A&A Computers | The Company | Reviews

	Review 2009 - Headquarters. By the Managing Director.
	In the end of 2008 we saw the economic crisis coming. We hoped we could at least keep all of our staff employed, and maintain the level of income. Our defense to the looming crisis was an expansion of our product range, opening a new branch, and improved pricing. We did not have to lay off staff, we added two employees! We grew with 16%, even after we were able to lower our prices by 5 to 10%. Our prices for many items are now the lowest in Arusha and Moshi. Although our office furniture did not sell as fast as we had expected, increasingly our IT clients add some chairs, computer tables, or desks to their purchases. Stationery sales also seem to take time to pick up, but I trust that our concept of a one-stop-shop for office equipment and supplies will be firmly established after another year or two.	Growth
	Our 'West' branch is not well located. TFA management has been insensitive to our wishes and needs, so we will move it further west: to Mwanza. In February 2010 we will open the A&A Mwanza Branch, we are now getting staff trained and prepared, and planning is in full swing.	Mwanza
	This year we have spent a lot of effort on advertising. We started with bumper stickers. We had an exhibition in Moshi; we gave away A&A Cups and t-shirts. We advertised in Arusha Times twice. We then had paper shopping bags with our logo made. A very professional desk calendar for 2010 was designed and produced. We finally placed an order for A&A wheel covers. Soon we will have our product brochures produced by the printers as well: they will look more professional and we will save a lot on printing costs. Our website got a more professional menu system, and we added a 'staff only' section with company forms, reports, and other resources. We have improved the looks of our Arusha and Moshi shops, and the reception of our technical department in Arusha. Cleanliness in the workshops is better, but there is still room for improvement! Remember that style and cleanliness impresses our customers, and gives them confidence that our services and products are also clean!	Advertizing
	There has been an increase of attempted scams, especially from Uganda. If our previous bank would have been more professional, the scam originating in Manyara would have been avoided. We still expect to get our money returned by that bank. We moved our accounts to the FBME bank, who are very professional and deliver personalized services. Our Moshi branch now transfers money via the NMB bank, in the meantime we got used to their peculiar way of doing business. We looked at several tender invitations, but decided not to bid, because in order to win those tenders we would almost for certain contravene our company core values of transparency and ethical business practices.	Banks, tenders
	We improved two of our management systems: A seasoned QuickBooks consultant investigated all of our financial systems, and implemented the necessary improvements. Our external auditor actually congratulated us for the first time for the well presented 2008 accounts. Our Inventory control system has undergone major changes. We now use bar codes on all of our products, and instead of our monthly stocktaking sessions at Headquarters, we do spot-checks with a portable bar code scanner. Next year we will use the same system in our branches. We stopped doing staff reviews, as this was a very hectic year. However, in 2010 we should make sure to re-institute these important discussions between management and staff.	Management systems
	Especially Peter but also Shirima increasingly taught customers on our Accounts software: QuickBooks and the payroll software. After a slump, QuickBooks sales started picking up again in quarter 3 and after a long time we even placed an order for more software. Listening to our customers, the payroll software is continuously being improved, and almost all users are thrilled with the time saving that it brings.	Accounts software
	In 2010 we plan to: Become resellers for a US made POS software package that interfaces with QuickBooks. Finally start selling Macintosh desktop and notebook computers, and Mac software. Add solar panels and controllers to our product range.	2010 plans
	I thank our team for its hard work they put in this year. Through its employees, A&A Computers gathers strength and has pleased almost all of our customers with our quality work and excellent communications. Alex Righolt - Managing Director. Momela Lodge, 21 November 2009	Strength
	Review 2009 - Moshi Branch. By the Moshi Branch Administrator
	Thank you very much Managing Director for giving me the opportunity to introduce my opinion during the A&A end of year function of 2009. A&A Computers Managing Director and my fellow A&A team members, good afternoon. It's pleasure to speak with you this afternoon and I love you all. On behalf of the staff members of the A&A Computers Moshi Branch, I would like to thank the management and our fellow staff members of Headquarters for the good cooperation, and assistance they have given us, since the Moshi Branch opened in 2005. Thank you very much!!	Thanks
	Dear A&A team, four years back we already understood where we needed to improve. This year we organized a successful exhibition in Moshi. For the first time we received more clients than expected. This was because we used a new style of advertising: we distributed exhibitions flyers all over Moshi Town just one day before the exhibition. And not one month or a week before, because then people might have been forgotten about the exhibition. In addition to that, our A&A website and newsletters also improved our sales turn over.	Advertizing
	The Moshi Branch has had problems with technicians' discipline, causing the technical department to generate very little income. After we replaced one technician with Godlisten Minja, the workshop has improved a lot. The number of repair clients has increased, and so has the workshop income.	Technicians
	The core of success within our Moshi Branch is a good cooperation. We strive to communicate well, externally and internally. Whenever we don't understand something, without shame, we ask: why, how, where - until we do understand! We accept our mistakes and use them to learn. My fellow A&A team members, I have a lot to tell you about Moshi, but the time is not allowing me to do so. My special thanks to you for listening to my few points. THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Happy Mbuya - Moshi Branch Administrator Momela Lodge, 21 November 2009.	Cooperation