Company History
It All Started with a Phone Number
“A better way to buy information technology products.” That’s what Patricia Gallup and David Hall had in mind when they founded our company in 1982. Seeing a significant business opportunity in the emerging personal computer industry, the two entrepreneurs launched their direct computer supply business with the philosophy that providing technical advice and focusing on customer service was as important as low prices. Using their personal savings, they purchased $8,000 of inventory, placed a 1/9th-page ad in Byte Magazine, and took their first step on the road to unprecedented growth and innovation. As the magazine hit the newsstands, they waited two long days for the telephone to ring. On the third day, it started ringing. It hasn’t stopped since.
A Continuing Commitment to Service
Before the first phone call was answered, Gallup and Hall planned to create a business culture designed to provide exemplary service and build long-term customer relationships. This strategy has proved to be very successful and remains a key component of our mission. Since its inception, our company has been credited with many direct marketing service innovations, and has received many awards for customer service and dedication.Some of the programs our experts pioneered established industry standards while raising the expectations of today’s technology shoppers. Some of our innovations include:
- Toll-free technical support before, during, and after the sale
- Everything Overnight®: Most orders placed as late as 7:00 p.m. ET are delivered the next business day
- One-Minute Mail Order®: Incoming orders can be filled in under one minute through instant electronic access to customer records
- Custom configuration
Company Milestones
1982 |
| | Company founded as “PC Connection” |
1987 |
| | Named to the Inc. 500 |
1995 |
| | Best Mail Order Company by PC World Magazine—for the 5th time |
1998 |
| | Initial Public Offering on NASDAQ, under stock ticker PCCC |
1998 |
| | Opens new corporate headquarters in Merrimack, NH |
1999 |
| | Acquires ComTeq Federal, a Maryland-based IT provider serving federal government agencies since 1993. |
1999 |
| | Sales top $1 billion |
2000 |
| | Purchases a call center facility in Marlborough, MA |
2000 |
| | Earns #7 spot on Businessweek’s World’s Top 100 Technology Companies |
2001 |
| | Debut on Fortune 1000 |
2001 |
| | Receives Better Business Bureau of New Hampshire Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics |
2001 |
| | ComTeq Federal renamed GovConnection, Inc. |
2002 |
| | Appears on Washington Technology’s Big Dogs Top 100 Federal Prime Contractors for Information Technology Services |
2002 |
| | Acquires MoreDirect, a company that provides enterprise technology buyers with a comprehensive Web-based e-procurement solution |
2005 |
| | Purchases the business and selected assets of Amherst Technologies, Inc. a New Hampshire-based company |
2008 |
| | Forbes’ America’s Most Trustworthy Companies—Highest Ranking |
2008 |
| | Top Supply Chain Innovation and Retail Industry Awards; #8 Overall on InformationWeek 500 |
2011 |
| | Celebrates 10th consecutive year on the Fortune 1000 |
2011 |
| | Secures spot as one of InformationWeek’s 500 Top Innovators |
2011 |
| | Acquires ValCom Technology, an Illinois-based provider of technology services to medium-to-large corporate organizations |
2013 |
| | Launches Global Alliance with Bechtle AG, an IT provider based in Europe, to respond to increasing demands by international businesses for global integration |
2016 |
| | Acquires Softmart, a Microsoft Licensing Solution Provider (LSP) and global supplier of technology, tools, and service solutions with more than 34 years of expertise in helping customers simplify software purchasing |
2016 |
| | Announces corporate rebranding, new “Connection” brand unites all subsidiaries (PC Connection, GovConnection, MoreDirect, and Softmart) under one clear, concise, and powerful brand name, and NASDAQ stock ticker changes from PCCC to CNXN |
2016 |
| | Acquires GlobalServe, a global IT procurement and service management company that offers multinational customers access to a network of 500 partners and 25,000 IT professionals across 174 countries |
2017 |
| | Completes upgrade of 42,000 square-foot Technology Integration and Distribution Center (TIDC) in Wilmington, OH. Renovated facility with ISO 9001:2015 certified configuration lab delivers world-class technology integration services. |
2019 |
| | Unveils new Industry Solutions Group focused on solving the unique technology and business challenges of customers within healthcare, retail, finance, and manufacturing industries. |
2022 |
| | Celebrates 40th anniversary of company founding |
2023 |
| | Listed as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies in America 2022 and 2023 |
Growing and Expanding
In recent years, we have grown into a Fortune 1000 company, with annual revenues of $3.1 billion. Today, our more than 2,600 employees work in two offices in New Hampshire, as well as sites in Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and in our full service, ISO 9001:2015-certified technical configuration lab and distribution center in Wilmington, OH.Offering nationwide service coverage, access to more than 460,000 products, and in-house teams of certified technical experts, project managers, and engineers, Connection continues to expand our capabilities to meet evolving customer needs.
From virtualization and cloud computing to mobility and security solutions, we push the boundaries of information technology to provide the performance, value, and efficiency customers need to achieve better business outcomes.
The Future
Ever-changing technology will continue to shape the way we work, communicate, and manage our lives. As the industry continues to march forward, Connection will continue to connect people with technology that enhances growth, elevates productivity, and empowers innovation.We put the customer at the forefront of every decision we make. Our team of technology experts, Account Managers, and customer service specialists strives to ensure our customer commitment is backed by the best service in the industry, before and after the sale.
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