The summer months offer time to plan for growth and busier days when our winter residents return to sunny Arizona to escape the harsh winter months. We were fortunate to have weekly calls from new, returning and referral customers. It is an honor and privilege to have a job in this economy let alone to run a business and stay in the black. We started our home based business end of January 2010 and have been learning to navigate our way in our industry and local business climate. Many of the buildings in our neighborhood have slowly become vacant and many of the friendly faces and trusted businesses have closed some say due to the economy, poor market conditions, too much competition, etc.
Basic numbers, according to U.S. SBA something like 50% of small businesses fail in the first five years. I found a number of resources that cover 7 reasons businesses fail or why 9 out of 10 small businesses fail and the list goes on.
How Can The Colony Assist?
So how can the Colony Assist?
Over the past few months we’ve had the opportunity to meet with local business owners and learn about the services they offer, the dedication to their work, customers and our great community. I learned that the Colony still exists. There are still men and women willing to pull up their sleeves and do the work to help strengthen and even grow our local economy by pooling together. Alone we are isolated and feel vulnerable but in numbers we are strong. Let’s look at ant colonies. Ants work together in numbers. Alone an ant is small and feeble can easily be crushed at any moment. But together they accomplish great things with order and strategy. Ant colonies have scouts that go out and look for food. When the scouts return, the gatherer ants go out to collect the food and carry it back to the nest.
Similarly small business communities can accomplish great things. A collective group (business owners) is more intelligent than the individual business owner alone.
A great example of the ‘Colony Assist’ is what happened on July 28, 2010 when small business owners Cheryl & Ray Husslein Gold Canyon Embroidery hosted a networking event along with co-host Stephanie & Dennis Calderone, Gold Canyon Computer Repair. The objective was to bring like-minded local business owners together to bring awareness to new technology (Microsoft TAG) and to help foster B2B relationships. We have had several great discussions with Cheryl & Ray and out of this event came another great opportunity for continued growth. Jason Sams, the Owner of Lights Out Exterminating is very enthusiastic about networking and B2B referrals. He’s taken the initiative to head up a networking group within the GCBA (Gold Canyon Business Association). The networking group will start-up in September or early October of 2010 and will be another way to help grow business leads by referrals. I’ve also had great discussions with local business owner, Kent Cutter, of The Salon at Gold Canyon. Kent opened his storefront around 2005 located in the Gold Canyon, AZ parking lot. A number of businesses around him have since come and gone but his business is still going strong. As noted on his website “He proudly supports his “Dream Team” and loves running the most progressive salon in Pinal County.” Kent is full of energy and is a great contributor to our community.
So whether it’s your Social Network (on or off-line), the Power of Pull or the Colony Assist the truth is there is power in numbers.
Dennis F. Calderone, Owner/Operator, Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC (GCBA Member, AJ Chamber Member)
If something goes wrong who would you call? Recently we worked on customer’s computer who had this to say about our work.
“Submitted via e-mail by Meredith Simpson 5/19/10.
We had a stubborn virus on our teenagers’ computer, making the computer absolutely useless. Dennis cleared the problem, and provided recommendations to best protect the computer in the future. It is such a relief to know someone you can trust completely. Thank you Gold Canyon Computer Repair!”
If your computer started to give you problems who would you call? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a trusted resource locally that you can depend on to repair and maintain your computer?
Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC is the Gold Canyon, AZ computer repair specialist. We offer hassle free ways to fix and keep your computers running at their top performance. We work full-time and are focused on providing computer repair services offering FREE pick-up and delivery to the Gold Canyon-AJ areas.
Whether you’re already a customer or you like being prepared and want a trusted professional you can call in a pinch keep us in mind Call Us Today 480-262-9598.
It’s not something we like to plan on or for like your computer blue screening or locking up, air conditioner making noises, not feeling well need a doctor, something around the home need fixing you get the idea. Maybe it’s not in our PLANS but isn’t it handy to have a list of trusted professionals if something does?
I hope you caught the article in this month’s issue of the Gold Canyon Ledger “GCBA goes high tech”. We’ve volunteered and have developed and administer the NEW Gold Canyon Business Association (GCBA) interactive social media marketing and visibility via the GCBA Facebook and LinkedIn pages. We have already grown our Facebook membership to 63 friends and counting. Facebook provides FREE visibility, marketing and promotion opportunities. Most importantly it gives residents and businesses a place to meet and socialize.
