking forward to seeing in particular?
Personally, wearable technology, like smart watches, is something I am keen to try out. I am also very much looking forward to the upcoming Oculus Rift virtual reality headset.
What do you have planned over the next year?
We are looking to expand our online service by implementing our new CRM system, and we are also looking to start selling spares and repairs online. Further to this, we may be looking at opening up another branch.
?FACT FILE
Year established: 2005
Number of outlets: 3
Number of staff: 8
Address: 992 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8LU
Telephone: 01412 432253
Email: info@speedypcs.com
Website: www.speedypcs.com ?
