PC Retail

Iam delighted to have the opportunity of writing the PCA column this month, in the absence of Keith Warburton, our CEO, who has been taking a well deserved break, undertaking a 500 mile trek. Such is the timing of publishing deadlines that by the time you read this he will have been back in harness for a few weeks, no doubt fitter than ever!

The past two months have been particularly busy here at the PCA, as June is the end of the financial year, and I'm the financial director. I'm happy to say, in advance of our AGM, that our finances continue to look good.

In July, we held our annual IT Channel Golf Day, this year being the fifth time we've run this very popular and successful event. Combine this with all the general administration that goes into running a major trade association and operating within budget – which is of considerable interest to me – and you will gather that life here at PCA towers has been pretty hectic to say the least – even more so because with one man away our staffing levels have been reduced by 40 per cent. We're a lean, mean trade association machine!

In spite of these pressures the association continues to experience steady growth, attracting new members and developing new initiatives and activity, all designed to ensure we give unparalleled value and solid support to our members.

By the time you read this the industry will be well aware of the major new sponsor we've taken on board and the associated wonderful opportunities for our reseller members.

Last issue (PC Retail 59 August) you will find a photographs of the event at Wyboston Lake's superb course – The PC Retail team played a major part in the event, or at least the after-golf soireé.

The weather threatened to be a bit like the economy – pretty grim – but as it turned out, sun-cream and ice-cream was the order of the day, maintaining the unbroken good weather tradition of the event.

Unlike the weather, the golf was somewhat of a mixed affair, but the team from Sapphire (right) excelled in the morning Texas Scramble event. The main competition – also known as the Brian Skelton Memorial Trophy – was sponsored by tech-support company FixITLocal with support from Sapphire, Sony UK, Inkrite, Oak Telecom and Entatech.

The individual winner with a stunningly good score was Jon Atherton of Enta Technology. In fact, Jon's score was so good as to be almost unbelievable, but I played with him and can vouch for it!

The team prize went to Dennis Publishing (right), keen supporters of the event and previous winners. Dinner and prize-giving was enjoyed by all and £350 was raised for the chairman's designated charity, the children for Peace Foundation based in Warrington. This superb day proved that corporate golf is still a very real and a valuable opportunity to network, make new friends, reward employees and team build (some of it late into the night!).

Enough fun, now back to work! I can report that the PCA website is proving a useful tool in driving on our membership. It also highlights the reliance that the consumer is placing on accreditation and certification. We are seeing a lot of traffic directed via the public area of the site to the postcode search and map facility for PCA members. Incoming enquiries from the public highlight two key issues.

Firstly the importance of warranties underwritten by a third party: we receive calls from customers who own kit that is no longer covered by the three and five year undertakings taken out at considerable expense at the time of purchase where the original supplier is no longer trading and the guarantee is of course worthless; wouldn't it have been better if the warranty was insured and underwritten – so much easier to sell, and it take any worries about future commitment off the shoulders of the seller.

Secondly, we are called upon from time-to-time to mediate between customer and supplier in order to resolve a dispute. Subsequent discussions have demonstrated the fact that the customer had initially selected a PCA member for the 'guarantee' of supply and service.

Customers want to buy from members of trade associations! It is interesting to note that we also get called upon for advice where the supplier is not a PCA member, proving that the public are well aware of the role of the trade association and the part it can play.

The past two months, although hectic, have been invaluable in providing me and the rest of the PCA's director with an in-depth insight into the value and benefits of our association, but I am delighted to say 'Welcome back Keith', especially after his conversion during his walk along the ancient pilgrims path to 'the end of the earth'.

He'll be back here in his usual place in the next issue.