Granville Technology Group

Granville Technology Group Ltd was a British computer manufacturing and retail group based in Simonstone, near Burnley, Lancashire. Founded in 1994 by Tahir Mohsan under the name Time Group, it developed into one of the United Kingdom's largest personal-computer businesses during the expansion of mail-order and consumer PC retailing. The group manufactured and sold desktop computers, notebooks, flat-screen televisions and related consumer electronics, using a portfolio of brands that included Time, Tiny, Colossus, Omega and MJN. The company initially relied heavily on mail-order sales, a model that allowed it to reach consumers across the United Kingdom while keeping its products positioned for the mass market. Its manufacturing operations were concentrated at Time Technology Park in Simonstone. The corporate structure included several operating companies, notably VMT, GTG and OMT, which performed manufacturing and administrative or office functions within the wider Granville Technology Group structure. The separation of manufacturing, retail and brand ownership later made the group difficult for administrators to analyse. Time Computers was the group's principal manufacturing and consumer-facing computer operation. Its range included desktop systems, notebooks and flat-screen televisions, and its products were sold through direct channels, retailers and Granville's own stores. During the 1990s, the wider Time business reported turnover of approximately £750 million and established sales activity in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Far East. Granville also expanded beyond mail order by creating The Computer Shop, a chain of physical stores that grew rapidly to more than 300 locations. Its principal competitors included PC World, Comet and Maplin. The group experimented with aggressive consumer-finance and bundled-service promotions. In 1999, Time marketed a Windows 98 personal computer as a “free PC” with no upfront payment, subject to a 24-month subscription to Time's internet-service offering. The promotion reflected the period's effort to accelerate household computer adoption and connect hardware sales with recurring internet-service revenue. Time also invested heavily in mass-market advertising; one notable television campaign featured Leonard Nimoy reprising his Mr. Spock character. In August 2000, the advertising account moved to HHCL & Partners, ending the Nimoy-led advertising approach. Granville Technology Group's performance weakened as demand for personal computers fell. For the year ending June 2003, the group reported profit before tax of £2.5 million on turnover of £207 million, according to the cited historical account. By July 2005, the business employed about 1,600 people but entered receivership on 27 July. The related Time operation also went into administration on the same date. Administrators Grant Thornton reportedly encountered difficulty determining ownership of the Time and Tiny brands because of the group's complex and opaque corporate arrangements. In March 2006, the Time brand was rebranded as Time UK. Granville Technology Group itself is therefore treated as defunct, while some associated brand names continued in altered form after the group's collapse.

Granville Technology Group originated as Time Group, established in 1994 by Tahir Mohsan. From its base in Simonstone, Lancashire, the business built a vertically organised personal-computer operation that combined manufacturing, direct sales and retail distribution. Its manufacturing facilities were located at Time Technology Park, an industrial site named after the group's Time brand. The business produced computers under the Time and Tiny names and later marketed additional brands including Colossus, Omega and MJN. Its principal products were desktop computers and notebooks, although the range expanded to include flat-screen televisions and other consumer electronics. Time Computers served as the main manufacturing and supply operation for the wider group. Granville also sold through retailers and mail order, taking advantage of the growing demand for affordable home computers in the United Kingdom. During the 1990s, the Time business became one of Britain's largest computer manufacturers. Historical material associated with the company describes turnover of about £750 million during that decade and sales activity in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Far East. The group later created The Computer Shop, a chain of physical stores intended to complement its established mail-order business. The chain expanded rapidly and eventually exceeded 300 stores, placing Granville in direct competition with PC World, Comet and Maplin. Granville used bundled promotions to make computers more accessible to consumers. In 1999, Time offered a Windows 98 computer without an upfront payment to customers who committed to a 24-month Time internet-service subscription. Its advertising also sought broad popular recognition. Television commercials featured Leonard Nimoy appearing in his Mr. Spock role from Star Trek. The advertising account was transferred to HHCL & Partners in August 2000, ending that particular campaign style. The group's internal structure became increasingly complicated. Granville Technology Group included VMT, GTG and OMT, which operated from the same general location and covered manufacturing and office functions. The ownership and control of individual brands, especially Time and Tiny, were reportedly difficult for administrators to trace because of the group's convoluted corporate arrangements. The separation of manufacturing, retail and brand entities also meant that the names used by consumers did not always correspond neatly to a single legal company. For the financial year ending in June 2003, the group was reported to have generated £207 million in turnover and £2.5 million in profit before tax. As demand for personal computers weakened, however, the company came under pressure. Granville Technology Group entered receivership on 27 July 2005, when it had approximately 1,600 employees and remained one of the United Kingdom's significant computer retailers. Time UK, the associated manufacturing and supply operation, entered administration on the same date. The Time brand was subsequently rebranded as Time UK in March 2006. Granville Technology Group is now defunct, although some associated brand identities survived beyond the group's insolvency.

