PC king

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 46

PC king

Computer Land Corporation is the world’s largest retailer of personal computers. It was founded in 1976, near Silicon Valley in California. For the first seven years it doubled its size and sales each year. Mr William Milliard was one of the pioneers of microcomputers in the early 19705. He founded the IMSAI Manufacturing Company, and its IMSAI 8080 microcomputer, introduced in December, 1975, sold in kitset form. By 1977, when IMSAI introduced the first fully integrated microcomputer system, the company had more than 200 dealer sites, and 97 per cent of its sales were made through dealer centres or system houses. The Computer Land Corporation was founded in September, 1976, with a centre at Hayward, California. Two months later the first franchise centre was opened The emphasis has long since moved from retailing to the business sec-

tor. Now the Computer Land network is firmly positioned at servicing business. Computer Land has wholly owned subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, and Europe. New Zealand comes within the orbit of ComputerLand Australia, Ltd. This company, with its headquarters in Sydney, has responsibility for the Computer Land network in much of the Pacific and Asia. There are Computer Land centres in Singapore, New Caledonia, Hong Kong, and one is being opened in Bangkok. In Australia there are 30 centres. Karen Millington, products marketing manager of Computer Land Australia, is in Christchurch for the opening of the Oxford Terrace centre. Computer Land franchisees own the business centres. Computer Land provides pre-opening support with site selection, centre design, and comprehensive training. S