On November 1 last year, I sold my newsagency software company, Tower Systems, to Vela APX, a division of Vela Software Group and Constellation Software Inc (CSI). Fro that date, vela has been in full control of the business and, as Tower customers have experienced since, it’s business as usual: software updates are flowing, customer service is as accessible and helpful as it has always been, and I remain with the company, doing what I was doing.
I am grateful to the thousands of newsagents who have chosen Tower over the decades since 1981 when I started the company. This has been a good channel to me, one I hope to serve for many years to come.
Newsagents were the cornerstone of the Tower Systems business for many years and while the company today operates successfully in sixteen specialty retail markets, newsagents remains a marketplace of considerable value and importance.
As the company serving many more newsagents with its software (57 new newsagency customers in the last 12 months alone) than any other company, Tower appreciates the leadership role and leans into it with care and respect. In our Tower newsagency software there are facilities newsagents can leverage to expand the reach of their businesses, to make them more relevant in a changing marketplace.
2025 will be an exciting year in newsagency software. I say this knowing work already done over the last year and more that is soon to become available.
While the acquisition was finalised on November 1 last year and announced confidentially to Tower customers on that date, it could not be publicly announced until a range of tasks had been completed as required by the public company acquiring the business.
Now, here is the official announcement from Vela:
January 21st, 2024 – Melbourne, Australia – Vela APX, a division of Vela Software Group and Constellation Software Inc (CSI), is pleased to announce the formation of Tower Systems, following the acquisition of assets from Tower Systems International Pty Ltd. This acquisition strengthens Vela’s portfolio and enhances its capabilities across independent retail in Australia and New Zealand.
Tower Systems provides Australian-made and supported Point of Sale (POS) software designed specifically for independent and specialty retailers. With tailored solutions for sectors such as jewelers, garden centres, bike shops, pet stores, and more, Tower Systems empowers local businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and grow sustainably. The company also offers integrated services such as eCommerce website development, inventory management, and accounting integrations, ensuring a comprehensive solution for retailers. Backed by a dedicated support team and decades of industry expertise, Tower Systems is a trusted partner for small businesses across Australia and New Zealand.
Mark Fletcher, founder of Tower Systems commented: “I am grateful to have found a happy and strong home for the Tower Systems community of team members and customers and to have done this at a time of my choosing. I am also thankful for the opportunity to continue to serve the business as it evolves in its service of local independent small businesses. Our mission remains: to help local indie retailers thrive.”
Gavin Williams, General Manager of Tower Systems, expressed excitement about joining the Vela Software Group, “We’re excited to join the Vela Software Group, a move that builds on the dedication and talent of our team. This partnership will help us grow, innovate, and continue providing practical solutions that make a real difference for the Retail businesses we are proud to serve.”
Mark Schmutter, Group Director at Vela APX, echoed this sentiment in saying “We are thrilled to welcome Gavin, Mark and the Tower Systems team to the Vela Group. Their expertise in providing real solutions for independent retailers helps to strengthen our position in these markets both in Australia/New Zealand and with our other business unit servicing similar customers in the UK. Tower’s agility, innovation and flexibility, combined with Vela’s network of expertise and resources, will allow them to thrive and continue evolving with their customers.”
This acquisition reinforces Vela’s “connected autonomy” model, providing Tower Systems with the agility to innovate while benefiting from the broader support and resources available within the Vela Group.
For more information on Tower Systems and Vela APX, please visit velaapx.com or contact us at vela_m&a@velaapx.com.
For those interested, here’s what I shared on Facebook today about this:
Tower Systems, a company I founded in February 1981 ( originally as Fletcher DP Services – what a name!), was sold in November 2024 to a subsidiary of a Canadian public company (Constellation Software). I’d been approached many times over the years, but this time felt right, even though selling wasn’t easy.
It was better to place the company, its team, and its customers in good hands now than to risk needing to find a buyer under different circumstances later.
I am grateful to the many who have been part of the Tower team over the years, both those who stayed for decades and those who passed through. This eclectic mix made our work uncommonly interesting, fun, and valuable.
Having my daughter Laura in the business was a joy. Her counsel and support over the last few years and especially the last few months as I approached the decision to sell has been invaluable.
In 2009, the company had a near-death experience, nearly being wiped out. I lost everything I thought I had. The following 14 years have been our best, a testament to the crew from those years, many of whom are still with the company today. We got through it by taking things one step at a time, and by realising who cared.
It’s been an odd time since the sale on November 1, 2024, finding memories of the first days filtering up along with other memories of embarrassment, excitement and joy. I am also reminded of opening the envelope in December 1973 to read my high school results, discovering I had failed. While school is important, the number you are given is not necessarily a measure of your capabilities.
My first job ever, four years with the CSIRO, is what set me on a path in computing and having worked in a newsagency while at High School taught me about business. The two experiences were at the heart of starting Tower in 1981.
I’ll stay on with Tower Systems for two years. I still have, and love, the newsXpress business that serves 200 awesome local Aussie newsagency businesses as well as the associated websites: www.mintcoinshop.com.au, www.myornaments.com.au and www.hugsandlove.com.au.
In the meantime, a short play I wrote, Shirley, is being produced next month for the first time ever – in Chapala, Mexico of all places, by Bravo Theatre (https://thebravo.org).
Well done Mark. Being able to sell a business when you choose is a big thing as many of us find out. You can be proud of what you created. You helped plenty of us newsagents over the years. Keep at it.