CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SWEEX COMPANY PROFILE
The orange revolution Dutch firm Sweex has had a long and successful history in the technology space, and is getting ready to set up a dedicated office here in the UK next year. Andrew Wooden talks to CEO Hans Hello‌
Hans Hello says the firm will concentrate on the European market before looking further afield
Š Copyright VIP Computer Centre Limited. 2010. Information correct at time of publication E&OE
SWEEX started life 33 years ago as a small local family-owned wholesaler operating out of the Netherlands. Founded in the Hague, the firm was originally called Ropla, and dealt with electrical components. After years of slow but steady growth, the company changed its name to Sweex in 2002, changing it again shortly after to Sweex Europe. The firm now has several sales offices across the continent and a purchase office in Taiwan. “The company changed over the years from being a small local wholesaler to being an importer and finally a manufacturer of computer components, peripherals and
/TZKR 6XUIKYYUXY
accessories, all under our Sweex brand name,� says CEO Hans Hello. The firm now deals in a wide range of product areas, including branded peripherals, power adapters, graphics cards, e-readers and tablets. It is currently concentrating on growth in Europe, but will be looking to expand across the rest of the globe later on. “Our target for the short to mediumterm is to strengthen our foothold in the European marketplace,� comments Hello. “Although the creation of the EU has simplified things and certainly has broken down barriers, we see that Europe still consists of many individual countries, each with specific
requirements, like for example the UK Power plug. Once we have the feeling our domestic (European) growth potential is diminishing, we will look towards other continents.� In terms of the UK, the firm will be setting up a dedicated building next year in order to better serve the region. “Since the UK is historically an important market for us we have long since named it as one of our top target countries,� says Hello. “In 2011 we plan to open a local sales and marketing office in the UK, in addition to the local representatives we’ve already had working for us for a long time. This office will be targeted to support and facilitate our growth strategy here.� As the market appears to be at the tail end of the recession, Hello is optimistic about sales this Christmas, and even has an eye on sponsorship within the Premier League here in the UK. “We will see a rise in spending from last year, I expect. The signs that global and local economies are slowly recovering are getting stronger. People will be less hesitant to spend money,� he claims. “In five years’ time we will be a strong, well recognised household brand in computerrelated electronics, with a firm position in the UK market. We will constantly invest in improving our assortment, in quality as well as design and specifications. We hope that we will sponsor a Premier League team by then. Any preference?�
“In five years’ time we will be a strong, well recognised household brand in computerrelated electronics, with a firm position in the UK market.� Hans Hello, Sweex
Sweex has branched out into a plethora of product areas, including graphics cards
/TZKRROMKTZ 6KXLUXSGTIK GY 9ZGTJGXJ
IntelŽ Core™ i5 760 Processor t ()[ RVBE DPSF QSPDFTTPS t 4PDLFU t *OUFMŽ 7JSUVBMJ[BUJPO UFDIOPMPHZ JODSFBTFT NBOBHFBCJMJUZ TFDVSJUZ nFYJCJMJUZ JO *5 FOWJSPONFOUT t *OUFMŽ 5VSCP #PPTU BMMPXT DPSFT UP SVO GBTUFS UIBO UIF CBTF PQFSBUJOH GSFRVFODZ JODSFBTJOH QFSGPSNBODF t ON QSPDFTT UFDIOPMPHZ 7*1 0SEFS $PEF $BMM GPS QSJDJOH
IntelŽ Core™ i7 950 Processor t ()[ RVBE DPSF QSPDFTTPS t 4PDLFU t &OIBODFE *OUFMŽ 4QFFETUFQ FOBCMFT WFSZ IJHI QFSGPSNBODF UIBU BMTP NFFUT UIF QPXFSDPOTFSWBUJPO t OFFET PG NPCJMF TZTUFNT t *OUFMŽ )ZQFS 5ISFBEJOH UFDIOPMPHZ GPS NPSF FGmDJFOU VTF PG QSPDFTTPS SFTPVSDFT t ON QSPDFTT UFDIOPMPHZ 7*1 0SEFS $PEF $BMM GPS QSJDJOH
Sales: 0871 622 7500 www.vip-computers.com/uk