|
What: Quidnunc
Who: Bill Hibler, founder and self-described instigator.
What it does: Quidnunc, in West Seattle, is what's known
as a "clone shop," a retailer that builds computers and sells them under
the Quidnunc brand name. While that name doesn't have the
familiarity of Dell, Hewlett-Packard or Compaq, more than half of PCs sold
worldwide in 2001, according to a recent IDC report, were so-called "white
boxes" – those made by little known vendors like Quidnunc.
What else: In addition, Quidnunc does computer repairs,
is an Internet service provider for 500 customers and offers services such
as network setup, specifically for businesses.
In the beginning: Hibler started the business in 1994 using
savings and a small-business loan. He and his wife remain the sole
investors.
Employees: Five full-time, five part-time plus Hibler.
Why shop there: "Years ago someone came in the store and asked
me why he should buy X from me instead of down the street," said Hibler.
Just then, a Quidnunc customer came in to give Hibler a freshly
baked loaf of banana bread, still hot from the oven. Hibler had recently
repaired her computer and she said he saved her life. "I looked at the
person who asked the question and I said, 'That's why.' "
The point: Business – and banana bread – comes from providing a
more personal touch than the computer megastores.
Roots: Quidnunc started out as software retailer. "It
wasn't too long before people started to bring in their computers, and I'd
configure them for them," he said. In many cases, the hard drives were
originally configured wrong. Customers asked Hibler if he would sell them
hard drives. "I kept telling people I didn't sell hard drives and I never
would. That lasted about a year." Today only about 20 percent of
Quidnunc's sales come from software; the rest is hardware and repairs.
Sales: Hibler
expects to book sales of over $1 million this year, a 10 percent increase
over last year.
Economic downturn: In December, even as companies bemoaned the
sinking economy, Quidnunc saw a 6 percent sales gain over the
previous year. The retailer had some "so-so" months in the beginning of
this year, but sales have picked up significantly since the store moved in
early summer to a new West Seattle location. June and July – typically
part of the slowest period of the year – have been some of the best sales
months yet, Hibler said.
Quidnunc: Hibler chose the name after his wife found it
in the thesaurus as a word that describes a curious person.
– Nancy Gohring
Copyright © 2002 The Seattle Times Company
|
