Another small biz lesson – diagnosis and treatment

 
Having tunnel vision? We hear it all the time “I’ll just buy a new computer they’re soo cheap”. Since when have computers become so easily disposable? You’re recycling your bottles but wouldn’t think twice about tossing your computer every two years. Sounds like… 

Mild Cognitive Shopping Impairment (MCSI).Diagnosis is based on: Your concern with acquisition of a product and your knowledge of the product is impaired and based upon bottom line price only.

Pathology
I’m having one of those weeks when you win some, you lose some. As a small business owner it’s impossible and frankly I won’t even attempt to compete with big-box retail chains on their prices of new PCs. But I had another ‘Aha!’ moment this week in looking at the pathology of this consumer shopping syndrome (diseases aka MCSI). I was reading an article this week…yes again about ant colonies and how it relates to business practices.  It’s simple, we (small owner/operator entrepreneurs) have a lot to learn from how ants organize, scout and engage by depending on each other to grow stronger leads and recruitment.

 So maybe the treatment of the disorder is not about the competition with the big-box retailer or landing every customer on a sale but rather identifying the right type of customer. ‘Aha’ taking inventory of some of our customers that understand the benefits of buying a custom-built computer versus a standard PC from a big-box retailer. When we take the time to explain the WIFM (what’s in it for me) benefits. While we can’t beat the price of a large retailer what we can offer is local High Value Service and Reliability.

Treatment

Educating the RIGHT customers about the benefits.
This treatment has been collectively tested and proven to work in promoting growth. Using our well informed experts (ant colonies) we learn to collectively organize and pull intelligence from our professional networks to identify our market niche. The ants (business/professional networks/colleagues) find the perfect site (help you identify the perfect customer/potential deals) and brings you to it (shares/brings an opportunity to your attention). 

 COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE Ÿ COMPETITION Ÿ RECRUITMENT Ÿ SCOUTING Ÿ LEADS

We are confident in what we offer. In fact, we know we will beat them every time by providing the highest level of quality customer service. Our core focus when building a new custom computer (whether home based, small business or single entrepreneur) is with our customer’s future computing needs in mind. We ONLY use top of the line quality parts that we’ve personally tried and tested, from reliable part dealers/sources to build the fastest, most reliable and affordable custom PCs. We know computers are not and should not be easily discarded because it’s so cheap to buy a new PC. Our warranty is simple. Local, one point-of-contact, no hassle. It is truly our goal to make sure our customers are happy with the finished product and to be repeat/returning customers.

Can we take a responsible approach to extending the life our PC’s by building computers that can be easily upgraded overtime to meet your future computing needs while we also put more thought into responsible disposal of old computer parts? We strongly believe we can help you on these important points.

HINT here’s the educational part…
Benefits of a custom-built computer from Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC
 

GCCR custom-built computers are built with your future computing needs in mind. We will customize giving you more control over the configuration to enable easy upgrading. For example, as you download software, videos, and pictures or add new programs to your computer overtime your computer will surpass its storage capacity. Some benefits include:

  • receive better service after the sale  
  • no hassle warranty, one point-of-contact
  • includes full set-up of your new computer
    –   including your printer, scanner, unpacking, wiring and set-up, etc.
    –   reinstall all of your software (Microsoft Office, Antivirus, etc)
    –   updating missing critical security updates
    –   moving all your old emails, favorites and contacts to the new computer
  • green computing solution
    –   extending the life of your computer as your computing needs change
    –   take a responsible role and have a plan for responsible disposal of old computer parts

When you buy a new computer from national chain we can still be of assistance:

  • You may need help with reinstall all of your software (Microsoft Office, Antivirus, etc).
  • You may need help with updating missing critical security updates requires updates to security software or you can potentially be exposed to a virus when you get on the internet. A new computer is often missing critical security updates which for a novice it can take hours to update.
  • You will also likely need assistance with moving all your old emails, favorites and contacts to the new computer.
  • You may need help with unpacking, wiring and set-up
  • Warranties. If you’re not a computer expert, you are going to have to go through a call center to get a diagnosis of any computer problems from a national retailer you will likely be directed to a service representative often a call center (sometimes international) to help diagnose the problem over the phone.  

OUR MISSION: to test this theory in our professional community. Use collective intelligence to identify competition, scout leads, recruit the right customer base, educate our customers and create a high quality service experience that keeps them coming back.

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

Reference

 

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. Comments Off on Another small biz lesson – diagnosis and treatment

Don’t call a geek ~ just ask Dennis (your local computer repair specialist)

Comments Off on Don’t call a geek ~ just ask Dennis (your local computer repair specialist)

We’re so grateful to be in a community with people who value … as one Facebook friend put it ‘local loyalty first and foremost’ (Via Stacy Deprey-Purper, Today’s Publications).

Recently we wrote a post on our Facebook wall about a NEW convenient way to get a hold of us in case you’re busy and having trouble finding time to call and schedule a pickup.  We know your time is valuable so you can now Submit a Service Request via our website.  It’s easy click on the Service Request link on our homepage and simply Tell Us What’s Wrong with Your Computer.

