MDG Computers Canada Inc., a Canadian owned computer manufacturer and retailer, hopes to expand its industry market presence through a number of ways, including, increasing its company size, introducing a new gaming system and creating a program for the channel.
MDG was founded in 1991 as a private company and is the largest Canadian owned manufacturer and retailer of its kind in Canada today. The company is headquartered in Oakville, Ont. and has 29 retail locations that span across Canada. Conrad Galambos, senior marketing manager at MDG, says the company prides itself on being the largest company to focus on notebook and desktop computers within this space.
“We target different clientele and we target different people in different geographical locations,” Galambos said. “We’re becoming more attuned to all of the different verticals in the market because we’re in one of the most competitive industries on Earth. MDG has really put a focus on diversifying its business because we don’t want to keep all of our eggs in one basket.”
Galambos explains that MDG is, for the most part, its very own channel since the company has the luxury of being both the producer and retailer of computer products. Not only is this a huge cost saver for MDG, but Galambos also says this is a way for the company to keep a better eye and focus on its customers and assets.
The company has big plans to further saturate the Canadian market, Galambos said. And to help support its rapidly growing customer base and increasing volume, MDG is working to double the size of its Oakville call centre within the next six months.
“We want to increase the capacity because the volumes are there,” Galambos said. “We want to increase our physical space, equipment and our employees. We’re going to continue to strengthen our retail, corporate and government sectors and we will continue to bring partners into our channel.”
To help do this, MDG wants to convey the message to both existing and potential partners in Canada, that by working with them, a variety of advantages and benefits will ensue.
“Because we’re Canadian, partners know who they’re talking to and working with because there’s no need to deal with middlemen,” Galambos said.
While he could not disclose any partner information or specific details around a specific channel program, Galambos did say that MDG is currently in talks with a few Canadian partners in regards to various upcoming projects. As for a channel program, Galambos said that’s something that’s currently in the works now and is still being worked out.
“It’s not something that’s yet on paper,” Galambos said. “We’re very flexible and we will consider our partners’ needs into dictating how this relationship will work. I would say partners could expect to see a program within the next six months to a year.”
In addition to expanding, MDG has also recently introduced a new gaming system, better known as the Stealth Platinum, running the Intel Core 2 Duo Quad Core Extreme processor.
“MDG is the largest client in Canada to both Microsoft and Intel,” Galambos said. “We only use Microsoft and Intel products and we offer these products at very good pricing to our partners so we’re profitable to them and ourselves.”
Currently, the gaming system is only available directly through online or through retail stores upon request. Although Galambos said MDG has no immediate plans to mass market Stealth Platinum right away, the company will eventually make this available to the retail space.
“We see [Stealth Platinum] as an opportunity to get into the gaming market,” Galambos said. “We want to show the market we’re built on quality and this is a way for us to be able to position MDG as a company that can really produce a top of the line computer. We want to make the market aware that MDG is a serious player in the marketplace.”
Designed for gamers, Stealth Platinum comes with 8MB Cache and 066MHz FSB, which is new gaming processor technology. In addition, it also comes with a 24 inch LCD monitor with intense video and graphics with a 800:1 contrast ratio.
Gaming specifications and market strategy aside, Galambos assures that MDG still remains aware of where its core business opportunities lie.
“Our desktop and notebook offerings are still the bread and butter of our company and there’s more value and opportunity here,” Galambos said. “We want everyone to know that we’re a major player in Canada and we plan to stick in Canada to become the biggest name brand here. We hope to bring brand awareness, credibility and building to a point where every Canadian knows and trusts MDG.”
