Surviving 35 Years in the IT Business in Our Changing World
RETIRED MEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GREENWICH, Inc. (RMA)
Invites you to a presentation on Webinar, July 29th at 11:00 a.m.
To sign up for the webinar log on to: https://bit.ly/30IBj21
In 1965, Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel Corporation, observed: “The number of transistors on a microchip doubles about every two years, though the cost of computers is halved. And, the growth of microprocessors is exponential.” These became tenets of “Moore’s Law.”
On Main Street, USA, we call this “Deflation.” Could you imagine if this phenomenon were true in every business? Automobiles would sell for $1,000. Wouldn’t it be nice if the average home in Greenwich sold for $250,000, not $2,500,000, and new construction was always twice as good as last year’s? Not so nice for homebuilders, realtors, insurers, or our Town coffers!
At eight years old, András István Gróf escaped Nazi German-occupied Hungary. At 20, he immigrated to the United States and changed his name to Andy Grove. He became Intel’s third employee and visionary CEO. He lived by the motto,“Only the paranoid survive.”
Brian Desrosier, President of Computer SuperCenter and Lighthouse Technology Partners, has been forced to live by Andy’s motto and develop one of his own: “A little competition is a good thing, but a lot of competition is horrible.” Extreme competition in a deflationary business is terrible for everyone. Gross Margin dollars drop at the same time as Gross Margin Percentage. How does a company deliver a “white glove” customer experience? To build a successful business, you must attract and pay top people. How? Desrosier will explain the concept of “Digital Transformation” in the world, how it is driving small business owners out of business, while some are flourishing. What does this mean to our Town and each one of us?
Desrosier’s experience began in 1981 as a $3.50-per-hour Radio Shack Computer Center “Manager in Training.” He worked in an original Tandy Radio Shack & Leather location. At the Tandy Corporation 1983 annual meeting in Ft. Worth, CEO John Roach presented Brian with the prestigious “Leaders Club” Jacket, Manager-of-the-Year Diamond Ring, and a replica of his “Top Ten Paycheck.” All that was charged against his Computer Center P&L and his bonus!
Desrosier opened his own “Entre’ Computer Center” in 1984 on West Putnam Avenue. He went on to build the Computer SuperCenter building on Mason Street and founded Lighthouse Technology Partners. Today, Lighthouse Technology Partners is Microsoft’s “Cloud Partner of The Year,” and Computer SuperCenter is one of Apple’s top Authorized Service Providers.
Brian will recount the events and difficult lessons learned on the mean streets of Greenwich, CT. You’ll hear his odyssey battling bullying “Partners” like IBM, Apple, Microsoft, and Cisco. Harrowing business stories of employee theft and unfair business practices. Obstacles include the advent of Mail Order, manufacturer-direct selling, and overpopulation of the dealer channel. Al Gore invented the internet and then Jeff Bezos, “Amazon.” Desrosier’s never-say-die endurance is combined with perpetual redefining and reimagining his business where the velocity of change is only accelerating.
And then there was a pandemic.
Program next week: August 5, Robert Gallucci, American academic and diplomat, former dean of School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. “Conversation with Robert Gallucci on America’s Place in the World.”
The Greenwich Retired Men’s Association offers a free Webinar program every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. For additional information see www.greenwichrma.org or contact us by e-mail at info@greenwichrma.org.
- Published in Computer SuperCenter
Oops Microsoft Did It Again
Microsoft continues to roll out impressive improvements to the Windows 10 OS, Server Products for businesses, the cloud platform Azure, and collaboration tools as a part of Microsoft 365.
Once again though, Microsoft confusingly fumbles the name(s) of productivity and collaboration software licensing. This goes way back to when customers weren’t sure if they were talking about their Microsoft Office and/or Windows Operating System names, versions, and numbers.
On April 21st, 2020, Microsoft Office 365 becomes Microsoft 365! Well, not entirely.
Previous to this announcement, business customer subscribed to more robust and secure version of Microsoft Office 365 by upgrading to Microsoft 365, which upgraded to include Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS). WAIT! That all changed April 21st.
Personal Plans
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 stays the same: Individuals and Small Businesses can still buy and install software on their PC’s. Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 is $149.99 as a one-time purchase…then re-buy again if you want a future version. You do not get Outlook (email client), Skype or cloud document or mail storage. Perpetual upgrades included.
Microsoft Office 365 Home is good for a family of up to 6 people (all of each person’s device) for 99.99 per year, every year. You get the full Office suite including email, Skype and cloud storage. Perpetual upgrades included.
