Canadian Communication Products

Be present, even at a distance

Although technology has changed significantly in the last 25 years—and continues to do so—Canadian Communication Products (CCP) has managed to hold on to its fundamental vision: to provide Canadian businesses with communication tools that give them a competitive edge. As a leader in communications for businesses and government across the country, CCP has grown into one of the most respected business communications companies in the industry, deserving of its solid reputation for innovation and expertise.

Put simply, “we are in the telecommunication business,” says John Racich, CCP President. “We specialise in selling and reselling telephone peripherals—from headsets to VoIP (Voice-over Internet Protocol) products and recording products. We also supply the services that accompany the technology as well, such as maintenance and training.”

Established in December 1983, CCP first opened its doors in Vancouver (where the company recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, bringing its employees in from all over Canada). It wasn’t long after the company first started that the husband-and-wife team decided to expand; only one month later, they opened a new office in Toronto. CCP didn’t experience any more geographical growth until 1998, when the company was purchased by Adera Capital Corp. Since the acquisition, CCP has grown very well across Canada.

“We now have offices in Calgary and Montreal,” says Racich. “We also have remote offices in Halifax, Québec City and Ottawa. We put a lot of structure into the company when we took over. Before then, all the decisions were made by the two owners. We added middle managers in each city, which helped to get things done more efficiently. The company has since grown six times its original size.”

Success from the inside

CCP is adamant about attributing its success to the company’s employees. “We have great people here,” says Racich. “Our employees are young and energetic, and they have developed with us over time. That’s because we take pride in promoting from within; we have had account managers who moved through the ranks and are now managing the company. There are a number of people who have been here for over 10 years.”

Racich believes the corporate culture and opportunity to develop one’s career is a great reason to stay with the company. “We have fun,” he maintains. “We’re a horizontally structured group that allows people to speak up and have a say in the company’s direction. In terms of sharing information, we are really open. Employees know how the company is doing and where it can improve. When I was starting my career, I wasn’t privy to any information at other places, and I felt left out of the company. But that doesn’t happen here.”  

Importance of adaptability

Working in technology is exciting, but it is an industry that requires a certain amount of flexibility. Products are constantly changing according to emerging trends and business needs. Add external factors, such as the economy, to the mix and a successful business has to be a resilient one. At the moment, there is a lot of consolidation in the telecommunications marketplace. A lot of large corporations are running the show.

“Margins have eroded in some of our product lines and some have become commoditised,” says Racich. “CCP has done well because we have a value added service where we come in and do everything for a customer. Most companies need our services because we’re knowledgeable in technology and stay up to date with changes; we’re able to train the people and maintain the product.”

“As for the technology itself, we are seeing an increasing interest in Unified Communications (UC),” Racich adds. “UC is when you’re on your computer and you can see the person, hear them, talk to them, and write messages at the same time. Those technologies are breaking through and that’s the direction the industry is going.”

Taking all factors into consideration, Canadian Communication Products has gone through a strategic planning process to hammer out its direction, and it is all good news. “You will see us partnering with a VoIP company,” Racich says vaguely, careful not to ruin any surprises. “We are also looking at restructuring for further growth. I can’t go into too much detail, but I can say the changes will better position us to respond to what we see as needs in the market, such as UC. It’s exciting for us, and as our plans come out in the open, there should be a lot of buzz in July of this year.”

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