Friday, July 14, 2006
Wichita Business Journal – by Ken Vandruff

Vacated deli space creates expansion opportunity for Ribbit Computers LLC

Alex Harb says he’s happy to be able to live his dream. He’s adding a second location to Ribbit Computers LLC, 15 months after creating his custom-built computer company. The new location fills 5,500 square feet that was vacated by Cinnamon’s Deli in the strip center on the northeast corner of Maple and West Street. Ribbit’s east location, at 843 S. Woodlawn, opened last fall.

“We had a lot of westside clientele that said that a westside store would be a lot more convenient for them,” Harb says.

Harb expects the new store will add $2 million to Ribbit’s $1.7 million annual sales.
New wholesale operation

The former Engenio test engineer created Ribbit because he enjoyed working with customers and to offer custom-built home and business computer systems.

Harb financed the $275,000 in expansion costs through a loan from Southwest National Bank. He used credit cards when starting the company that was incorporated in November 2004.

“Summertime is pretty much the worst time for the computer business, but we’ve been doing very well,” he says. “I know for sure this place will do very well.”

He’s counting on back-to-school sales to help establish the new store.

In addition to the second retail location, Harb created a wholesale operation with a goal of expanding his list of business clients that includes Scholfield Automobile Dealerships, Mike Steven Auto Group and Cessna Aircraft Co.

“Both of their locations are really convenient to where we do business at,” says Steve Brown, senior systems administrator for Schofield. “Furthermore, we’re a retail operation and their hours closely match ours. If I have a piece of equipment go down at 7 p.m., I can run in there a lot later than anybody else.”
More expansion

David Williamson, owner of Powergistic Systems Inc., says he doesn’t think Ribbit’s new location will have much of an impact on his business. He sees Ribbit as a retail operation, while Powergistic concentrates on wholesale clients.

“It’s business,” Williamson says. “Everybody has an opportunity to be in business and I wish him well.”

Harb will hire 15 new employees to fill staffing needs for both stores by the end of the year. His long-term plans include at least two more retail locations. He’s targeting one location near 21st Street North and Maize Road, the other somewhere along the north Rock Road corridor.