Watford Electronics

Watford Electronics was a British computer-electronics company founded in 1972 by brothers Nazir and Raza Jessa. The business began in a bedroom in Watford and initially focused on electronic components and kits. It reached customers through advertisements in electronics magazines and a paper catalogue, combining a local shop with a predominantly mail-order operation. During the early 1980s, the company expanded into the rapidly developing home-computer market. It became particularly associated with the BBC Micro ecosystem, supplying peripherals and other hardware to users of the popular British educational and home computer. The company also produced a version of the Disc Filing System for the BBC Micro. Its own hardware products were marketed under the Aries brand, giving Watford Electronics a recognizable position among specialist computer users and hobbyists. Watford Electronics operated during a period when independent British suppliers played an important role in making computer hardware, storage devices, memory expansions, interfaces, and accessories available to consumers. Its catalogue and mail-order model allowed it to serve enthusiasts beyond its physical premises and helped establish the company as one of the better-known suppliers of microcomputers and microcomputer peripherals in the 1980s. As the market changed in the 1990s, Watford Electronics gradually shifted its emphasis toward the Wintel personal-computer market. This reflected the wider movement away from the earlier British home-computer ecosystem and toward IBM-compatible PCs and Microsoft Windows-based systems. In the 21st century, the company developed an online retail presence through the Savastore website, extending its earlier catalogue-based sales model into e-commerce. Watford Electronics subsequently entered administration in 2007. The business and associated operations were acquired by Globally Limited, after which the website was renamed Saverstore in April of that year. The original Watford Electronics company is therefore regarded as defunct, although its historical importance remains connected with the development of Britain's microcomputer retail and peripheral market, particularly its support for the BBC Micro during the 1980s.

Watford Electronics was established in 1972 by brothers Nazir and Raza Jessa in Watford, England. The business started on a small scale, operating from a bedroom and selling electronic components and kits. Its early customers were reached through advertisements in electronics magazines and a printed catalogue. Although the company maintained a shop in Watford, its principal model was mail order, allowing it to supply electronics enthusiasts across Britain. The company expanded as interest in personal and home computing grew. In the early 1980s it entered the home-computer market and developed a particularly strong presence around the BBC Micro. The BBC Micro was widely used in British schools and homes, and independent suppliers such as Watford Electronics supported its users with add-on hardware and related products. Watford Electronics sold a range of BBC Micro peripherals and produced its own version of the computer's Disc Filing System. Hardware developed or sold by the company was associated with the Aries brand. This activity made Watford Electronics one of the better-known British suppliers of microcomputers and microcomputer peripherals during the 1980s. Its importance came not only from individual products but also from the way its catalogue and mail-order infrastructure connected computer hobbyists with specialist equipment. The company operated during a formative period in which memory expansions, disk-related equipment, interfaces, and other peripherals were often purchased separately from a computer system and supplied by specialist firms. During the 1990s, Watford Electronics gradually redirected its business toward the Wintel market. This transition followed the broader decline of the earlier British home-computer environment and the increasing dominance of IBM-compatible personal computers running Microsoft Windows. The change allowed the company to remain involved in computer retailing while moving away from its strongest earlier association with the BBC Micro. In the 21st century, Watford Electronics created an online retail operation known as Savastore. The online store extended the company's traditional catalogue and mail-order approach into internet commerce and offered a route into the broader personal-computer market. The company later collapsed into administration in 2007. Globally Limited acquired the business, and in April of that year the website was renamed Saverstore. The original Watford Electronics operation is consequently treated as defunct, while its historical legacy lies in its role as a British specialist supplier of computer hardware and peripherals, particularly during the BBC Micro era.

• 2007

  Administration and acquisition

  [1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Watford Electronics enters administration and is subsequently acquired by Globally Limited.

• 2007

  Website renamed Saverstore

  [1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  In April, the acquired company's website changes its name from Savastore to Saverstore.

• 2000

  Launch of Savastore

  [1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  The company develops an online store called Savastore, extending its established mail-order retail model to the internet.

• 1990

  Shift toward the Wintel market

  [1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1990s, Watford Electronics increasingly supports IBM-compatible personal computers and the Microsoft Windows ecosystem.

• 1980

  Expansion into home computing

  [1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  The company expands from general electronics into the home-computer market, with a notable focus on BBC Micro products and peripherals.

• 1972

  Watford Electronics is founded

  [1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Brothers Nazir and Raza Jessa establish Watford Electronics in Watford, initially operating from a bedroom and selling electronic components and kits.

A specialist British computer-electronics supplier serving hobbyists, home-computer users, and personal-computer buyers through mail order, retail, and later online commerce.

• Electronics supplies · 1972

  Electronic components and kits

  Watford Electronics began by selling electronic components and kits to hobbyists and electronics enthusiasts. These products were promoted through specialist magazine advertising and a printed catalogue, forming the foundation of the company's mail-order business before its move into computer hardware.

• Computer peripherals

  BBC Micro peripherals

  During the 1980s, Watford Electronics became strongly associated with the BBC Micro and supplied a range of peripherals for the platform. These products supported the computer's use in homes, schools, and enthusiast settings and helped make the company a prominent specialist supplier in Britain's microcomputer market.

• Computer software and storage systems

  Disc Filing System

  Watford Electronics produced a version of the Disc Filing System for the BBC Micro. The product formed part of the company's broader support for disk-based computing and its range of BBC Micro-related hardware and software.

• Computer hardware

  Aries hardware

  The Aries name was used for Watford Electronics' own hardware products. The brand represented the company's in-house or company-branded contribution to the peripheral and accessory market surrounding microcomputers, especially during its BBC Micro period.

• Online computer retail

  Savastore

  Savastore was Watford Electronics' online retail operation in the 21st century. It represented the company's transition from paper catalogues and conventional mail order to internet-based sales serving the broader personal-computer market.

• 2007

  Sale following administrationM&A

  Background

  Watford Electronics collapsed into administration after its period as a specialist computer-electronics retailer.

  Action taken

  Globally Limited bought the business and subsequently changed the associated website's name to Saverstore.

  Aftermath

  The original Watford Electronics operation ceased to operate under its former identity and is treated as defunct.

  Source

• 1990

  Shift toward Wintel computingStrategy

  Background

  The computer market moved away from the earlier British home-computer ecosystem and toward IBM-compatible personal computers running Microsoft Windows.

  Action taken

  Watford Electronics gradually redirected its products and commercial focus toward the Wintel market.

  Aftermath

  The company remained active in computer retailing while reducing its dependence on the BBC Micro-centered market.

  Source

• 1980

  Enter the home-computer marketStrategy

  Background

  Growing demand for home computers created an opportunity beyond the company's original component and kit business.

  Action taken

  Watford Electronics expanded into microcomputers and peripherals, developing a particularly strong BBC Micro presence and using the Aries name for its own hardware.

  Aftermath

  The move helped make the company one of the better-known British suppliers of microcomputer peripherals during the 1980s.

  Source

• 2007

  Watford Electronics enters administration[1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  Watford Electronics collapsed into administration after operating as a British computer-electronics and computer-hardware retailer.

• 2007

  Globally Limited acquires Watford Electronics[1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Following the administration process, Watford Electronics was bought by Globally Limited.

• 2007

  Watford Electronics website becomes Saverstore[1]Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  In April 2007, after the acquisition, the company's website adopted the Saverstore name.

1. 1Watford Electronicsen.wikipedia.org