Returns to the Gold Coast.
Nearly 300 of the country’s leading independent computer retail experts, national partners and platinum partners, Ingram Micro, Lenovo and Microsoft, gathered for the annual Leading Edge Computers conference and tradeshow held last week.
With the annual conference tradeshow alternating each year between the states of Victoria and Queensland, the four day event was held at Seaworld Resort this year.
Along with the two day tradeshow of which approximately 50 suppliers showcased the latest in technology, the conference presented an outstanding assortment of interactive panel sessions between the members and educational keynotes.
Leading Edge Group General Manager, Lee Scott
With 25 years of retail experience, Karen Lurati, was able to share her depth of knowledge in merchandise buying, retail and digital marketing. This was followed by a presentation from 2016 Store of the Year winners, Guy and Julie Porter from CompuPort, Ulladulla.
The Member’s panel provided an open discussion for members to reach out on how they have handled store upgrades, put in place succession planning and prepared a business for sale. The day was topped off with dinner at the SeaWorld Plaza, where attendees were able to also enjoy live entertainment, rides and games.
The next day saw a presentation from Finlease and HP on new products and services, solutions and technologies, and the opening of the national tradeshow. The final evening was the highly anticipated masquerade themed Gala Awards dinner held at Movie World’s “Star Pavilion”.
The night, hosted by emcee Keith Rowe, recognised the Leading Edge Computers members and their preferred vendors who had made outstanding achievements and contributions to its business during the past year. The criteria for judging was designed to acknowledge those individuals, stores and vendors which demonstrated a strong customer service focus, passion for the business and a commitment to the Leading Edge Computers Group.
Fifteen store recipients were also admitted into the Leading Edge Computers 2017 Million Dollar Club, and Awards were taken out by:
Leading Edge Computers Griffith (Leading Edge Computers Store of the Year) – Tegan and Aaron Le Page with Lee Scott:
Another Computer Store Launceston (Business of the Year) – Lee Scott with Geoff Daw, Toby Martin and Leesa Austin from Another Computer Store:
Dynamic Supplies (Leading Edge Computers Supplier of the Year) – Jarod Tump and Elysia Brabazon from Dynamic Supplies with Lee Scott:
Carmel D’Angelo from Leader Computers (Leading Edge Computers Account Manager of the Year):
- OKI (Leading Edge Computers Brand of the Year)
- Bill Brown from Leading Edge Computers Charters Towers (Local Hero of the Year)