Repair People, you might be doing your socials all wrong… in fact most of you are 😁
First of all, social media is a tricky beast at best. Most tech repair businesses are just doing them flat out wrong. The biggest mistake? A lack of original and/or creative content! The second biggest mistake is giving up on it too easily! The third… wasting your time on forums (GO GET NEW BUSINESS!!!).
So stop reposting or copying content, don’t use templates either and stop wasting time. PRO TIP: whatever you do DON’T post offensive content that will piss off potential customers. Think before you post, but don’t think too hard! Please save your offensive/controversial comments for personal posts on personal accounts. Bottom line: Get out there as often as possible and post across multiple platforms about your work.
Here’s the Big Secret to Success
Talk about repair. That’s the big secret. Talk about
You repair things, right?! So that’s what you should be posting about every day. Post the stuff you repair. Your success stories.
Right?! Think about what you do. You repair stuff. You have so much original content that walks into your shop every single day! You might not think it’s a big deal but it’s pretty freaking amazing what you do. You improve peoples lives. You save them money. You save their data (don’t call it data, btw. You save memories, pictures, videos, contacts, etc.).
Viral Success Stories
Money Talks Wireless in Bridgeport, CT. is a master at what he does. Click on his page and then check his content. I know not every one can does these kind of videos and that’s okay. The point is he’s talking about repair and how it impacts people. That is what you need to do. His shop has over 1,200reviews on Google with a 4.9 rating. He is the star of his town because he talks about repair!
The dude has almost 600K followers on Instagram, almost 6M subscribers on YouTube & Tiktok. All he really talks about is repairing peoples tech. This is what you do and what you should be talking about each and every day. Talk about repairing tech that others said can’t be repaired.
Here’s a great example. Apple said no, he proved them wrong.
Here’s another great example from Computer Repair Doctors in Cleveland, OH. That I reposted on LinkedIn and it blew up overnight. They posted about fixing a MacBook that the Apple Store said couldn’t be fixed. It went from a thousand dollar loss to a cheap repair for their customer. PEOPLE LOVE THIS KIND OF CONTENT!
Not every post you make will be a winner. In fact most will not be. The goal is to help people imagine what could be with repair. That will lead them to your door. That will equal more business.
IDEAS OF CONTENT TO POST
-Tell your story! People want and need to hear it.
-Before & After shots of devices that you fix.
-Like the story above, someone said it couldn’t be fixed… but we fixed it.
-What you think is mundane (battery replacement, new screen, etc.). It educates folks!
-Unique things that you fix or unique fixes for tough repairs.
-Community members that you have helped out (the mayor, local biz person, etc.).
-Great reviews that you get on any review site. Simple screen grab & post.
-Stories about your staff and how great they are!
-Contests & giveaways each month.
This isn’t just about getting likes and views. Your posts will help educate your customers who are thinking about using your business. Social media can help you to do that, but you have to post.
Don’t make it one-sided
Be sure to follow others and like what they do. Repost what they are doing in your community — other businesses that is — reposting your partners cat videos might not help. Unless you’re On The Geaux Repair, who incorporates cats into their repair business. We posted about them recently on LinkedIn.
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Tips-to-take-your-Tech-Repair-business-viral.png10801080rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-12-03 00:00:002024-12-02 19:12:00Leveraging Your Socials To Make Your Tech Repair Trend
Take a Look at the TCA Rebrand & Learn About Our Non-Profit Status
The Tech Care Association is a mouth full to say the least, so we often refer to ourself as the TCA. As we enter into our fourth year of serving the Tech Care Industry we are rebranding and making the shortened version of our name official. So we have legally updated our name to a dba and will be called the ‘TCA’ from this day forward.
In doing so we thought it would be nice to redesign our logo as well (see it above) and clean things up a bit. We chose a circle to represent circulatory/sustainability while incorporating the segments of Tech Care Industry that we serve: REPAIR, SUPPORT, REUSE, & RECYCLE (see more below). Each of which are vital to keeping tech out of landfills and reducing e-waste.
We also wanted to shorten our motto to make clear what we do and who we represent. So we chose, We Care For Tech as the brand new TCA motto. The TCA is a non-profit trade association that represents companies that “take care” of tech after it’s sold. Any company that is in the tech care space is welcome to join our trade association here.
The Four Pillars of our Membership
REPAIR – The TCA believes that repair is the most important aspect of the tech care industry. These professionals are on the front lines of our industry and help people extend the life of tech each and every day by performing critical repairs to keep tech running. As such a majority of our members are in the tech repair space. The TCA operates a consumer facing directory for people to find our members at www.WhereToRepair.org. We seek to help repair people thrive while helping people find the best that repair has to offer.