I titled this blog post in a way that hopefully encourages you to call or email us (Ask Dennis) if you’re having a problem with your computer, shopping for a new computer or part and need advice, just want to drop us an email to tell us what we’re doing right (or if we need to change something).Customer Reviews, Have we worked on your computer and you want to know where you can write a review? It’s the biggest compliment and we GREATLY appreciate when a customer takes the time to tell us how we’ve helped them or refers a new customer to us (Excellent service (David Coward); It is such a relief to know someone you can trust completely with such an important piece of equipment (Meredith Simpson); I highly recommend Gold Canyon Computer Repair (Dave Abbatacola) read more here).

How can our customers submit a testimonial?

So if your computer is acting up or you just have a question you need answered give us a call there’s a good chance we’ll be able to help!

Best wishes, Stephanie & Dennis Calderone
Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC
http://www.gccrepair.com/

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. Comments Off on Don’t call a geek ~ just ask Dennis (your local computer repair specialist)

I can’t live without it!

Comments Off on I can’t live without it!

I was reading this week’s Forbes commentary from Dirk Meyer, president and CEO of AMD ‘Why The PC Is Not Dead’ and wanted to share my personal experience/viewpoint for my blog readers.

As you can imagine I’m a big fan of new media and new technologies. I proudly own and use several PC’s, laptop, iPad, Blackberry, mobile devices and more.

I recently was attending a three-day workshop and brought my iPad with me fully intending to rely on my new cool lightweight hi-tech device for taking notes, searching the web, emails whatever for the full conference but it didn’t make it past the first day. What I’m saying is it’s still not an end-all of the PC.

I agree with Dirk’s comment “we are in the midst of one of the most dramatic shifts ever in the way people use computers”. Computing is in a very innovative and disruptive state in a very exciting way. I read about new trends in cloud computing and intuitive changes in computing. It’s exciting to discover new ways computing is integrating into healthcare and e-patient trends.

Although, I used my iPad at the workshop it wasn’t able to handle all of my computing needs. I still mainly relied on my Black Berry for the mobility of checking e-mails. I needed to remote into my work desktop PC to work on several documents. I can use some of the tools on iPad for tweaking documents but it still doesn’t have full functionality for me.

 

The Fact’s about PC’s

 “This year PC makers remain on track to sell more than 360 million PCs, according to industry analyst firm Gartner–about 1 million PCs every day. Analyst firm IDC predicts the PC market will expand to approximately 630 million units per year by 2015, an annual growth rate of more than 12%.” Taken from D. Meyer (Oct. 4, 2010) Forbes

So your local computer repair specialist, like me, still has a place in the world of computing. We look forward to what new and exciting trends the industry will deliver and stand ready to serve and assist you with your computer repair and sales needs.

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. Comments Off on I can’t live without it!

It is such a relief to know someone you can trust with your computer!

Comments Off on It is such a relief to know someone you can trust with your computer!
Dennis F. Calderone, Owner/Operator, Gold Canyon Computer Repair, LLC

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):
AccountingAlternative MedicineBankBeauty ServiceBook KeepingCandlesCarWash
CharityChurchesComputerComputer RepairComputer Training
Credit Card ServicesDentistryLandscapingLaundryLaw OfficeLodging
Logistical ConsultingMedicalMuseumNewspaperParty CenterPest Control
Pet GroomingPhotographyPhysical TherapyPostal ServicesPrintingProfessional Organizing
Promotional ProductsReal EstateReal Estate and Property Management
Residential and Commercial PaintingRestaurantsRetail SeafoodRV ResortService Organization
StorageTours & Cruises VeterinarianWaste Services and RecyclingWindow 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 

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. Comments Off on It is such a relief to know someone you can trust with your computer!

It’s Like Having Backstage 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

As I mentioned earlier I attended the Pinal County Town Hall event at the end of April on ‘Building Connections Using Social Media’. Stacy Deprey-Purper, CEO, Today Publications talked about her great success with LinkedIn by taking small steps about 10-15 minutes a day she was able to land a large account which brought her newspaper(s) to full-time status. Year one she and her husband launched San Tan Valley Today and by the 2nd year she launched the North Eastern Pinal County paper. She started part-time and the small move of using LinkedIn made the BIG impact she needed to move her companies to the next level.      

The GCBA campaign launched on May 8, 2010 and our Facebook fan page has already climbed to 50 friends. The purpose  for the GCBA fan page:
● 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

 

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)

 

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. 1 Comment

So where do we begin?

Comments Off on So where do we begin?

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.

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.

So where do we begin?
As part of my research I read blogs, tweets, RSS fees, Facebook updates, Google alerts and slideshare posts to name a few. I found this slide share post of great interest and wanted to share this with all of you.

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

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. Comments Off on So where do we begin?

small business with BIG benefits.

Comments Off on small business with BIG benefits.

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.

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.

Posted in Featured by gccrepair. Comments Off on small business with BIG benefits.