Microsoft Office 365 Personal is good for ONE Person (all devices) for 69.99 per year, every year. Same benefits as above, “Home.”
Small & Medium Business Plans
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus is a perpetual per user business subscription good for all devices; for 12.00 per month. Always up to date Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams; and 1 TB cloud Storage. This is a software license but not a service license. (No business Exchange email provided; customer provisions own mail service.)
Microsoft Office 365 Business becomes Microsoft 365 Business Apps for $8.25 per month. This is free for startups for 6 months. But, while Microsoft gives you the Outlook Client, they do not host (hold, provide, or manage) your mail.
More established businesses typically mix and match plans. For example, your business management employees may all need a robust subscription but your “Firstline” workers may only need company email and calendar.
- Published in Microsoft
Press Release: Best Buy
Greenwich, CT
04/17/2020
Best Buy Workers Furloughed While Computer SuperCenter Reinforces Staff
Best Buy Co. said it would furlough about 51,000 hourly store workers following a sharp drop in sales after the electronics chain closed its U.S. stores to customers.
Meanwhile, Computer SuperCenter of Greenwich said it would add staff in response to increased sales while operating more carefully to meet customer needs as an essential business.
Best Buy, which employed 125,000 workers, furloughed nearly all U.S. part-time staff starting April 19, and will keep only 82% of its full-time workers, including most Geek Squad staff.
Best Buy said sales have dropped about 30% from a year ago since it closed stores on March 21.
In contrast, Computer SuperCenter sales have increased 18% while repair service volume has surged 34%. The company has established appointment-based store hours and services hours. The safest and cleanest possible physical distancing guidelines are being adhered to.
Computer SuperCenter President, Brian Desrosier said, consistent with company performance, employees are earning more while working less. Best Buy CEO Corie Barry will take a 50% cut in her base salary and other senior executives would reduce their salaries by 20%. Best Buy, which has already drawn down its credit line, is also cutting marketing spending and its 401(k) matching program. Computer SuperCenter has expanded marketing efforts and will continue to match employee 401k contributions at a rate of 4%.
- Published in Uncategorized
Transformation Update #2 – The “IT Department for Main Street”
For over 30 years, Computer SuperCenter has been the go-to place in town for quality Computer Service and Solutions. We’ve seen so much change in technology from our start to today, and it has been truly amazing to be a part of our customers technology journeys. From watching your children go from their first Laptop to an Apple Macbook for college, or seeing a Small Business grow from three to thirty employees, we appreciate every one of you.
Nothing is going away but a lot more is coming!
In the early 2000’s Lighthouse Technology Partners was created and took hold on the 2nd floor of the Computer SuperCenter building. Formerly this Mason Street location was a Bank with a full parking lot. The building now has two thriving IT Businesses, helping not only people, but also businesses with their computer, networking, and IT Systems support needs. We always look at ourselves as a big family and all our customers are a part of it. Many familiar faces have been here for more than 20 years with at least another 20 more to go.
In 2018 we decided the best way to continue to improve our quality of service, the responsiveness of our support, and find new ways to offer value in our community, would be to formally merge Computer SuperCenter with Lighthouse Technology Partners.
Overlap has always existed between the two businesses, the employees, customers and services, and now we are officially bringing it all together. While we are having a physical renovation of our building and office space, we are having an internal renovation as well. The two teams of experienced professionals will now be a cohesive force of I.T. experts.
Key Highlights about our transformation
New Learning and Training Facility: We will be offering a variety of events and providing opportunities for everyone to take a lesson and learn from our experienced technical staff.
Computer Support: The Apple & Windows Computer Support you have come for will be even better with enhanced technician workstations, repair tracking and more!
Professional Onsite Technical Services: Services for the home, family and small to medium size business.
Subscription Support Services: High-value support for all the technology requirements you have – from a highly qualified team of trusted technical advisers.
Fabulous New Device Bar: A refined product selection more in line with the changing needs of the modern shopper.
A new name “Lighthouse Main Street Solutions” will be what you see when visiting 103 Mason Street soon. Everything you have come to Computer SuperCenter for in the past will still be here and will only be better! Computer Service, Support, Guidance, for people and Small Business, all the way to sizable professional service firms.
Our commitment to providing exemplary service is getting stronger and we can’t wait to unveil our new office space. This is a special time in our history and we are happy you will be a part of it.
We are still open for business as usual during the renovation and everyone is welcome. Mon-Fri 9-6 & Sat 10-5.
Stay tuned for more updates from the “IT Department for Main Street”.
- Published in Computer SuperCenter