Moving from "mobile" to "mortar"

acscva said:
In the future I will be hiring someone that will be at the office Monday through Friday 9-5 that will handle any possible walk-in business along with some administrative assistant needs and light tech work.
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Do it! It will pay off quickly!
 
I started Mobile.....went Mortar two years ago and I should have done it sooner. My consumer business doubled the first year and it more than pays for the added overhead. I feel more organized, and I have a place to meet with my clients...which make me appear to be a bigger business than what I am. So yes....I would highly recommend it.....Before you do it, crunch the numbers as you will increase your operational cost by the added rent, utilities, insurance, and equipment. Also when it comes to brick/mortar....it's all about the location. A small shop on a busy street is better than a large shop in a quiet commercial area.
 
I have a great set up. Its an office building in a retail location. I'm on the second floor, I have a great sign out front on a road that see's 20k a day BUT I pay office prices not retail. My shop is small but it works.
Our open hours are M-F 9-5, always available by phone. I often run out or leave during the day. I have a sign on the door that says, we had to step out, please call us at xxx-xxx-xxxx. If I am close by, I come back. If I'm not, I set an appointment. It works good for us and I imagine it simalur to how a by appointment only shop works.
I have gained so many residential and small business clients simply because they drove by us.
In all honesty, we have already decided that when we move our shop in the next year or so we will probably keep the lease on this place just to keep the street sign, the ROI is worth the cost of rent.
Google maps image of my location, older picture, we were not in here yet (Ironically it was a different IT company that outgrew the space, but I get the reader board and the top spot) - https://www.google.com/maps/@42.8863135,-71.3264568,3a,75y,271.74h,89.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD1Eguv4ZmANmnp19Ap-fjQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
 
wickedmojoit said:
when we move our shop in the next year or so we will probably keep the lease on this place just to keep the street sign
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Can you talk to someone else in the building and see if they'd be interested in moving out to give you more space? Might be a win-win for both of you if you kick in something to cover their moving costs but then don't have to maintain multiple leases.
 
Hey guys I have been thinking about doing more business. Not sure if storefront is good for me. I think it would bring in more customers. Here is my situation:

I am doing a 90/10 situation. But 10% is more my pc service business and 90% is my other business as a appliance technician. I rent a shop space that is attached with the appliance store. They are fine with taken in equipment for me. I also can use their address for mail but I have a PO Box too. The shop space is not set up at all for customers. But I do have a banner hanging outside. I am a one man crew. Like it that way my wife works for the appliance store. What I guess I am asking is for a way to gain more customers, should I move to another location or what. Rent includes electricity and internet. It nice setup but the customers are lacking. With the appliance service I do I am able to meet people. But this does not satisfy a good income for my pc side. I potentially want to switch the percentage from 90/10 to 10/90 or better. Any suggestions ideas or input would be greatly appreciated.

Picture of shop at www.RoseburgHelpDesk.com
 
I really think there is something to be said about having an actual storefront, mainly for visibility. I have the office/shared space "per diem" on demand sort of thing and I use the location as a mailing address and drop off location. It's nice, but it would be much better, from a professional standpoint in my opinion to have the store.
 
If the appliance store is doing a healthy business and you have a good deal going there, that seems good to me. I'd see if you can try to differentiate your work for the appliance store as something you take in to your business (e.g. outside tech working on logic boards, etc.) and try to avoid having to wear an appliance store uniform/shirt - get a few of your own business shirts embroidered instead in a different color. Basically you want to complement and fit in with the appliance store because you want their customers to also become your customers, and you also want the appliance store folks happy to have you there.

I don't like your banner - it looks temporary but more important it's too small to read easily. Can you get an actual sign of your own, or at least a bigger banner? Put the contact information and other stuff on a door sign, not on the banner that's 12-15 feet up in the air - use the banner to suck them in ("Computer Repair" or "Computer & Electronics Repair"), then let them come to the door for more information. Getting a more permanent sign might also be good, but that'll require both permission from the store (ask them first) and probably city or zoning approval for signage - that might be harder without a separate physical address, so don't open that can of worms at all if the store says no.

Also, can you rearrange your shop so it's at least marginally customer-friendly? It doesn't have to have a browsing area, counter, anything like that, but it needs to be clean enough for people to bring PCs directly to you and feel comfortable when they drop them off. Also, if the floor is bare cement (not uncommon with a garage door like that) and you're going to do any rearranging, get one of those epoxy floor coverings applied. I've spent some time at a working glass studio that did this recently, and between a coat of paint, some shelves, and the non-cement floor it's like a completely different place and enormously more welcoming to customers.
 
I started as a Callout from home, Company is called Chips computers because we started above a fish and chips shop (fish and fries for you Americans), was happy to stay as a call-out company until i got married. so after trading from above a fish and chips shop for 7 years as callout only we opened our Store next door to the fish and chip shop. My wife runs the shop most of the time while im out on callouts and doing remote support and websites.

