Darren, given you recognise that DMS's biggest problems are the website layout and the lack of live stock levels, I hope this is a catalyst for you guys to get it sorted out!
After all, even comparitively small players like Demon and MK can run live stock. Maybe you can buy the web architecture and stock manager off Microtech?
I know you'd get a lot more of my money if you at least had live stock.
I shouldn't speculate- but, I'm dubious about it being a business issue. There was no promotional sales, there was no steady drying up of stock and credit, and surely they had great turnover. There was no move to web only sales to delete the overheads of the shop- it all just stopped, suddenly and effectively overnight...
If it was business issue, that's a real worry to me personally. If someone like Microtech couldn't survive, (as a shop only, given that DMS is also a distributor) then who can?