SUPPORT – Much like tech repair tech support serves on the front lines of our industry. One of the biggest challenges for tech support companies is their battle with fraudsters who are are common across the internet. The TCA seeks to help people identify and use legitimate companies that serve in communities everywhere.
RESUSE – Over the last ten years companies that refurbish tech have exploded into the marketplace. And companies that buy and sell used tech have too. The TCA seeks to find more ways to partner with these companies in our network of tech repair companies who often buy and sell used products.
RECYCLE – Too much tech ends up in landfills or forever suspended in time in peoples junk drawers. By working with recyclers the TCA hopes to get more tech back into the marketplace and then make sure it ends up in the proper recycling streams when it is actually at end-of-life.
Companies that work in these four areas of tech care are welcome to join the TCA and participate in TCA governance. Because we believe tech repair is the most important aspect of the industry we have special membership packages for these professionals that allow them to join the association for a reduced rate. Those packages for tech repair companies can be found here.
The TCA is an IRS Approved Non-Profit Trade Association
The TCA was approved by the IRS to operate as a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association. This is an important designation from the IRS that allows the TCA which can lead to thousands of dollars of resources that can be put back into the organization, which would have otherwise gone straight to the U.S. government. We took this important step to serve our community for many reasons and it will allow us to serve you better in the years to come.
It should be noted that the TCA is the only not for profit trade association that serves the tech care industry.
The TCA is always to happy to work with other organizations in the industry to help the tech care industry thrive! We know we don’t everything and we can’t possible do everything. This is one of the reasons we operate the industries ONLY complete tech care industry events directory on our website AND the TCA we have links to other organizations listed in the TCA resource hub. We are always happy to partner with other organizations to help everyone in the industry succeed.
Let’s all work together to reduce eWaste by keeping tech in the market longer with repair, support, reuse, and proper recycling!
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post.png10801080rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-10-09 00:00:002024-10-08 15:27:40We Care For Tech A New Look For Your TCA
The TCA is a Member Based Group for Serious Tech Repair People
The TCA (Tech Care Association) launched in November of 2000 with the primary goal of helping to unite the tech care industry — those that take care of tech after it’s sold. In other words, people in: tech repair, tech reuse/refurbishing. tech support, and tech recycle. The vital businesses in tech circularity that care for tech from the cradle to the grave and keep it in the market longer.
Organized as a not-for-profit corporation in the state of Virginia and recently recertified by the IRS as a 501(c)(6) organization. Founded by Rob Link who got into the industry in 2000 after a successful career in the wireless industry. He was inspired to start the TCA by the Auto Care Association, a longstanding and successful trade association for people that take care of automobiles after they are sold. The similarities of the two industries is uncanny and only separated by the price of the product (cars v. tech) and the time in market (over a century v. decades).
One of the biggest similarities in the two industries is the common cause of fighting for Right To Repair legislation across the country. The Auto Care Association fought and won its first battle in 2012 and they have been fighting the OEMs ever since. The other similarities in the two industries are the number of products that they support in the market (288M cars v. 310M phones). Repair and reuse is a major part of both industries, as well as recycling. Aftermarket accessories are a big part of each industry as well.
In addition, other similarities are the distribution model: cars are serviced mainly by independent community based shops and so is tech repair. The industry structure: cars have parts distributors that offer various types of parts – so does tech repair. As with most repair industries the repair techs that work in these two industries are, to quote a friend, “fiercely independent”.
What Sets Apart The TCA from Other Organizations?
First of all, we support anyone and everyone who is serious about helping tech repair people. In fact, we even list other organizations on the TCA website and invite them to partner with us to help further the industry. We don’t see any of these groups as competition to our mission and goals. Our industry can support multiple groups. Additionally we invite our members to join and support other organizations. We work closely with many of them and hope to work with more.
So in no particular order, here are some of the ways we help the industry:
The TCA www.WhereToRepair.org is the only nationwide directory of community based tech repair businesses that anyone can join.
We offer FREE resources in the TCA Resource Hub that are available to anyone.
Your TCA works daily to promote the industry to more people in order to help you get more business.
We are actively seeking unique partnerships that will drive business into your shops.
The TCA works on matchmaking companies within the industry to help everyone get better and more productive outcomes.
We help support and promote Right To Repair legislation so that we can all have an even playing field to succeed.
Your TCA is working on software products in collaboration with other companies to help further the industry.
The TCA is zealously searching for companies outside of the traditional phones, tablets, and computers that need and want our member services.
Why is it The Tech Care Association and Not the Tech REPAIR Association?
