Why in English you might ask. After all you are Dutch, is it not?! I'll have to admit I'm guilty. However, I will defend my decision as in these following statements:
First of all, in DEALER INFO's Gold Column proves my first point. Secondly, this business is for an important part run by Companies with "Foreign Involvements" so-to-say. No matter the Singapore people that have joined the IT Market as Distributors in the Netherlands, the U.S.A. Distribution Investors or the Management Staff from those Branch-Offices from the Taiwanese Manufacturers.
As a final argument, I can inform you I like to speak English be it private or in Every-Day business. For those `routiniers' in our line of business, I can tell you that a lot of you will speak to me frequently, but since I'm actually working under an Alias Name, I do so just to make it not-so-easy for you all. I also feel we all need to get used to more English in our business; we wouldn't be doing the kind of business that we do without the English language.
But don't worry, as I'll provide you all with more about myself as we get closer acquainted. Let's do this together, step-by-step, maybe you'll find out who I really am.
Actually, I feel the Dutch are not really so bad, this, since the Netherlands is actually the Gateway to Europe. It is the best location in Europe to do the business. No, I'm not mentioning the personnel-market shortage, even though there are so many unemployed Dutch Citizens. No, I'm not mentioning the Dutch Government with their high Company Taxes, Corporate Taxes, Property taxes and what have you more.
They'll come anyway. Why? Well, they're really still opening businesses in increasing numbers, isn't it? Since doing business from this country means you can move into the neighboring countries, as well as deep into East-Europe.
The Dutch are just about good in everything, but just a little good enough, just as in the days we were still governing Formosa. But let's not get into this (politics) too much.
What do I have to offer?
Information. An opinion. Secrets. News. An answer to your questions.
If you're interested in DNS, Bill Gates infamous Digital Nervous System, because as I agree with him, those who have the knowledge, have the power.
Let's get back to business. There's too much trouble going around:
Distributors losing money to counterfeit companies, Mergers and acquisitions, Bankruptcies, Share buy-outs. Plenty topics of conversation to talk and write about. At present, contacting one company means you'll find out how bad his (main) competitor is doing. Basically this means ALL companies are having a difficult time now. After all, I should be one of the first to inform you that the whole IT Market is going to change so dramatically:
More buy-outs and insolvements, just have a look at the German Market and to the Main European Distributors. A company with a turnover of about USD 230 million in 1998 has just stopped trading. Main Pan-European Distributors such as Actebis and Computer 2000 have stepped off of the Mainstream Brand-Name Line and have already focused towards the Entry-Level Market. This Entry-Level Marketshare has really implemented Quality changes for the good of the whole IT Market.
After all, it's been hard for the big distri's to see that "the other guys" have been making all the profit, just not carrying the name for someone else's profit. But let's be honest, who cares about the name. We all have our - family - mouths to feed, pension funds to think about, yes ?!
But oh ...... don't forget about intel. As big distri's, we do need to show the - distri - world that `we still care.'
Or is this just because there is hardly any competition? I've just learnt that AMD is slowly crawling back into the white-box marketshare; perhaps their deals with the Brand-Name Manufacturers such as Compaq & IBM have turned sour or just really profitable for factory-expansion.... Who's to tell. But I'll try to find out for you, the IT Market-conscious reader.
An actual fact is that intel is pushing the market ahead so quick with their technology that the customer screams out the intel tune so loud, this actually means they are the ones causing this `malaise'.
But then I'm not saying they are responsible. Take it from the pro: we all are doing so by following the wrong leader. Just someone that says they have the best in their Ad, and "for the time-being we go with this one."
But that's all going to change now. You perhaps being a small distributor/reseller/systems assembler, I would have to ask you: "are you ready?"
Have you been investing & stocking up for the Millennium and The Biggest IT Recession hit?
More to come next issue. Be there, don't miss it !!!
By Ed Bosschenaer