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Ray Abusalim is ahead of his time in more
ways than one.
Not only did he foresee the laptop
boom years before anyone else, but he has also revolutionized
the way computers are sold through his
business, Laptop Depot.
Now, five years after Laptop Depot began, and
seven stores later, Ray is still bringing new ideas to
the industry.
“When people think of computer stores, they
think white walls and ‘techies,’ ” Ray says.
“But we’ve changed that image. We’ve added an
energy to this business — different colours, different
concepts and different people.”
Laptop Depot specializes in refurbished, discontinued
and leased-back laptop models, allowing
them to sell at prices affordable to everyone. Laptop
Depot has also introduced some of the latest and
greatest models from top manufacturers such as LG,
HP and Gateway.
“We take a look at the entire retail market and
strive to be ahead of what others are doing — I don’t
like following,” Ray says.
“We’re the industry leaders when it comes to carrying
top brand names at discount prices.”
He also brings in seasonal sales, much like the
big-chain stores, with month-end, back-to-school
and other seasonal sales, and last year, he introduced
the concept of Black Friday — the American
Thanksgiving mega-shopping day — to Canada,
with a huge pre-Christmas sale.
“Nobody else in Canada does this, and it makes a
lot of sense to have Boxing Day sales before Christmas,”
Ray says.
Confident the Canadian market would embrace
the American holiday, Ray took a risk and was
rewarded with huge lineups waiting to get into the
store the morning of the sale.
“It was better than our Boxing Day in the end,”
he says.
The long lineups were reminiscent of Laptop
Depot’s opening day in 2002, after Ray recognized
a void in the market for stores specializing in laptops.
“I knew that customers were looking for a place
that provided laptops at discount prices and on the
day we opened, we realized just how much of a need
there was,” he says.
“I showed up to work and there was a huge lineup
and all these people just stormed in. It was just me
and my brother.”
Fortunately, Ray had business skills and experience
in the computer industry to fall back on, and
he opened a new store three months later.
Today, Laptop Depot has seven stores, including
a new 10,000-sq.-ft. store in Edmonton — the larg-
RayAbusalim
LAPTOP DEPOT
est laptop discount store in Western Canada — and
plans to expand into at least four more locations
before the end of the year.
But for all the innovation and growth, Ray is adamant
that one thing remains the same.
“Customers come first,” he says. “When you
walk into the store, you’ll always be greeted. There’s
always someone there to help you, every single
time.
“Laptops are a big purchase and our staff is there
to help you make the right decision, not to haggle
you.”
Ray is also adamant about making it clear to customers
that computers can be affordable for everyone.
“We don’t want people to think you have to spend
$1,500 on a laptop anymore,” he says.
Innovative sales, personalized service and great
staff are all just part of a day’s work for Ray these
days.
“This is what makes Laptop Depot what Laptop
Depot is,” he says.
For more information, visit www.laptopdepot.ca