WESTech becomes the 100% owner of ProGamingShop.sk and MP3.sk
WESTech, one of the largest Slovak IT products distributors, completed the acquisition of ARAŠID at the end of 2019 to became the sole owner of the ProGamingShop.sk and MP3.sk e-shops and retail network.
Following investment by WESTEech, a member of ELKO Group, ARAŠID, an e-shop operator specialising in the sale of games, game consoles and gaming accessories under the ProGamingShop.sk brand and a leading retailer of mobile phones and accessories under the Mp3.sk brand, significantly improved its market position.
“Following WESTech’s investment in our company in June 2018, we decided to make the most of our combined potential. Together we have expanded our retail network by three more stores in Trnava, Banská Bystrica and Košice to a current total of 18 stores,” said Miroslav Lakatoš, Sales Director, ARAŠID..
The company’s sales in the highly competitive and challenging consumer electronics and IT market grew by 10% year-on-year. The product portfolio has also expanded to include new products from leading brands such as Lenovo, Asus, JBL and Logitech, and the Apple product portfolio.
In 2019, on average, one in seven households in Slovakia bought a game through ProGamingShop.sk, and the MP3.sk network sold more than 30,000 mobile phones.
Matej Sršeň, CEO of WESTech, , stressed that the acquisition of full capital control over ARAŠID at the end of 2019 represents future opportunities for the company to engage in its development activities. “Our ambition is to expand into foreign markets and also strengthen our position where we currently operate,” Sršeň emphasised. He added that the move will allow the company to expand its Slovak retail network with additional stores and create a flagship ARAŠID store in Bratislava. “Consolidating the product portfolio, maximizing the synergies between two companies operating in very similar market segments, and acquiring an additional and strong B2C sales channel for products and services will strengthen our position and increase our revenues,” Sršeň says.
About Arašid s.r.o.
More than 150,000 games for various platforms were sold through ProGamingShop.sk in 2019, which means that on average one in seven households in Slovakia bought a game through them.The company also saw tremendous success in the mobile technology segment in 2019: MP3.sk sold more than 30,000 mobile phones. Both e-shops have been highly rated in terms of popularity and quality in Slovakia, including through the OBCHOD roka (Store of the Year) competition organized by the online shopping centre Heureka.sk.
About WESTech, spol. s r. o.
WESTech is one of the largest distributors of IT products from the world’s most prestigious brands including Apple, Intel, Asus, AMD, Xiaomi, Ubiquiti, Gigabyte, JBL, WD, Mikrotik, Huawei, Seagate and others in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It represents 130 information technology manufacturers and vendors, and provides a wide range of products and services to more than 2000 customers. WESTech achieved a turnover of EUR 235 million in 2019 and currently employs more than 120 people. WESTech is part of ELKO Group.
About ELKO Group
ELKO Group is one of the largest distributors of IT and consumer electronics products and solutions in the region and represents 400 IT manufacturers. The company provides a wide range of products and services to more than 10,000 retailers, local computer builders, system integrators and enterprises in various industries in more than 30 countries across Europe and Central Asia. Group turnover in 2018 amounted to USD 1768 million (EUR 1497 million).