The largest ComputerLand franchisee in Europe, Manchester-based ComputerGroup Plc has decided that it is now big enough to stand on its own two feet in the UK and intends to make its company name better known by dropping that of ComputerLand. ComputerGroup, which was acquired by the well-known Canadian systems integrator SHL Systemhouse Ltd in 1989, has opted to become a ComputerLand associate instead of a franchisee. ComputerGroup’s managing director Mike McGoun says that the relationship between his company and ComputerLand is amicable adding that the two companies will work together on international deals and that ComputerGroup will continue to purchase products from ComputerLand as before and will work with other ComputerLand franchisees where necessary. ComputerGroup contributes approximately 15% of ComputerLand’s revenues in Europe and this revenue stream will be impacted by the former’s move to associate status, since it will no longer have to pay royalties to use the ComputerLand name. McGoun hopes that raising his company’s profile under the ComputerGroup name will enable it to forge a clearer identity as a high value-added computer services company as it moves away from its beginnings as a computer retailer.
