CG Computers on growth trail

GEORGE TOWN: Apple's premium and longest-selling reseller in Malaysia CG Computers Sdn Bhd, appears unfazed with news that Apple Inc's chief execu-tive officer Steve Jobs is stepping down.

Instead, the Penang-based company, which has been serving the Macintosh market since 1995, is looking at further growth with a potential to go for an initial public offering.

"We are doing four times the volume of what we used to do on a year-on-year basis as the demand for Apple products remains high and we expect it to get higher over the year-end holiday season," CG Computers' director Li Chau Ging told Business Times.

Apart from doubling the number of the company's "Switch" outlets from its current 8 to 16 over the next two years, a plan to list CG Computers in two years is also on the cards.

Li did not elaborate on the listing plans except to say that an IPO is one option to fund the company's growth.

He also said the new stores will potentially be in Kedah, Selangor and Sarawak.

"We are looking to open outlets in Perak, Kelantan, Johor and Sabah, while expanding our presence in places like Penang, the Klang Valley and Sarawak, where it currently owns Switch outlets for Apple and third-party products.

"The information technology scene," Li said, "has changed tremendously, while the iPad has been our star product in recent times, we expect to see increased demand for our Macs and MacBook Air."

In describing the phenomenal growth expe-rienced by CG Computers, Li said:

"We grew two-fold on the last financial closing. We are in the first quarter of our 2012 fiscal year and with the current momentum, we are looking at 120 per cent growth year-on-year.

"Previously, the iPod and Macs used to be our main products but with the entry of the iPad, Apple is now on a new horizon altogether and we are now looking at figures that we never thought possible just three months ago."

On why the the demand for Apple products was high, Li attributed it to the "whole user experience".

"When you get an iPad, you get a good selection of accessories, you get the applications store to expand your userbility of the iPad.

"And the cult status achieved for Apple products in Malaysia in recent times, is due to high customer lo-yalty.

"This cult status is probably close to none and Apple is now viewed as the 'Harley Davidson' of the IT arena," he added, saying that while it was only designers who were seen with Apple products before, lawyers and doctors are also now firm fans.

"The corporate sector," Li said, "used to be a real tough one for us to crack, but since more chief execu-tive officers have come to appreciate and enjoy our products, especially the productivity they yield and longevity of the item, we are finding more doors opening for us."