Axis Capitalizes on High-Tech Know-How

Peter Estes is the owner of Axis Business Solutions, Portsmouth, NH.

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December, 2010, Portsmouth, NH

In a time when many companies are struggling to wait out the turbulent economy, Axis Business Solutions has taken advantage of the downturn.

"We have looked at the economic downturn as an opportunity," said Axis Business Solutions owner Peter Estes. "While others have attempted to hunker down and weather the storm, we have been aggressively growing our business. We saw the most growth when the economy went down. We actually capitalized on it."

Axis, which is located on Green Street, sells technology solutions to a wide variety of clients including businesses, education and governmental companies. From small businesses located in downtown Portsmouth to worldwide companies like Apple Computer, various businesses use Axis for its technology expertise.

"Clients look at us as their technology advisors," Estes said. "We plan it, procure it, implement it and supervise on an ongoing basis. It's soup to nuts."

Since starting in 2004 with Estes as the sole employee, staff and profits have increased every year. By 2008, the company was producing more than $7 million in annual technology solution sales. Since 2008, Axis has more than doubled profits to more than $16 million and now has 22 employees.

There's been so much growth that the company is looking to double employees and revenue over the next year. Hiring talented staff and focusing on ways to keep them at the company has been a secret to the success of Axis, Estes said.

"From the first hire to the person we hired last week, they're terrific people and that's the key," Estes said. "We want experienced people that have been in this industry and know it. I tried to build the right type of place where experienced sales people would want to come, and it worked."

To continue the company's growth, Axis has focused on client loyalty, marketing, client downsizing, improving systems and applications, focusing on finances, keeping it simple and capitalizing on its competition's struggles.

"Where other companies are pulling back, we're marketing more. We're being aggressive and we're investing in our people and our systems," Estes said.

Estes said Axis is adding extra resources and tools allowing the company to grow its client base, introduced special programs to clients that allow them to purchase affordable block time from the company, reinvested in systems and applications to help staff better serve clients, and stayed true to the services it provides.

"Many companies are continually searching for a new identity and this can cause confusion to their clients," he said. "We focus on what we do well and continually try to improve that process. We are driven to deliver the best solution with the best engineering talent using the best systems."

While Axis provides a traditional model of technology solutions, the company does so in a non-traditional way, Estes said. Axis partners with other technology providers to become a part of their process and fill any gaps they may not be able to serve a client.

"The reason that's unusual is everyone is going after the end user, but in the partnership with other companies they bring us to their clients and we are able to compliment what they do so they have a more robust offering for their clients. It allows us to grow quickly," he said.