Took a good year for the shop to get going but now people come to us for new stuff (or referb) and has given us new customers. its even helped with the work load as some customers will come in the store to get repairs rather then getting me to come out and repair at their home. 3 years down the line (and 10 years trading) we are bussyer then ever and keeping an eye out for a larger store as we have outgrown the one we have.

If you have a large client base already a shop may be ideal as long as you let them all know by post/email or phone that you now have a shop. and to entice customers to your shop we give callout customers a £5-£10 gift card to use only instore.
 
Last edited:
ChipsPC said:
I started as a Callout from home, Company is called Chips computers because we started above a fish and chips shop (fish and fries for you Americans), was happy to stay as a call-out company until i got married. so after trading from above a fish and chips shop for 7 years as callout only we opened our Store next door to the fish and chip shop. My wife runs the shop most of the time while im out on callouts and doing remote support and websites."
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For on-site service calls, will you also deliver dinner?
 
fencepost said:
If the appliance store is doing a healthy business and you have a good deal going there, that seems good to me. I'd see if you can try to differentiate your work for the appliance store as something you take in to your business (e.g. outside tech working on logic boards, etc.) and try to avoid having to wear an appliance store uniform/shirt - get a few of your own business shirts embroidered instead in a different color. Basically you want to complement and fit in with the appliance store because you want their customers to also become your customers, and you also want the appliance store folks happy to have you there.

I don't like your banner - it looks temporary but more important it's too small to read easily. Can you get an actual sign of your own, or at least a bigger banner? Put the contact information and other stuff on a door sign, not on the banner that's 12-15 feet up in the air - use the banner to suck them in ("Computer Repair" or "Computer & Electronics Repair"), then let them come to the door for more information. Getting a more permanent sign might also be good, but that'll require both permission from the store (ask them first) and probably city or zoning approval for signage - that might be harder without a separate physical address, so don't open that can of worms at all if the store says no.

Also, can you rearrange your shop so it's at least marginally customer-friendly? It doesn't have to have a browsing area, counter, anything like that, but it needs to be clean enough for people to bring PCs directly to you and feel comfortable when they drop them off. Also, if the floor is bare cement (not uncommon with a garage door like that) and you're going to do any rearranging, get one of those epoxy floor coverings applied. I've spent some time at a working glass studio that did this recently, and between a coat of paint, some shelves, and the non-cement floor it's like a completely different place and enormously more welcoming to customers.
Click to expand...

Well I am independent and so I don't have a uniform shirt for the appliance store. I do need to change or should say rearrange my shop. This is gonna be difficult though. I also have a problem with cash flow. I would take several years at present pace to be able to do updates. I think a storefront or at least walk in shop would be great. I have a real good idea for setup which i functional at half way complete. I can use the store as advertising and I do all the business work for them. They have no problems with me or I with them. As for signage, again its a money issue. I need a better cash flow on that side of the business. The appliance side is OK and I do some control board rework, but its enough to live on and pay bills for that side of the business. It does not leave me any real extra money for the PC side. I am married and my wife works for the appliance shop but I am running the PC side completely alone. I guess it comes down to 3 things, having capital to devote more time to the PC side, have a properly set up shop/store and being able to just have the guts to just put more time into the PC side. I hope this makes more sense.
 
Well, for the business side there are a bunch of folks here who've been exactly where you are. They may be able to steer you towards resources that can help - for example, I saw someone recently mention that they were able to get a grant (SBA?) to help get their business going with corporate registration, etc. so you might find similar things.
 
fencepost said:
Well, for the business side there are a bunch of folks here who've been exactly where you are. They may be able to steer you towards resources that can help - for example, I saw someone recently mention that they were able to get a grant (SBA?) to help get their business going with corporate registration, etc. so you might find similar things.
Click to expand...

Love to be able to get in touch with them. Do you know who they are?
 
Justin Beaudoin said:
Hey everyone...

I'm wondering what your thoughts are in regards to a mobile computer business (on-site) moving into adding a storefront to their portfolio so to speak.

I guess what I'm saying is I have a successful business running out of my home with a few technicians that exclusively does remote on site support. It's great. However, often people tell me "I wish you had a shop so I could see your computers for sale". We have systems for sale, but sometimes people don't ask or think of us as a source because we don't have a "showroom". In addition, there's people I know that avoid using us because they can't drop off their computer and they prefer this service over on-site... despite offering a pickup and drop off service.

Do you think it's a good move to a have a store front? I think it has advertising benefits, new customer benefits, and new revenue sources from product sales.

Bad move, good move?
Click to expand...

