The story of TRINITI Technology is rooted in humble beginnings. When Johnny Mak first joined the company, it was little more than a retail shop selling cell phone cases and accessories. With no capital for inventory, most products were special orders, nothing was labeled or scanned, and foot traffic was sparse, sometimes just a handful of customers a day. Johnny, who had cut his teeth in retail at Canadian Tire starting at age 13 and worked his way into a management role that demanded constant travelling, decided to return home to Whitehorse to settle down with his wife when he reconnected with a friend who started the store.
Fast forward to today, and TRINITI Technology has grown into a trusted partner for both consumers and organizations. The business now sits at the intersection of consumer retail and enterprise IT: imagine Best Buy/Staples combined with CDW/Softchoice. TRINITI supplies not only households and small businesses, but also major government departments, with everything from laptops and client devices to managed IT services and even full data centers.
A key factor in that growth has been TRINITI’s ability to forge strong partnerships. Unlike a franchise with a built-in network, TRINITI started from scratch. Over the years, the company has earned recognition and built relationships with most major brands and distributors across Canada. That trust and access means northern businesses and consumers now enjoy the same level of product availability and service as their southern counterparts.
Of course, growth hasn’t come without its share of memorable challenges. Johnny recalls a time when a truckload of laptops arrived, only to realize their space lacked proper receiving doors. He scrambled to call customers to pick up early orders just to move the shipment safely. Another story involves a telecommunications project at a shack on Grey Mountain, where one stuck truck led to another rescue truck also getting stuck, and then a third! “Nobody brought water or food,” Johnny laughs, “but eventually someone with a giant truck saved the day.” These moments, while chaotic, represent the scrappy determination that has defined TRINITI’s growth.
What’s most meaningful for Johnny, though, is the impact TRINITI has had on accessibility and affordability of technology in the North. “Before, businesses and consumers had to work with outside providers, often waiting weeks for equipment,” he explains. “Now, they can get what they need in minutes, and at a better price.”
Joining Tech Yukon was a natural step for Johnny, who wanted to connect with peers in the small but growing industry. “We’re a small sector here. By being part of the collective voice, we can share challenges, learn from each other, and grow stronger together.” Now, as a board member, he sees his role as amplifying that voice, not only within Yukon but also beyond its borders.
Looking ahead, Johnny hopes to foster a stronger culture of supporting local. “We all want the lowest cost, but sometimes that hurts our own ecosystem. Paying a little more to support local businesses means the money stays here, it gets reinvested in our community.” He also wants to expand awareness of Yukon-based startups, highlighting not just hardware but also the growing software and services sector.
For Johnny and TRINITI, it’s about more than just selling tech, it’s about building partnerships, trust, and a resilient northern industry for the future.
