But the company was at pains to stress that it was more than just a website with a sales manager and a team of four “working the phones and setting up accounts”, in the words of Declan Ronayne, head of DSG Ireland, PC World’s parent company.
He described it as a “B2B business” which was looking to emulate local resellers in its dealings with customers.
“We do not view it as ‘here’s the website, it’s cheap, off you go.’ We are giving people a face and a name they can contact,” Ronayne claimed.
In terms of what it could offer customers, he said pricing was a good start. “Feedback from customers is that we are cheap.”
The company could also offer speedy delivery and good stock availability because it was supplied by the PC World Business warehouse in the UK, which Ronayne said was “a couple of hundred thousand square feet”.
He claimed it had received a good response from Irish customers, reaching 120 per cent of its sales target in the first month and 150 per cent of its target for accounts.
There are plans to expand the sales team as PC World Business progresses.
PC World Business allows companies to set up an online account and order products, along with a 30-day payment policy. They can also talk to the sales team by phone.
The UK operation, launched in 1992 and employing 700 people, has a turnover of €1bn.
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