You might want to consider how well you'll be able to quantify fixed costs at various locations around town versus their relative traffic flow. How much revenue will be needed to carry the fixed overhead and establish a break-even point for the storefront operation?

A basic retail performance metric (for any type of business) is "revenue per square foot" (or meter). Your cost per square foot (or meter) per year for the space may or may not include extras like rubbish removal and utilities. You'll also need additional insurance. There's always staffing to consider as well, as many people do get turned off if hours are not consistent (then you're no better off than working from your house or from a second-floor office).

Bottom line (in my view) is that it's well worth it from a marketing and exposure standpoint if you can find the right location. It can be a money-pit however, and has ruined many businesses that found out the hard way that the increased overhead was not worth it. "Retail" is an industry in its own right, largely independent of the products/services offered... and as with so many things, "cash flow is everything"...

You don't want to get locked into a lease (of any duration) and then find out that you're operating in the red for too long... and if you have the flexibility of a short-term lease (or month to month), you don't want to give in to the temptation to pull the plug too soon, just because cash is tight (but business is growing)...
 
fencepost said:
If the appliance store is doing a healthy business and you have a good deal going there, that seems good to me. I'd see if you can try to differentiate your work for the appliance store as something you take in to your business (e.g. outside tech working on logic boards, etc.) and try to avoid having to wear an appliance store uniform/shirt - get a few of your own business shirts embroidered instead in a different color. Basically you want to complement and fit in with the appliance store because you want their customers to also become your customers, and you also want the appliance store folks happy to have you there.
Click to expand...

I already do some board repairs. I am adding some appliance repair to my list.

fencepost said:
I don't like your banner - it looks temporary but more important it's too small to read easily. Can you get an actual sign of your own, or at least a bigger banner? Put the contact information and other stuff on a door sign, not on the banner that's 12-15 feet up in the air - use the banner to suck them in ("Computer Repair" or "Computer & Electronics Repair"), then let them come to the door for more information. Getting a more permanent sign might also be good, but that'll require both permission from the store (ask them first) and probably city or zoning approval for signage - that might be harder without a separate physical address, so don't open that can of worms at all if the store says no.
Click to expand...

Yeah I need to change the signage due to the recent storm killed the sign. I did have a sign on the door a while back too.

fencepost said:
Also, can you rearrange your shop so it's at least marginally customer-friendly? It doesn't have to have a browsing area, counter, anything like that, but it needs to be clean enough for people to bring PCs directly to you and feel comfortable when they drop them off. Also, if the floor is bare cement (not uncommon with a garage door like that) and you're going to do any rearranging, get one of those epoxy floor coverings applied. I've spent some time at a working glass studio that did this recently, and between a coat of paint, some shelves, and the non-cement floor it's like a completely different place and enormously more welcoming to customers.
Click to expand...

Well I have been thinking of keeping this shop and doing a small conversion. Wanna do at least a 5 year lease with owner for rent control. A lot of places are cheap in my town til the owners so success then they raise the rent. For me to do anything requires money and that I don't have I make enough to live but not to save and build into anything bigger then what I have now.
 
Justin Beaudoin said:
Hey everyone...

I'm wondering what your thoughts are in regards to a mobile computer business (on-site) moving into adding a storefront to their portfolio so to speak.

I guess what I'm saying is I have a successful business running out of my home with a few technicians that exclusively does remote on site support. It's great. However, often people tell me "I wish you had a shop so I could see your computers for sale". We have systems for sale, but sometimes people don't ask or think of us as a source because we don't have a "showroom". In addition, there's people I know that avoid using us because they can't drop off their computer and they prefer this service over on-site... despite offering a pickup and drop off service.

Do you think it's a good move to a have a store front? I think it has advertising benefits, new customer benefits, and new revenue sources from product sales.

Bad move, good move?
Click to expand...

Personally having a store front does come with advantages of a daily income but also will require additional skilled person to handle it, have stock to display.
i operate from a small workshop off the main road and the kind of clients i support are only those that will only call for support, call to drop in an item or two.
I was blessed to share the room with my sis whose assistant stays and helps receive the drop offs.
if you can have a skilled store front person, go for for my friend and hit the sales. make sure you have a good display that will attract walk in Traffic. Good lack
 
About a year and a half ago I moved into an Executive Office with a shared secretary/receptionist in a very nice building. Just like a regular office except the Business Name is not on the Suite, just the suite number. Fellow suite-mates include attorneys and financial business firms. BEST MOVE I EVER MADE. I get a fixed location for people to drop off computers or meet with me when I'm in, massive credibility with new clients compared to a "mobile only" business. For many new clients, a mobile only business sounds like a gypsy, guy with a van kind of thing. I pay $550 a month, but that includes electricity, great internet, conference rooms when I want, and a pro-business secretary who treats my new and existing clients with care and respect. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner!
 
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