The Independent Trade Association of Computing Specialists, is a registered not for profit company to look after the interests of our business sector.

On the 12 August 2006, having obtained expressed support from 60 independent local computer retailers, VARs and resellers ranging from Dunfermline to Devon, a committee was formed to create our own, not for profit trade association to protect our interests, promote our sector and improve our market place.

Our market place has changed. No-one can dispute that. Information technology is being sold as commodity items with the thinnest possible margins. Direct competition is unwise if not impossible. More of us are recognising that our future businesses will be service based and as a result are transforming or being forced to change to survive and thrive. This will change our current relationships within the supply chain. As supplier price recedes in importance, the quality of service we receive will come to the fore. More personal computers in more homes will create a market for delivery of more services and solutions.

Reasons For Establishing An Association

During the last four years it has become very clear that introduced regulation, deteriorating terms of trading, and increasing threats resulting from both commoditisation of information technology and emerging new vendor sales channels, particularly e-tail, has seriously impacted the trading environment of the local independent computer retailers, service providers VARs and resellers. The many issues acutely affecting us have come to a peak but have been substantially ignored by any other trade association despite our views and pleas being known.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the IT product supply industry is at the forefront in the UK in squeezing both business cost and profit margin to the limit.  A survive and thrive strategy by the local independents of tagging support services onto product sales to both business and public has been adopted by other bigger players making it an increasingly congested environment.  Because our strength lies in delivering timely, quality service we cannot now presume that this business will always be there if we cannot maintain our competitive edge on service quality.  

Piracy and copyright theft is increasing, and knowingly so. It is understood that Microsoft, the main victims in our sector of such activity, has increased its UK estimates from percentages in the lower/middle twenties to above sixty percent. Internet auction services, multi-disk copiers and abuse of OEM software licence retailing, the latter primarily by distance and e-tail sellers, have increased the capacity for piracy and licence abuse. This has affected our sector’s trading environment more than others. There is a place for us, the local independents, to play a large part in promoting and persuading legal compliance. At present, the high incidence denies us significant selling opportunity and resulting profit. We must create a role for ourselves and deliver within initiatives to improve compliance.

Your Association shall encourage customer confidence by putting in place codes of practice and ethics with which all Members shall be obliged to comply. We shall introduce a membership skills and services database to facilitate easy access by potential customers to the right local member for the right services. We shall encourage and promote the growth and development of leading edge skills and capability through seeking cooperation with, and help from, the major players in this field. We shall play an active role in promoting public and business confidence in our Members services.

Your Association shall create an assurance scheme by which distributors, recognising service quality at street level is significantly dependent on equal service levels from within the supply chain, can be seen to the best and differentiate from the rest. Terms and conditions are the prime areas to be addressed with special interest in returns procedure, treatment of dead on arrival items, and avoidable marking of retail boxed items such as printers. We believe this is achievable through compromise. With our business models swinging towards service and repair and away from direct product sales, there is scope for a distributor’s pricing structure to take account of the increased risk and cost we would be asking it to accept. Our hard drive etc., supplied as an element within a service/repair has far greater value to the customer than that supplied separately or within a personal computer. Here, we have extensive scope to maintain competitive edge. In return, we are sure that, quality distributors will see the benefit of differentiating their advertising from others to attract more of our business. We shall also develop other strategies for improving our supply chain service levels.

Your Association shall develop relationships and effective processes with software copyright owners to reduce piracy and abuse for mutual benefit.

Your Association shall promote the view that purchase, installation and use of IT is not yet a commodity product.

Your Association shall play a significant role in moving our sector forward in skills development and the adoption of suitable diagnostic and other tools.

Your Association understands our sector must conduct business in a transparent and timely fashion whilst maintaining the highest degree of integrity. We shall introduce Codes of Conduct and Practice to promote and maintain the high standards of customer service and care essential within the local retailing environment.

EC regulations regarding electronic waste, hazardous materials and recycling is due to place heavy responsibility on the personal computer retailers. Our sector, in particular, with its much smaller individual company resources has great difficulty in assimilating the requirements and new responsibilities introduced. Your Association shall aim to work closely with other trade associations and Government to ensure greater understanding, improve preparedness for implementation and achieve ultimate compliance.

Your Association recognises that the local independent sector can play a significant part, albeit unrecognised, in supporting vendors to popularise new technologies and concepts.

Your Association shall promote the capability of our members to be uniquely positioned to deliver local popularisation of new products and digital concepts.

Your Association shall make available legally vetted service and product supply contracts and other documentation as demand dictates.

Your Association shall seek views of the membership to develop a viable business plan to ensure the major objectives are delivered. It is anticipated that this process shall carry through beyond the transitional phase and fully elected Officers shall finalise the long term plan.