Chase Computers

www.esahc.com

1. Tell us about your business

Chase Computers is a small company servicing the Phillip Island, Bass Valley, Wonthaggi and surrounds in South Gippsland. We provide businesses and home users with great service, tuition and assistance for anything related to computers.

2. When and why did you start your business?

Chase Computers is a small company first registered in 1989. At the time, computer hardware and accessories were exhorbitantly expensive, so Chase Computers came into existence as a means of acquiring hardware at a realistic price for both friends and clients. Today it is the support offered by most companies and individuals that is overly expensive. We are here to change this.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with your business?

Chase Computers became operational in South Gippsland 2 years ago. We have built a wide and loyal following and a degree of financial independence in a relatively short time. I am also pleased to say that most of my clients I would now class as friends.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

The greatest difficulty is knowing where and how to gain the exposure so people who need my services can find me. A website is fine, but when targetting a local clientel, it is difficult to initially gain a high search ranking.

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

Our initial customer base was built on a letter drop strategy that saw each outlying property receive an introduction from us. Advertising in local newsletters has been very beneficial, but so to has the creation of our website. The very best form of promotion is word of mouth - you can't pay for it, yet it is worth it's weight in gold.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

Paid advertising which claimed to offer multiple leads and follow-ups. The greater the claim, the lower the return in my experience.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

Every job, every customer is new. I get a great deal of pleasure solving problems which my clients see as insurmountable. I take great pride in only charging the fee that I think is reasonable, a fee that I would be happy to pay if someone was providing me with that service. I could not do this if I was being employed by someone else.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

I am inspired by honest people who put the importance of their customers before personal profit - such people are always in demand.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

We plan to grow our business to a level which provides regular modest income whilst leaving time for rest and relaxation. We particularly plan on always leaving unallocated time so we can deal with a clients problem quickly - our friends should not have to wait days for their problem to be attended to.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

If an advertising opportunity looks to good to be true - then it is! Instead, build great word of mouth referrals, if a customer wants assistance, and it doesn't cost you anything to provide it (eg phone queries) - then don't charge for it.

Visit us at: www.esahc.com