• 2006

  Time is rebranded as Time UK

  [1]Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The associated Time brand is rebranded as Time UK after the group's administration.

• 2005

  Granville Technology Group enters receivership

  [1]Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group enters receivership on 27 July amid falling demand for personal computers.

• 2003

  Group reports £207 million turnover

  [1]Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org

  For the year ending June 2003, the group is reported to have made £2.5 million in profit before tax on turnover of £207 million.

• 2000

  Time changes advertising agency

  [1]Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Time UK gives its advertising account to HHCL & Partners, ending commercials featuring Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock.

• 1999

  Time launches a bundled free-PC promotion

  [1]Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Time offers a Windows 98 computer with no upfront payment when customers sign a 24-month internet-service agreement.

• 1994

  Time Group is founded

  [1]Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Tahir Mohsan establishes the business that later becomes Granville Technology Group.

Mass-market personal-computer manufacturing and retail, combining mail-order distribution, branded consumer systems and a rapidly expanding physical-store network.

• Desktop and notebook computers

  Time Computers

  Time Computers was the group's principal consumer computer brand and manufacturing operation. It sold desktop systems and notebooks through mail order, retailers and the group's own stores. The brand also appeared in bundled offers that linked computer purchases with Time internet-service subscriptions. Its manufacturing base was located at Time Technology Park in Simonstone, Lancashire.

• Personal computers

  Tiny Computers

  Tiny was one of the principal computer brands associated with Granville Technology Group. It formed part of the group's portfolio of mass-market personal-computer names, although administrators later reportedly found the ownership relationships surrounding the Time and Tiny brands difficult to establish because of the group's complex corporate structure.

• Computer retail stores

  The Computer Shop

  The Computer Shop was Granville Technology Group's chain of physical retail outlets. It was created to supplement the group's established mail-order business and expanded rapidly to more than 300 stores in the United Kingdom. The chain sold computers and related consumer electronics in competition with PC World, Comet and Maplin.

• Consumer electronics

  Time flat-screen televisions

  Flat-screen televisions were among the consumer-electronics products sold under the Time operation alongside desktop computers and notebooks. They reflected the group's attempt to extend its consumer technology range beyond personal computers.

• 1999Free PC with internet subscription

  United Kingdom

  Time marketed a Windows 98 personal computer with no upfront payment, provided that customers enrolled in the company's internet service for 24 months.

  Outcome. The promotion linked hardware acquisition to a long-term internet-service commitment; the available reference does not provide campaign-specific sales results.

  Source
• 1990Time television advertising featuring Leonard Nimoy

  United Kingdom

  Time's television advertising used Leonard Nimoy reprising his Mr. Spock character from Star Trek to give the computer brand a distinctive popular-culture identity.

  Outcome. The approach ended when Time transferred its advertising account to HHCL & Partners in August 2000.

  Source

• 2005

  Enter receivershipOther

  Background

  The group faced falling demand for personal computers and deteriorating business conditions.

  Action taken

  Granville Technology Group entered receivership on 27 July 2005; the associated Time operation entered administration on the same date.

  Aftermath

  The group ceased operating as an active business, while the Time brand was later rebranded as Time UK.

  Turnover. £207 million (Year ending June 2003)

  Source

• 2000

  Change advertising agencyStrategy

  Background

  Time reviewed its advertising representation after using campaigns featuring Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock.

  Action taken

  The company transferred its advertising account to HHCL & Partners in August 2000.

  Aftermath

  The change ended the Nimoy-led advertising series.

  Source

• 1999

  Bundle personal computers with internet serviceStrategy

  Background

  The company sought to reduce the immediate cost barrier to home-computer adoption while creating a recurring internet-service relationship.

  Action taken

  Time offered a Windows 98 PC without an upfront payment in exchange for a 24-month internet-service commitment.

  Aftermath

  The reference identifies the offer but does not report campaign-specific financial or customer results.

  Source

1. 1Granville Technology Groupen.wikipedia.org