In a recent episode of the What’s Happenin’ podcast, Andy Slawetsky spoke with Gary Johnson, the leader behind WiZiX, a rapidly growing office equipment reseller in California. Here are the key highlights from their conversation:

• Company Background and Formation: WiZiX was founded by Gary Johnson after his successful exit from Zoom Imaging Solutions, which was sold to Xerox. Initially planning to retire, Johnson was pulled back into the industry and quickly began expanding WiZiX through acquisitions, growing the company to eight locations in California with a ninth on the way.
• Targeted Growth Strategy: WiZiX, a member of the Select Dealer Group,  has pursued a dual approach of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. While organic growth remains strong, the company has also completed seven acquisitions in seven years, with plans for more. Johnson emphasized the importance of reaching a size that allows for greater operational efficiency, with a goal of becoming a $50 million company by 2030.
• Product and Service Offerings: WiZiX is a Toshiba, Ricoh, and Kyocera dealer, focusing on traditional office technology, document management, print management, and more recently, voice-over-IP phone systems and EV chargers through a partnership with ACDI. Notably, the company has chosen not to enter the managed IT services space, citing concerns about risk and liability.
• Acquisition Philosophy: Johnson’s approach to acquisitions varies depending on the situation. In some cases, WiZiX rebrands the acquired company quickly; in others, like the recent purchase of California Business Machines (CBM), they retain the original branding to leverage its strong local presence. Johnson highlighted the importance of flexibility in acquisition strategies, particularly when it comes to retaining key talent and customer relationships.
• Staying Local and Focused: While WiZiX has been asked to expand beyond California, Johnson prefers to focus on growing within the state. He believes there is ample opportunity in California’s large market and values maintaining control and efficiency within a familiar geographic area.
• Looking Ahead: WiZiX has set a clear goal of reaching $50 million in revenue by 2030. Johnson also envisions a future where the company could transition to employee ownership, ensuring continuity and growth for the next generation.

SOURCE Industry Analysts Inc.