We encourage you to open the Business Directory link and take advantage of all of the businesses locally here in Gold Canyon, Arizona. Think globally do business locally.
GCBA Business Directory (browse by category):
•Accounting •Alternative Medicine •Bank •Beauty Service •Book Keeping •Candles•CarWash
•Charity •Churches •Computer •Computer Repair •Computer Training
•Credit Card Services •Dentistry •Landscaping •Laundry •Law Office •Lodging
•Logistical Consulting •Medical •Museum •Newspaper •Party Center •Pest Control
•Pet Grooming •Photography •Physical Therapy •Postal Services •Printing •Professional Organizing
•Promotional Products •Real Estate •Real Estate and Property Management
•Residential and Commercial Painting •Restaurants •Retail Seafood •RV Resort •Service Organization
•Storage •Tours & Cruises •Veterinarian •Waste Services and Recycling •Window Cleaning
Computer Repairs: Dennis Calderone, Owner/Operator.
Email: dennis@gccrepair.com
Social Media Questions Contact: Stephanie Calderone
Email: stephanie@gccrepair.com
Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC
www.gccrepair.com
www.goldcanyoncomputerrepair.com
LinkedIn VIP ACCESS
If you follow my twitter feed (@gcpcrepair) some of you may have noted that I’m currently reading a book called ‘THE POWER OF PULL: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion’ by John Hagel III, John Seely Brown, and Lang Davison. I also had an opportunity to hear Dr. Seely Brown speak on the Arizona State University Tempe Campus on 17 May 2010.
His message was very impacting at all levels personally and professionally. The book’s subtitle ‘How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion’ is so fitting for our discussions on social media for small businesses. In my previous post I touched upon some of the fundamental questions by asking the questions (Where do I begin (strategy/business plan)?, What can it do for my business (awareness, increase your sphere of influence, increased sales/profit)?, What are the dangers involved (reputation, brand management)? and What can I learn from it (tools available, continuing education)?).LinkedIn as your VIP Backstage PASS
In today’s post I want to discuss the powerful tool ‘LinkedIn’. Since I started my social media journey I have honestly overlooked this resource for lack of vision. But one of the things that Dr. Seely Brown reviewed at his workshop and in his book is ACCESS. Finding accessible people and the resources we need to accomplish big motion.
THE POWER OF PULL using LinkedIn
● It Provides communication to residents from business owners about local specials, events, happenings and alerts. ● Connect residents with local businesses. ● Welcome new residents to the neighborhood and give them resources to start getting connected. ● Promote local businesses and organizations. ● Provide networking and affordable shared-cost advertising opportunities to local businesses and organizations.
I had the privilege of presenting at the Gold Canyon Business Association (GCBA) May 25, 2010 monthly meeting on the NEW GCBA Facebook and LinkedIn pages. As promised I have made the slides from last night’s meeting available for those who missed the meeting or would like to review the presentation from last night’s meeting.
Cash for Clunkers, doing something out of your comfort zone
cash for clunkers
I’ll leave you with one last thought. Dr. Seely Brown talked about a young serial entrepreneur who started the Cash for Clunkers program. As many successful entrepreneurs know successful people try new things and fail and then they try again. He went on to say that Jack Hildary picks a new conference to attend every year on a topic out of his area of expertise. He puts himself in a NEW situation to pull from others to generate new ideas and actions. The year he picked ‘energy’ as a new topic for the conference he wanted to attend ‘cash for clunkers’ was born. The first day of the conference he listened intently taking notes. By the second day he was in the lobby drinking coffee, observing and listening to conversations. By the third day of the conference he was in the lobby contributing to the conversations and so ‘cash for clunkers’ was his idea that was birthed for the need presented at the ‘energy’ conference.
I hope that you will join the conversation on the Facebook Gold Canyon Business Association (GCBA) Fan Page. Also, GCBA and other local professionals I hope you will take advantage of the chance at backstage pass to our GCBA LinkedIn Group to the variety of professionals in our organization and access, attract and achieve success in your business growth and the continued growth of the GCBA. Thanks ~ Stephanie (email me: stephanie@gccrepair.com)
By now many of us are familiar with the buzz word ‘Social Media’. Those of us using social media realize it is another form of communication (as stated in the name its ‘social’). What I hope to prove to you is it is a way to market and grow your business in a measurable way with a reaction based timely response. In essence it is a quantifiable way to increase business or sales.
