Good time to get into the computer business

[985323]

Ive always loved computers, and am thinking of opening a small shop in Edmonton Ab, but im not sure if its a good idea.
What do you think?

[Quakken]

What is there for competition? What services will you offer? Is there a good location available? What about customers, is there a local LAN league or a large group of enthusiasts that you can appeal to? Advertising? Employees? Full time job? Where will you get your merchandise?

I think that if you think it's plausible that you can do well, then you should go for it. If there is already a locally owned computer shop, or a close by large retailer, then it could be a pretty serious challenge. Give us some info on your business model.

[985323]

I would like to be selling laptops and pre-made computers as well as a selection of parts and custom built computers, i would also like to do computer repair

Edit: there is some small competetors as well as a few memory express locations

[J-Roc]

my mom lives in bean town, i would tell her to buy from you :)

[aintnothang]

I always thought of opening a computer shop in the far future.

[Datech]

Same here. I'm trying to start a little part time repair/modding/building/AV install company that will do pretty much anything Consumer Electronics related.

You can be successful almost instantly in computer repair, you just have to know where to advertise. The two suggestions I have are:

1. Get a permanent location. Even if its just a desk in your mom's basement, or a store front in the new strip mall, get a location that someone can bring a computer to you in an emergency without having to call you first.

2. Make use of the many free flier services online, and tack them up at local universities, town home residences, and anywhere the 50-70 year old demographic might live. A bunch of printing and ad agencies online offer to print 150-500 fliers or business cards for free, and send it to you free of charge. Get a snazzy but understandable flier and tack it up on the doors at apartment buildings close to a university, or some neighborhood typically owned by older people. I like to think of this as reverse demographic targeting, because instead of marketing to someone's children you are marketing to someone's parent.

My brother and I have set up most of our family, including two grandmothers and three great-uncles, with Skype and a host of other products to keep the family connected. If you market to the older generation you can gain their trust by fixing their computer and showing them how to use the software that their kids and grandkids use all the time. In turn, when Grandfather impresses Grandson with his knowledge of Skype Video Conferencing, Grandson turns to you for his next repair job.

Whammo, you have yourself a business.

[985323]

thanks Datech, good advice there

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

location location location... u needa be seen... not gunna go to a comp shop if i dont know there is one...

[Luke122]

Edmonton has some good shops, and some BAD ones. :P

I've always had good luck buying parts from Memory Express, but BCom and HCS have let me down tons of times.

[chaksq]

Sounds like a cool idea, I'll share a few thoughts I had on the idea. Location is important, to get customers they need to find you. Your best bet is a location within a shipping district and one that is clearly visible from a main road. Offering both in house walk in service, and travel to home services will help you get the most diverse customer base however you really need to be prepared properly for both. If you do offer to house service put graphics on the vehicle you use, it is like a traveling billboard, make sure to clearly post your services, location, phone, etc if you do.

If it were my company I'd have after hours lan parties or casemod competitions within the store too as long as it is something you are into (like how hobby shops host magic or D&D tournaments and such), cant hurt business and gives local enthusists opportunity to network and a place to refer friends to.

Also I saw this one in a book I sell at work (advice for woodworker's like cabinet makers but I think this applies to computers too) setup your work area in the front window so passer-bys and customers can see you working on computers, it gives people a more secure feeling. Like: "these people must know what they are doing if they are confident in doing it in front of everyone."

I think you plan on selling built computers, this is good but I think you will get most buisness from computer repair, assistance, and upgrades. Especially with the economy people are more likely to spend money to repair or upgrade their current machine rather than drop more money for a whole new machine. Also be prepared for those who refuse to get new hardware/software, I garuntee someone will bring in PI machines with windows 98 and expect you to make it run like a Core2 with Vista.

Also I am sure you are worried about starting a buisness in this economy. I have heard from career entrepreneurs that an economic slump like this can actually be a good time to start a buisness especially when looking for employees. With companies downsizing more experienced individuals who would be better and more useful are unemployed and looking for a job and might be willing to settle for a slightly lower salary that comes with a start up.

Best of luck, let us know how it goes.

[Datech]

Good stuff Chaksq. Also, if you feel like moving to a warmer climate I'd gladly do most of the grunt work if you provide the store front in Georgia, lol.

[Mitternacht]

Funny you mention this, me and my friend Tim are starting one now here in Pittsburgh. Our name is *removed for privacy*. What are you naming yours?

[985323]

I was thinking of naming it PcPeople

[Mitternacht]

Cool, best of luck to you. I'm working on a business card design for mine now, got a logo drawn up but I gotta create a photoshop render before I have vistaprint print them up.

[chaksq]

I was thinking of naming it PcPeople
I really like the name, catchy and to the point. Relatively obvious from the name what you do.

[Datech]

I was thinking of naming it PcPeople

You might want to google that name first. There are a few people ahead of you, heh.

[aintnothang]

I'm pumped for you guys.

[985323]

hmmm good point datech, how about Dynamic-pc

[aintnothang]

http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/article170050.html

[Twigsoffury]

make sure you live on 1337 such and such street.

the motto for my little home business is

"Can't Beat our prices we'll do it for free"

Lol throws a stick in most of the local reatailers when customers go back and forth with the big stores for prices.

but you know when you point out for that same 950$ you can get triple the processing power and four gigs of ram instead of two most people go with me.

Another thing i've noticed people like to do. Is you give them a Favorites list with all there computer parts and they purchase and hold all the items until they have them all accumulated. then they bring those in and I'll build it and set it up.

