Q 1. Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Ans: Computers R Us is not an ordinary electronics device repair shop: we believe in creating a unique experience for our clientele by providing a comfortable and welcoming environment while providing the upmost quality repairs. Computers R Us is unique in that we carry local products in our store for purchase as well: we have local honey from Kennesaw, Ga. We have local jams, jellies and salsa from northern Ga. We have handmade artisan soaps from Marietta, Ga, and we have fair trade coffee from Roswell, Ga. Computers R Us Is locally owned and operated in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Q 2. Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Ans: My name is Damien Daigle, I live in Kennesaw Georgia, I have been working in this industry for about 15 years. I have worked at many well known computer repair businesses in and around Atlanta including apple service centers. I hold a handful certifications AMCT (Apple Mac Certified Technician), A+ Certification and NetPlus Certified. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit, as a child I had many inventions I was working on. I love Computers R Us and I love what I do. Not everyone can say that, and I am so blessed to be able to say that.
Q 3. How did the idea for your business come about?
Ans: My inspiration to start a new business venture was my inventive personality and my vast knowledge of this industry. I knew I could provide the best electronic device repair at the best price in a unique environment. I have to give a great deal of recognition to my wife Chrissie: she was the visionary behind the coffee shop-like waiting area and recommended we begin carrying local products like the honey and coffee.
Q 4. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: The three pieces of advice I would give to budding entrepreneurs is:
1. Work harder than everyone else: It sounds cliché, but this is imperative to your success.
2. Know your stuff: research and education is key. Never stop learning. 3.
Q 5. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: The top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur are: 1. Adaptability 2. Decision making 3. Clear communication
Q 6. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: I work about 11-12 hours a day on average.
Q 7. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: I attribute my success mostly to my wife, Chrissie Thompson. She has been a huge support system to me, maintains and manages many aspects of Computers R Us and has been by my side from the beginning.
Q 8. What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: We have used many marketin
g platforms to market Computers R Us including advertising on Facebook, Yelp, Google, Realherodeals.com. We have attended several networking meetings. We have built strong relationships with our customers which has brought us a great deal of business. Also, we have created a partnership with Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue which allows us to create relationships within the rescue group as well as give back to our community. Facebook has definitely been our bread and butter: we started by building a business page for Computers R Us on Facebook and we still receive a lot of business from there.
Q 9. How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Ans: Computers R Us built our capital one phone repair at a time. We have not taken out a single loan nor have any investors that have invested in our business. We started the business out of my home in Kennesaw while I was still working a full time job. I would perform repairs at night and on the weekend: this is where our capital came from. This is what I mean when I say you need to work harder than everyone else. We have no debts associated with Computers R Us.
Q 10. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: The best way to achieve long-term success is to continue working harder than everyone else. Stay humble. Stay thankful. Keep learning. Look for the next wise investment to be made into your business. And remember where you came from.
Q 11. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: My vision for Computers R Us is to have a second location in the next 5 years. I have looked into additional investments as well: my whole family loves to cook Cajun food as we are originally from Louisiana so perhaps a restaurant in the next 10 years.
Q 12. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: The businesses that I admire most are other small mom and pops shops. Throughout this adventure of opening, running and growing Computers R Us, I have learned just how difficult, yet gratifying, it can be to run your own business. I have a great deal of respect for those who have done this.
Q 13. How important have good employees been to your success?
Ans: Having good employees working for us at Computers R Us is extremely important. The people that work for you must have a passion for your business. I believe in treating employees well: happy employees, happy clients.
Q 14. How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Ans: I stick with an idea. I don’t give up. That is a huge reason that Computers R Us came into fruition: you will hit a ton of roadblocks and obstacles, but you cannot give up.
Q 15. What motivates you?
Ans: My passion for this industry, my wife, my desire for a great rest of my life and enjoying it motivates me. I grew up poor so I understand what it means to “need” for things. I don’t want my family to ever “need” for things, so I am motivated to work hard.
Q 16. How do you generate new ideas?
Ans: I generate new ideas by watching where this industry is going. From there I can determine what changes need to be made at Computers R Us, or new ways to tackle problems that may arise. I like to be proactive.
Q 17. How do you define success?
Ans: I define success by how well I do my job and our client’s response to our work. I want our clients to understand that when they come to us, they are receiving quality work and are pleased with the end result. If they are pleased, I am pleased.
Q 18. How do you build a successful customer base?
Ans: Computers R Us has built s successful customer base by treating everyone as we would want to be treated. I do not believe in price gouging: I want to charge a fair rate for both parties. I believe in being kind to everyone that walks through our doors and doing everything I can to help solve the issue they are experiencing: if it were not for our customers, Computers R Us would not exist.
Q 19. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: My favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur is working hard and seeing the fruits of my labor. I take pride in my work ethic and I have a genuine interest in making people smile when I solve their electronic device issue.
Q 20. What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Ans: The most satisfying moment in business was when I picked up the key to our new store front: we had worked so hard to get to that moment and it had finally come.
Q 21. If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Ans: If I had a change to start my career over again, I would honestly not do anything differently. As a believer, I feel that my previous jobs were intentionally put in my path to prepare me for the position I am in now. I am thankful for the opportunities I had and would not change a thing as it got me to where I am today: Computers R Us.
Q 22. How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Ans: Being an entrepreneur has affected my family life in some aspects. My wife and I, in some form or fashion, are always working. We look at our hard work as an investment into our future though, and fortunately we are both fully committed to making Computers R Us they best it can be.
Q 23. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Ans: My greatest fear is failure. We have put our blood sweat and tears into Computers R Us and I would be heartbroken if we failed. Rest assured though: we will do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Contact Detail :
Company : Computers R Us
Contact : Damien Daigle
Address : 3600 Cherokee St, Suite 104
City : Kennesaw
State : GA
Zip : 30144
Phone : 678-851-9926
Email : computersRusatl@gmail.com