Gateway plans to return to profitability by quickly evolving from a PC builder to a brand-name purveyor of many things electronic. Executives at Gateway"s annual financial analyst meeting in San Diego said Thursday that the company intends to revamp its retail stores and launch a broad range of new products for businesses and consumers. The list of products includes computers, PDAs (personal digital assistants), networking gear and services, home-theater equipment--and even furniture.
"In 2003, we have two major goals for the business. One is to transform the company very rapidly form a PC company to what we"re calling a branded integrator. Number two is to get profitable and stay that way," said Ted Waitt, Gateway"s CEO, at the meeting.
The "branded integrator" plan involves selling a wide range of products and services that work together, all under one brand name. If it works, the strategy should boost sales and profit margins, which will help the Poway, Calif.-based company return to profitability after a string of quarterly losses, executives said.