Top Ten: Social Media Outlets by communitywealth.com
What some of us have yet to realize social media is an extension of our business that can reach farther and faster than conventional practices of networking and marketing can offer.
It provides a way for many people to come together in a variety of social networking platforms to reach millions of users daily while making available a surplus of marketing and sales opportunities and ask and answer/questions like:
- Where do I begin (strategy/business plan)?
- What can it do for my business (awareness, increase your sphere of influence, increased sales/profit)?
- What are the dangers involved (reputation, brand management)?
- What can I learn from it (tools available, continuing education)?
In September 2009 I attended the American Marketing Association (AMA) Panel Discussion on Social Media. It opened my eyes to how social media was not just about getting on Facebook to share photos or play Farmville or instant messaging with family and friends. Yes it is a way to be social but it also a viable tool for businesses, education/academia, healthcare, government agencies to reach so many people.
- There are more than 400 million active users on Facebook.
- As of July 2009 1,017,020 (source* figures are taken from Facebook and then compared to Facebook usage statistics lists.)
- 566,780 Pinal County Facebook users (source: Matt Adams, Factor 1, speaker at the 23rdAnnual Pinal Co. Town Hall April 28 -30, 2010)
- LinkedIn has over 65 million members.
- Twitter users have climbed to a lofty 75 million.
Over the next few posts I will outline what I’ve learned thus far (actions we’ve taken, tools available, what we’ve learned, how to measure success (ROI) and mistakes and how to avoid them).
As we consider the vast Social Media Landscape and all of the platforms available it’s overwhelming to say the least.
Slideshare briefing by Olivier Blanchard who is a business strategist specializing in new media, social media and brand management. Entitles this briefing Olivier Blanchard Basics Of Social Media ROI.
I hope you find this article of interested. Stay tuned for my next post on steps to creating your social media small business strategy.
Warmly,
Stephanie
As a local company providing computer repair services from our home based office we are presented with quite a few challenges. My husband, Dennis, and I moved to Gold Canyon from New Jersey in 2005 and simply felt at home here.
My husband, Dennis, is the owner/operator of Gold Canyon Computer Repair. He has dedicated himself on a full–time basis to run our home-based computer repair business. We currently serve the local Gold Canyon and Apache Junction areas.
While I have become somewhat of enthusiast for all things social media. In September 2009 I attended the American Marketing Association (AMA) Panel Discussion on Social Media. It opened my eyes to how social media was not just about getting on Facebook to share photos or play Farmville or instant messaging with family and friends. Yes it is a way to be social but it also a viable tool for businesses, education/academia, health care, government agencies to reach so many people. I am daily seeking to learn more about technology and how new media and social media impact they way we do business.
My vision for the Blog
I hope to write about things that interest you on the topics of new media, social media and computer repair tips and technology. I hope to help share great information about other business professionals and events going on in our area.
I have been fortunate to meet with a few of the local business professionals and and residents in and around our community and feel inspired by them.
Dennis and I saw his layoff as an opportunity to grow and get involved in our community both socially and professionally. Since our inception in 2009 Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC is taking important small steps towards growth. The company started as local Freelance PC Repair Technician who was formerly employed as store manager and technician at local Gold Canyon storefront previously located off of Kings Ranch Road and is now a budding entrepreneur of his own local computer repair business.
From our humble beginnings we continue to look ways to grow into our niche and provide the Gold Canyon and Apache Junction areas quality, trusted and affordable computer repair services. Dennis and I both truly blessed and believe Gold Canyon is the best place to live and work. We are pleased to be a contributing small business in the Gold Canyon, AZ community and look forward to meeting residents and businesses alike.
Gold Canyon Computer Repair Timeline
So what are some of the benefits of using a small local computer repair tech.
- Our work is our livelihood so YOUR Satisfaction is Our Goal!
- 30-Day warranty on labor (see terms)
- Affordable Flat-Rate Computer Repairs
- We Come to YOU! (Gold Canyon-AJ areas)
- We also offer walk/in drop off services at local storefront Goin’ Postal on Kings Ranch Rd.
- There’s ONE Owner/Operator
- ONLY One Point of Contact (NO Runaround)
- We’re Insured, Experienced A+ Certified and Reliable
Please give us a call if you need repair services or if you just need advice about purchasing a computer 480-262-9598.
