Solange Dugas Bazier celebrated 20 years in business this year by officially terminating her company’s restructuring deal. The final payment went to creditors on October 15.
That means GB Micro Electronics Inc. of Montreal is clear of debt. The founder and president says the company is now back
on track and concentrating on its core business, which is distribution of memory products, thanks primarily to GB Micro suppliers and customers who stuck by Dugas Bazier for two troubled years.
“”Sometimes it is easier to disappear,”” she said in an earlier interview. “”But we just all sat there and we took our phone calls, we spoke to everybody and we were well supported in that month. It was November. Most of our suppliers and our customers (supported us). It was very encouraging,”” she said.
Two years ago, GB Micro was on the verge of bankruptcy, but instead of folding like Empac or White Knight, Dugas Bazier decided to take the high road and try to pay everyone back. By doing so, Dugas Bazier became a top newsmaker for 2001 and by actually paying off her court- approved debt she makes the Top Newsmakers list this year.
The company still distributes the Kingston line of memory upgrades as well as the Micron Spectek line of products. In addition, in February 2003, GB Micro launched its own brand of memory called Platinum for system builders. Platinum includes a full line of products for DDR memory, including dual channel DDR kits, which have proven to work very efficiently on the new Intel motherboards with the 865 and 875 chipsets.
This year the company also redesigned the packaging for its retail line of products.
GB Micro did a little branding this year as well. It colour-coded products in order to make it stand out more for customers.
Besides memory, GB Micro started a new division which distributes refurbished computers, monitors and notebooks.
Dugas Bazier said GB Micro is approaching 2004 with confidence as the company has now put in place all the ingredients it needs to be successful long term.