VCW unwires for growth

Distributor claims new wireless arm has brought in £700,000 sales in last month alone

VCW's new wireless division is on course to generate £5m in revenue in its first year, according to chairman Mike Harris.

The distributor launched the unit, which focuses on vendor Xirrus, last May and recently hired a divisional head, Dan McCarthy, to strengthen its activities in this area.

Harris said the distributor would continue to diversify from its roots in the security arena, where it now works with vendors including Cyberoam and NetPilot following its split with Fortinet.

"The strategy is for VCW to be the umbrella and to have specialist divisions within that," he said. "We do all the old-fashioned things like holding stock but by having divisions we have absolute focus on the technologies we bring to market."

Harris said the wireless unit hit sales of £700,000 in the last month alone.

"I imagine it is on track for £5m this year [to May 2011]," he said. "Xirrus is beating the likes of Cisco, Aerohive and Aruba in many of the public sector tenders where there is a need for high-density wireless connectivity."

Harris said another division offering third-party support services, such as swap-out and enhanced warranty, is set to launch towards the end of 2011.

VCW snapped up broadband provider Talkativo a year ago and channel entrepreneur Harris said the self-funded firm is considering further acquisitions.

"We are looking at a number of companies that would add to our portfolio," he said.