Asgar and his business partner established Micro Matrix Computers in 1988 at their parent’s home, assembling the XT CASEY range of computers on the dining room table. With the massive growth in the sales of computers in the eighties, expanded with the opening of the first computer store in Pretoria North, which grew to seventeen stores countrywide over the years. Ten years later the company has listed the group on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The company was then sold to a Black Empowerment group, in 1999.
Asgar was the Managing Director of the Group and was responsible for all negotiations with overseas vendors, completing and liaising on government tenders with the necessary government departments.
As a young man in his early 20s with a keen interest in IT, Asgar was constantly approached by family and friends to advise on and help with their computers. After assembling PCs on a dining room table at his parents’ home, Asgar realised it was a short step to take his skills to a professional level and offer a total IT solution to his clients.
After listening closely to his client’s requirements, Asgar would provide a tailored IT solution by sourcing machines and software and providing installation as well as training.
In 1989, Asgar and his business partner opened a retail store in Pretoria called Micro Matrix Computers and expanded the business from selling one PC per day to 10 machines a day. The business soon went national with 17 branches countrywide.
In 1994, being a truly BEE company, Asgar realised there was a significant gap in the industry to supply and service the Government and Corporate sector and formed Casey Electronics to offer IT support in this market sector. In 1998. Asgar, his business partner and their team listed the Casey Group and the retail stores, Micro Matrix Computers, on the JSE under the name Casey Investment Holdings Limited. In its 11-year history, Casey grew organically and was voted the sixth-largest IT distributor in South Africa by the Corporate Research Foundation. In 1999, Casey was acquired by Black Information Technology Empowerment Company (BLITEC).
Asgar and his business partner, started Esquire, growing the business in a few short years from 4 people to 160 staff, branches countrywide and an established position as a leading IT distributor of computer and lifestyle products in southern Africa.
- E-mail: asgar.mahomed@gmail.com
