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: Our office is located in Charlotte – the Queen City. This is our story:
I was in Myrtle Beach in 1984 on a family vacation (taking a break from work in a copier business), sitting in a Jacuzzi at 11 p.m. with someone I didn’t know. We chatted. Over the next few days, we talked more and spoke about getting together to play golf the next time we were on vacation in Myrtle Beach. When leaving, he said to me, “If you ever want a good copier line, let me know.” This is how I found out that Marc Parsons, my new friend, was really the chairman of a major Detroit copier (Toshiba) company. I was 24 years old at the time.
The next year, I resigned from a position I had with a copier company and called Parsons and he said, “Let me see if Toshiba is available in Charlotte.” I did some homework on the line, finding out there was no market presence in Charlotte. I created a business plan and called him back. “When do you want to start?” he asked me. He sent me a $25,000 check with no contract – just like that. I found an office location, sent him the lease, and started my business in March of ’87.” I then received $60,000 in copier equipment. Although we never signed an agreement, I paid the money back, with interest. But, how many people do you know who start a company with no commitment? I believe it’s a miracle. It’s formed the platform by which I run my business now. We try for a win-win-win – customer-employee-company- scenario at TechnoCom and I feel that’s the reason for our success.
Q 2. What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Ans: Never give up, work hard, and strive to build and nurture relationships
Q 3. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Ans: Being adaptable, always learning, willing to fail and learn from mistakes
Q 4. How many hours do you work a day on average?
Ans: Used to work 60-70 hrs in the past but now between 40-50.
Q 5. To what do you most attribute your success?
Ans: Making and learning from mistakes – it’s a humbling experience but also one that sharpens you and guides you to the right direction. If you don’t give up and keep learning – it’s only a matter of time until you hit success.
Q 6. How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Ans: Developing relationships in the community – We are partners with the Hornets basketball team, partners with radio stations, and prioritize local vendors to build those important community relationships. We are also now allocating more resources on the digital side and developing a stronger online presence.
Q 7. What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Ans: Having faith and confidence in yourself to keep pursuing your goal until you achieve it. But also creating balance in your life and in the lives of your employees so that a positive work environment is created and the company is sustained over the long term.
Q 8. Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Ans: Right now Technocom is serving the greater Charlotte market, but our goal in the next 5-10 years would be to expand to the regional southeast, as far south as Florida.
Q 9. Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Ans: Elevation Church everything in their organization is designed with intention, a positive message, and the creativity is attention grabbing and impactful.
Q 10. What motivates you?
Ans: Knowing that my business can streamline and increase productivity in other people’s businesses. Happy clients make me happy.
Q 11. How do you define success?
Ans: Making an impact on other people and businesses and transforming the way they run their own organization while growing ours.
Q 12. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Ans: Creating a business is a creative process –another form as creation
Q 13. How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
Ans: Building a system that is organized and easy to use so employees know exactly what to do in different situations and so that it can limit what falls through the cracks.
Q 14. What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
Ans: Golf, running, hunting
Company Detail :
Company : Technocom Business Systems
Contact : Jim Riggins
Address : 3330 Monroe Rd
City : Charlotte
State : NC
Zip : 28205
Phone : 704-847-5200
Fax : 704-847-5272
Email : info@technocomusa.com