CRN launches Top VARs

At CRN we are often asked if we can share our data on the UK's biggest and best resellers. Until now, we have had to respond with a weary "Sorry, we can't help you".

But it got us thinking that there is a lack of comprehensive data about the UK's top channel firms: who they are, what they do and how fast they're growing (or not, as the case may be).

And so it is with great pleasure that we launch Top VARs, a rundown of the 100 biggest VARs in the UK, to be published in two weeks' time.

The results, and the key trends that emerged during the research, make for interesting reading, and we believe no-one has ever ranked and rated the UK channel in such detail. We hope you enjoy reading the results as much as we did and, as always, do get in touch to share any thoughts, questions or problems you have with our work.

Compiling the rundown threw up a number of dilemmas, not least the question of ‘what is a VAR?'. Clearly, the days of tin-shifting are behind us and there are several examples of channel players who now generate most, if not all, of their sales from services. Indeed, most of our readership probably baulk at even being termed a ‘reseller'.

Which is good news for everyone's margins, but arguably bad news for us: ITMSPN doesn't have quite the same ring to it.

Whatever you choose to call yourself, if you've made our top 100, you should be immensely proud. Our research confirms that it's been a tough year or two for everyone, but, time and again, we found resellers showing impressive resilience, with many actively growing their top and bottom lines.

Long live the VAR.