Hand Technologies
{{Short description|Defunct computer company}}
{{Distinguish|text=Handy Technologies}}
{{Infobox company
| name =
| logo =
| industry =
| founded = 1996
| defunct = 2001
| founder =
| hq_location_city = Austin, Texas
| hq_location_country = US
| key_people = Andrew Harris (CEO)
Martin Slagter (President)
| num_employees = 3,500{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Harrington|url=http://www.crw.com/reports/1998/227top10p10.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990429044111/http://www.crw.com:80/reports/1998/227top10p10.asp|title=Special Reports|magazine=Computer Retail Week|archivedate=April 29, 1999|date=1998|accessdate=January 14, 2025}}
| num_employees_year = 1998
| parent =
| homepage =
}}
Hand Technologies, Inc was a full-service computer and web services company.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muscatine-journal/163005611/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414144134/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muscatine-journal/163005611/|title=Morning Sun gets computer service|newspaper=The Muscatine Journal|page=17|archivedate=April 14, 2025|date=February 19, 2000|accessdate=January 14, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|url-status=live}} The company provided free delivery and set-up and customers get a one-stop shop for Internet services, training and support on all of Hand's products.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winchester-sun/163005479/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414144618/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winchester-sun/163005479/|title=Hand Technologies opens in Winchester|newspaper=The Winchester Sun|page=11|archivedate=April 14, 2025|date=December 1, 1999|accessdate=January 14, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|url-status=live}} Services were provided in Winchester and the company sold products from IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark International.
History
The company was founded as Habitech in 1996 by Andrew Harris,{{cite web|first=Barbara|last=Carton|url=http://www.handtech.com/asp/public/newspr3.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980201065621/http://www.handtech.com/asp/public/newspr3.asp|title=PC's replace lettuce tubs at sales parties|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|archivedate=February 1, 1998|accessdate=January 14, 2025}}{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Harrington|url=http://techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?CRW19960923S0007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990828173135/http://techweb.com/se/directlink.cgi?CRW19960923S0007|title=Hand Technologies Strategy -- Company to sell PC wares|magazine=Computer Retail Week|archivedate=August 28, 1999|date=September 23, 1996|accessdate=January 14, 2025}} Martin Slagter{{cite web|first=Juan|last=Elizondo|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/extra/browse/html/althand_100496.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19970615062740/http://www.seattletimes.com/extra/browse/html/althand_100496.html|title=Hands-on approach to buying a PC|newspaper=The Seattle Times|archivedate=June 15, 1997|date=October 4, 1996|accessdate=January 14, 2025}} two former executives from Dell Computer and CompUSA.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/hand-uses-free-pcs-as-incentives/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230812231106/https://www.cnet.com/culture/hand-uses-free-pcs-as-incentives/|title=Hand uses "free" PCs as incentives|website=CNET|archivedate=August 12, 2023|date=January 2, 2002|accessdate=January 14, 2025|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first=Peter|last=Burrows|url=http://www.businessweek.com/1996/45/b350027.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19961031024223/http://www.businessweek.com/1996/45/b350027.htm|title=Shopping:let your fingers do the walking|website=Business Week|archivedate=October 31, 1996|date=1996|accessdate=January 14, 2025}}
Before founding the company the two tested the door-to-door selling concept for computers in Britain.{{cite web|first=David|last=Wallace|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/163014100/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414144942/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/163014100/|title=Making House calls for PC's|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|page=69|archivedate=April 14, 2025|date=November 16, 1997|accessdate=January 14, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|url-status=live}} Previously, Harris spent five years building the international operations of Dell. He left Dell in 1992 after losing a bid for a more senior position, and Slagter, who was leading Dell's business in Europe , followed him to Austin, which is also Dell's headquarters.{{cite web|first=Sholnn|last=Freeman|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/08/biztech/articles/08hand.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114132311/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/08/biztech/articles/08hand.html|title=A Computer on the Doorstep and a Toehold Inside|newspaper=The New York Times|archivedate=January 14, 2025|date=August 8, 1999|accessdate=January 14, 2025|url-status=live}}
In May 1997, the company raised $6.75 million through a private securities offering and added seven board members, one of whom was Doug Martin, a former president of Tupperware North America.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/163004790/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414145426/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/163004790/|title=Hand Technologies raises $6.75 million|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|page=59|archivedate=April 14, 2025|date=May 17, 1997|accessdate=January 14, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|url-status=live}}
In July 2001, the company went out of business, blaming an inability to raise money.{{cite web|first=Jerry|last=Mahoney|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/163005160/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414145748/https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman/163005160/|title=Handtech.com Inc. goes out of business|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|page=38|archivedate=April 14, 2025|date=July 6, 2001|accessdate=January 14, 2025|via=Newspapers.com|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/19980201064447/http://www.handtech.com/}} (archived)