BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS: Multiple Zones plugs into Microsoft

Cataloger becomes software giant’s primary supplier

Looking to make your company’s stock price nearly double? Become a primary supplier for Microsoft Corp.

On March 24, $501 million computer cataloger Multiple Zones announced that it would became the primary supplier of employee computer products for the software giant. Within days, shares of Multiple Zones soared from 5-13/16 to 11-1/4.

For Renton, WA-based Multiple Zones, the contract with Microsoft represents 20,000 potential new customers. Under the terms of the deal, which at press time had not been finalized, the cataloger will procure, configure, and distribute hardware and software for Microsoft’s domestic employees. Multiple Zones will also manage a distribution facility at Microsoft’s Redmond, WA, headquarters.

“To become the primary supplier of computer products for the most highly valued technology company in the world is a major opportunity for Multiple Zones,” says Ronald McFadden, vice president, finance, and administration for Multiple Zones.

The company would not comment on how much revenue it expects to gain from the Microsoft deal. But it’s clear that Multiple Zones hopes that this is the first of numerous such contracts.

“We view our bread and butter as supporting companies that have 100 to 500-seat operations,” McFadden says. “But as Multiple Zones moves forward, we want to try and compete in some of the larger corporations.”