Colin Hughes - Managing Director.

Colin Hughes was first introduced to the IT industry in 1980 when he was given a Sinclair ZX81, and after a short period of time launched the first business software, Accounting and Stock Control on a Sinclair computer.

During the 1980’s Colin worked with Sinclair and Psion to developed software on a number of computers including the ZX Spectrum, Psion Organiser and Sinclair QL. He quickly developed an interest in database programming and developed a number of applications that synchronised data between the Psion organiser and the PC.

Many of these applications were taken up by companies like Colman’s Mustard, Courage Breweries, Sharp Manufacturing and major fork-lift truck companies. The Sharp Manufacturing project used a database application written by Colin’s company to manage their multi-million pound warehouse inventory.

During the late 90’s Colin was introduced to LapLink and was invited to work with them to build their corporate sales. Having worked with corporate sales customers such as Sharp and Colman’s this was a perfect match and Colin was responsible for the largest ever corporate license for LapLink products. As LapLink wound down their Europe office they invited Colin’s company to manage the European operations, including customer services and support. When they eventually closed their European office Colin’s company was contracted to be LapLink’s European office.

During this time Colin’s company become the European support centre for Virtual PC a program that allows you to run windows on a Mac computer. This company was subsequently bought by Microsoft; they continued to employ Colin and his team as one of their support centres for another two years until they moved their technical support to Asia.

At the same time that Microsoft moved their support centre Colin resigned from the LapLink project as he felt the new owners were focusing on centralising their operations.

In 2001 Colin launched his first product on QVC UK TV shopping channel having discovered the power of TV shopping. You can see many of Colin’s presentations at www.transformeurope.com/tv_presentations.htm Colin is now one of the top technology presenters on the channel. He has been working with the buyers and consults regularly with them to source new products from around the world.

As a result of his interest in music (having his own radio show www.strawberryjazz.com), he is regularly employed to source music software products and has recently set up a number of re-publishing deals with Swedish, French and UK companies.

With his 30 years of experience in the software and customer care business means that he is regularly contacted by companies all over the world to enhance their UK and European business.

Recently Colin started a new website www.freelondonevents.co.uk this site lists more free events than any other London website.