Where the company started:
Other World Computing (OWC) opened its doors in 1988 in Larry O’Connor’s home in the town of Marengo, Ill., approximately 65 miles northwest of Chicago. Then 14, the young entrepreneur began providing a printer ribbon re-inking service to several small businesses in the area. Moving into its own office space in nearby Woodstock, Ill. in 1990, the business later expanded to offer a variety of hardware and services to a small, but growing community of Apple computer users. Since its early days, OWC has grown into a multi-million dollar enterprise providing Macintosh products, services and support to hundreds of thousands of loyal customers around the world.
Where the company is today:
Other World Computing has remained loyal to its roots in Woodstock since its early days in O’Connor’s home up to its present location, where the company handles warehousing and order processing for several thousand unique products. Those products include OWC’s own line of hardware products sold under the MercuryTM and Neptune‘ brands. The company currently employs more than 50 full-time people, and to this day, O’Connor remains the company’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.
What the company offers:
OWC currently operates a popular online e-commerce store specializing in Macintosh upgrade and expansion products, provides nationwide dial-up and DSL Internet services and has also developed a complete line of Macintosh hardware products.
- MacSales.com: MacSales.com is OWC’s flagship Web site and one of the leading Macintosh e-tailers on the Web, featuring thousands of computer upgrade and expansion products for the Macintosh user. OWC also owns and operates MemoryHQ.com and FasterMacs.com, which are stores within MacSales.com specializing in the sale of memory for all makes and models of computers, as well as acceleration products, respectively. MacSales.com also features an online tech center, where users can find online documentation and support for a variety of Apple and OEM products.
- Mercury Brand: In addition to selling and supporting products from various hardware manufacturers, OWC assembles and sells its own line of hardware products under the Mercury brand. The products include accelerators, hard drives, CD/CD-R/CD-RW and DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW drives, memory, FireWire accessories, storage device enclosures and leather accessories, among others. Other World Computing is an Apple Certified Developer and was recently added to Apple’s Hot Deals program.
- Neptune Brand: Under its Neptune brand, OWC offers FireWire storage solutions featuring top-quality components and performance at “value done right.” The current line consists of drives available in 60- to 250GB capacities.
- XPostFacto: In partnership with Ryan Rempel, OWC released XPostFacto, a free application designed to allow pre-G3 Macintosh computers the ability to install and boot Macintosh’s latest operating system, Mac OS X, a capability not available from Apple Computer. The company provides complete details and support information for the XPostFacto at its OS X Center on MacSales.com.
- OWC.Net: OWC has offered dialup Internet services since 1997. OWC.Net, a division of OWC, offers a complete line of Internet services, including unlimited local v.92 dial-up Internet access, DSL services, e-commerce solutions, Web site design and hosting, and graphic design.
- FasterMac.Net: Debuted in March 2003, FasterMac.Net was created as a Macintosh-only Internet service that provides nationwide 56K dialup access. Noted for its easy setup and reliable service in addition to extremely affordable prices, FasterMac.Net makes it simple for Macintosh owners to finally get the tailored service and support they need.
Other World Computing Customers:
With its focus on Macintosh products and services, the company supports loyal brand users and receives purchase requests and support queries from across various industries and from around the world. Following is a breakdown of OWC’s target markets:
- 40% government and education,
- 30% Macintosh consultants,
- 20% end users, and
- 10% resellers.
Headquarters:
1004 Courtaulds Dr.,
Woodstock, IL 60098
800-275-4576
Management:
- Lawrence O’Connor, president and CEO
- Jennifer Soule, sales manager
- Jim Hamilton, OWC.NET/network operations
- Shannon Mosley, inventory manager
- Barbara Witek, accounting manager
- Robert Boldt, warehouse manager
- Jamie Dresser, product support manager
- Benjamin Priest, customer service manager
Media Contacts:
Larry O’Connor, Other World Computing, 815-338-8685, larry@macsales.com
Curtis Gasser, Politis Communications, 801-523-3730, cgasser@politis.com
David Politis, Politis Communications, 801-523-3730 (work), 801-556-8184 (cell), dpolitis@politis.com
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