Can Morningstar rise again?

The once formidable distributor Morningstar is planning a comeback in April this year.

Since an impressive launch of its new building over two years ago, the company has lost key staff and distribution contracts. At the end of 2009 it lost long-term staff member Victor Ho to NZ Computer Sales. Ho was a well-known personality in the IT channel and had been with the company for some years in a management capacity. Further to this, with JC Matthews (well known for its photo frames) recently discontinuing it's distribution arrangement the company will be losing its key retail brand from March.

Local channel partners put the company’s diminishing presence down to the launch of Synnex and tough competition from a re-invigorated Ingram Micro.

It is understood that Altus Swanepoel is now the company’s sole remaining employee in its retail division. In April of this year, a re-launch of the company’s retail offering is planned, with a range of new vendor brands. This re-launch is part of a six-month turnaround plan for the retail division, which is aiming to become New Zealand’s first green IT-focused IT distribution business.

The company’s current product range includes Proview (LED monitors), Qnap (storage products for SME & Home), ASUS  (laptops) and Patriot (memory).