I'm not sure why But I think people just find it fun to hand out a shopping cart worth of boxes and get a complete working computer the next day or so.

seems they are more trusting that way you know. Because they arn't just purchasing phantom items. They get to see and hold the motherboard and stuff. kinda takes that ol' mighty scary magic box type of feeling away for them.

well all i can say is don't order computer parts in bulk. PC-mart did that and sure enough went out of business after there 800$ amd cpus all of a sudden lost 80% of there value. they never recovered from that. D'oh.

Yea so the way i understand it is buy single "display" items. like you know a couple bad ass boards and cpus to have in your cases or along the shelves. and order everything else off the internet thats needed.

Theres a computer place here in the city that hosts lan parties along with selling items at there store. I can assume it makes them pretty good cash and there reasonable people to. (lol you can smoke in there after hours) but its sorta a mom and pop kind of deal.

[985323]

Me and my partner have started work on a website, tell us what you think http://pcclan12.webs.com/index.htm

[aintnothang]

Me and my partner have started work on a website, tell us what you think http://pcclan12.webs.com/index.htm
Its on the weak side.

[Drum Thumper]

Me and my partner have started work on a website, tell us what you think http://pcclan12.webs.com/index.htm

Graphically, this site is pleasing. Content wise, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. I'd hire someone to rewrite your main page or get a crash course in value building (for lack of a better term).

[billygoat333]

Graphically, this site is pleasing. Content wise, you've got a lot of work ahead of you. I'd hire someone to rewrite your main page or get a crash course in value building (for lack of a better term).

I agree with DT, the site looks nice as far as aesthetic values go, well laid out and I really like the main graphic header.

as far as the content goes, it will take time to get good content written up for this site, and as always, check your grammar. Nothing screams unprofessional than grammatical errors. :) if you know anyone who is really good with English have them read over your content and take any pointers they give you. :)

[nevermind1534]

as far as the content goes, it will take time to get good content written up for this site, and as always, check your grammar. Nothing screams unprofessional than grammatical errors. :) if you know anyone who is really good with English have them read over your content and take any pointers they give you. :)

I was correcting and rewording things left and right on one of my friends' websites to make it look/read better and more professional. Otherwise, it can look like a little kid wrote it. But I'm great at finding correcting grammatical errors compared to pretty much everybody else I know.


Both William and I have our High school diploma's

Raymond is self taught

William has taken computer and repair course's at NAIT

Change to:
Both of us (you might want to come up with something better) have a high school diploma

Raymond is self taught

William has taken computer and repair courses at NAIT
Maybe use bullet points.


]Welcome to our new site, please make yourself at home and take a look around.

This all started when we were young, we always loved to tinker around and see how things work, sometimes it worked out better than other's and we learned things the hard and sometime's painfull way. We are committed to give you the finest job we can.

Change to:

Welcome to our new site, please make yourself at home and take a look around.

This all started when we were young. We always loved to tinker around and see how things work. Sometimes it worked out better than others and we learned things the hard and sometimes painful way. We are committed to giving you the best possible quality of service.

[BuzzKillington]

I'd start brainstorming ways to attract crowds by thinking of things the local shops don't have.

Maybe a "clubhouse" type of thing with 360's or PS3's for hosted tournaments or something with prizes.

Host raffles with customer receipts for free items and/or coupons on services yada yada yada. "Monday raffles!! Shop on a Monday and automatically be entered to win _______."

Offer specialty modding supplies.

Have rig of the week competitions. That way you could possibly get publicity from sponsors, magazines, who knows.

I dunno, think crazy.

[Datech]

The biggest thing for the business website is to generate a big, categorized list of services. Divide it up into stuff like Hardware, Software, Consumer Electronics, and Design, then list the stuff you are willing to do in each category.

Consumer Electronics

HDTV Purchase Consultation
DVR Configuration
Home Audio/Visual System Installation


Stuff like that. Then, on a separate page provide a history of notable projects and work.

[nevermind1534]

The biggest thing for the business website is to generate a big, categorized list of services. Divide it up into stuff like Hardware, Software, Consumer Electronics, and Design, then list the stuff you are willing to do in each category.

Consumer Electronics

HDTV Purchase Consultation
DVR Configuration
Home Audio/Visual System Installation


Stuff like that. Then, on a separate page provide a history of notable projects and work.

+1

[DaveW]

I'd start brainstorming ways to attract crowds by thinking of things the local shops don't have.

Maybe a "clubhouse" type of thing with 360's or PS3's for hosted tournaments or something with prizes.

Host raffles with customer receipts for free items and/or coupons on services yada yada yada. "Monday raffles!! Shop on a Monday and automatically be entered to win _______."

Offer specialty modding supplies.

Have rig of the week competitions. That way you could possibly get publicity from sponsors, magazines, who knows.

I dunno, think crazy.

While you would prefer to have an edge over the competitors, don't do anything that will damage confidence in your store. If you want people to trust you with their money and computer, you have to inspire confidence. If you want them to come back, keep them happy.

To be honest, the best way to get customers and keep them is to talk to people who come into the store. Don't force a sell, don't assert your opinion...idle banter alone will have people queuing round the block.

Good luck mate.

-Dave

[SgtM]

Agreed on all points. Also, consider buying a domain name. Free sites will only take you so far. That being said, if you don't have a lot of money, and prefer free hosting, have a look at 000webhost (http://www.000webhost.com/85254.html) (yes, that's an afiliate link). You can buy a domain and host it there completely free and without ads. You get a gig of space, and 100gigs of bandwidth/mo. So basically, a domain name costs you $10/year (google for promo codes), and hosting is free.

[Twigsoffury]

*Does a Jump kick*

if were out for brain storming...

How about on opening day you have two guys in incredible hulk costumes fighting on the roof.


oh what about selling liquor along with computer parts.

Those two go hand in hand.