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Technology Stocks : Hello Direct (HELO) - an overlooked internet beneficiary -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (20)	7/12/1998 9:42:00 PM
From: Dr. Bob	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 153

Sid, From my experience, your point is accurate that there is now considerable awareness of Hello Direct among the general public (and perhaps even more so among small business owners) as the major supplier for telephones and headsets, after several years of constant bombardment with catalogs. Transitioning this customer base to the internet can (and should) be done gradually over another couple years, with a reduced but still highly visible print catalog which reminds everyone they now have a web site, and providing incentives (special offers, etc.) for using it. A previous post noted the small float and said this could be significant "when the stock starts to make a move"; I would say that it already has, now up 40% from its recent lows brought on by the selling pressure which you nicely detailed. The potential to make a big move if earnings are good, and to actually overshoot any reasonable estimate of its value, and then to sharply correct, is very real. Let me mention again where I think the major sales potential lies - headsets are going to increase in sales dramatically as voice interaction with computers and other similar devices takes off - and there will be at least a couple upgrade cycles, as better noise cancellation technology gets incorporated and cheaper. Not that there isn't plenty of potential in wireless phones, answering machines, etc. still, but this sector is going to come out of nowhere, and as opposed to the others, is the one where HELO has a clear perception as the place to go to get good stuff. Bob

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (20)	7/12/1998 9:50:00 PM
From: stockvalinvestor	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 153

Sid, you make excellent points and I agree with your assessment of the company. It looks like the company does hold a lot of potential and it will be interesting to see how the earnings do come out on Tuesday. I did talk with the company Friday and they did say that they are looking at ways to emphasize their internet sales and I am trying to get actual numbers from the company. Maybe they will mention it when they realize the earnings on Tuesday.

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (20)	7/13/1998 9:00:00 AM
From: aleut	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 153

I am a buyer for a division of a company involved in the distribution of electronic components that have sales offices in the US and Taiwan, and other points; for what it is worth, all out telecom. products are bought thru Hello Direct for all the usual reasons. Actually this is a relatively new vendor for us and have just recently designated them as the vendor of record for all stateside facilities. The only employees exempt are our outside sales reps. who have the authority to procure their telcom. products on their own. Virtually all of the vendors we procure from have web sites. I learned of Hello from one of our purchasing agents that had found out about Hello while attending a NAPM meeting. aleut--my first post

To: Sid Turtlman who wrote (20)	7/14/1998 8:15:00 AM
From: Byram	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 153

Sid, This post is a little off-topic from your main HELO idea but seeing this I thought I would mention it..... The is a company called Bearcom Group Inc (BCG - upon IPO).....it is an IPO to come out the week of July 20 - the relationship between it and HELO is that they (Bearcom) is the leading distributor of 2-way radios in the world and markets much the same way as HELO...... Rumor has it that HELO and Bearcom discussed a buyout, merger etc. last spring (98) and Bearcom decided to go ahead come out on their own...... Just thought I would post this... Byram