D&H Distributing posts 21 percent revenue jump

The 100-year-old Harrisburg-based consumer electronics and IT wholesaler says it grew in 2018 by about 21 percent, with annual revenue of nearly $4 billion.

D&H said sales growth this year was driven largely by sales of professional audio and visual equipment, digital signage products, network security solutions and cloud applications.

Mobile workstations and premium computer notebook products also remained steady categories in 2018.

Moving forward, D&H said it sees opportunities for growth in cloud-based collaboration solutions, videoconferencing products and other communication solutions for small businesses. Cybersecurity is another top focus area.

“We typically invest in these categories long before competing technology distributors are willing to devote their focus to new trends,” said Michael Schwab, co-president. “It’s our job to test the waters in areas like augmented reality products, device-as-a-service, collaboration solutions, the connected office and the evolving world of cybersecurity.”

Device-as-a-service programs, for example, allow customers to pay a monthly fee for fully outfitted computers and other hardware, offering more financial flexibility to companies with fluctuating staff levels. THey may not need devices for long periods.

The programs also appeal to small businesses that may need the latest equipment but can’t always afford the upfront cost of buying and replacing hardware.

D&H this year started a team to help train tech provider partners as they sell more advanced services to businesses.

D&H also is leading sponsorship efforts for Harrisburg University of Science and Technology’s esports team, which got started this fall.

Gaming-device sales have been a growth area for D&H, especially as online gaming has taken off in recent years and more gamers look to buy high-end computer monitors and video cards.