Specialism: Rugged devices, gaming
Key vendors: B2C: MSI, ASUS, Razer and Prowise; B2B: Panasonic, Crosscall, Autel, Getac
Revenue: £33m (+10%)
Staff: 19
Ci Distribution’s “old-skool” approach to account management enabled it to record another sales increase in its year to 31 August 2024, director Jon Atherton said (see Q&A below).
The rugged hardware and gaming specialist generated £30m of parent Centerprise’s £122m revenues in its year to 31 August 2023. But its top line pogoed a further 10% in the fiscal year just ended, he told us.
The wider Centerprise business’ interests span IT hardware, software, infrastructure solutions, consultancy, business continuity and disaster recovery, distribution and reselling of IT products, gaming computer manufacture, managed services, end-of-life IT recycling and provision of IT asset management service (are you out of breath yet?).
“Call us old skool, but it works”
Quickfire Q&A with Ci Distribution director Jon Atherton
What is Ci Distribution’s sweet spot?
True, old fashioned account and business development. Our sales account managers are highly trained, experienced and use a phone to interact and talk with customers (call us old skool, but it works).
Which product, service or vendor has stood out for you in 2024?
Across our vendor portfolio we have several vendors that are just amazing in supporting us in our continued growth.
If you could change one thing about your business at the stroke of a wand, what would it be?
Credit – to be able to support better terms and credit for the SME marketplace.
When will the UK distribution market return to growth?
It depends on who you are talking too… many disties are growing and performing well.
Name one area of your business where you are expecting to add staff in 2025
Marketing – vendors are increasingly driving us to arrange events for our UK customer base, both directly and with indirect support.
See who made the wider Oxygen 50 Must-Know IT Distributors 2024 here.