This is a question we get a lot and one of the reasons we have grown so slowly. People get confused and we’ve had to work on raising awareness in the industry itself.
To complicate things even more, others use different names to refer to the industry. Some still call it the “cell phone” repair industry — which is outdated and simplistic. Others want to refer to it as the “wireless” repair industry — kind of limits what we do to just wireless devices. And there are other names too. We believe our industry is complex can can serve many areas that includes smartphones/wireless devices and so much more. Consumer electronics is a great place to start but if it has a cord and a board then consider it TECH!
Let’s start with why the word TECH. Tech is a higher category that encompasses so much more and leaves a lot of opportunity for the future. Cell phones and smartphones are tech. Tablets and computers are tech. Consumer electronics are tech. Using the word “Tech” leaves open many more opportunities than one specific category.
Now the tricky one, the word CARE. Again, let’s think big picture. Repair is a form of care for tech. So is tech support, which many of our members do each day. Reuse and refurbishment are also forms of tech care. Many of our members participate in this process, from buyback to reselling devices and the repair/refurbishment process in between. In fact, I could give you a long list of companies that started as repair shops and moved into refurbishment of devices and now process millions of devices a year.
And what about the missing word REPAIR? First off, our founder coined the phrase Tech Repair almost two decades ago when he switched the name of his “cell phone repair” company to “Tech Repair” and then continued to promote the phrase on his industry blog, The WiGoMan for years. During his time as an industry consultant he worked with companies to adopt the phrase, which culminated in Asurion renaming UBIF stores in 2021. Since that time, many other repair shops have adapted “Tech Repair” into what they name their business. And in a recent trend, Google search serves up multiple results within the industry when using the search term, “TECH REPAIR”.
While Tech Repair is a big part of what we do, Tech Care is all about device circularity, or taking care of tech after its sold — Repair, Support, Reuse, and Recycle = Tech Care.
In the End, Tech Care is All About Reducing eWaste!
Outside of our main goals of supporting the industry and helping our members thrive the TCA wants to promote the reduction of e-waste, a global crisis according to a recent UN report. We firmly believe that if more people participated in tech care we could reduce e-waste significantly.
In our industry that starts with tech repair people, who are on the front lines of the industry. These are community based repair people who take care of tech every day by fixing broken devices in their communities. Recent estimates have the number of tech repair businesses in the US alone at somewhere in the neighborhood of 40,000 locations. As demand increases that number grows almost daily. These shops, stores, mobile techs, and depots often participate in all four areas of tech care (repair, support, reuse, & recycle). The TCA seeks to unite these locations to build a network marketplace to service more devices, thus reducing eWaste.
A local model works because it is community based. Easy. Simple. Convenient for the customer. When these goals are met by a network of maybe only a quarter of the total number of tech repair shops in the US they could help collect tens of millions of devices each year that could flow into the reuse market. Devices could also be mined for parts to repair more. At end of life, they could be properly recycled and kept out of local landfills — improving the lives of people in that community.
Put simply, reducing e-waste benefits our industry while saving our planet and improving life for us all!
How & Who Can Become a Part Of the TCA?
The TCA is open to anyone who wants to help move the industry forward. We welcome any business from any part of the industry (repair, support, reuse, and recycle), as well as anyone who wants to partner with our members. Let’s breakdown membership categories:
We make adding your tech repair business to our network easy and affordable. You select the plan that works best for you, starting at FREE. We hope you will find value in what we do and want to upgrade your membership to a paid plan. But we want to eliminate any second thoughts you might have and get started now.
Membership gets you listed in our consumer facing http://www.WhereToRepair.org directory that will do two things for your repair business, 1) Get you more business when someone searches for a local repair business in your area, and 2) Increase the SEO of you existing website while adding legitimacy to your business.
Click on the link above to join and find out additional benefits of membership.
This is an exciting way to support the industry while promoting your business to our members. Industry partners are listed in various categories in the TCA Resource Hub so that our members can find you and do business with you. Basic listings are free (email us for inclusion) but membership gives you a lot more exposure and opportunity to get your name in front of more potential customers.
We also can help you develop a unique program to expand your business into thousands of member locations across the country. We know our programs can help you grow!
To join click the link above and find the right investment for your business to help support our mission and grow your bottom line.
Alliance organization membership is designed for organizations that want to participate in the Tech Association and are aligned with the TCA mission. Membership is restricted in each of these categories to organizations that are described below. All applicants must be approved before becoming members.
Click the link above to find the right membership for your organization.
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/What-are-the-objectives-of-the-TCA.png10801080rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-09-10 15:22:192024-09-10 15:22:22A Trade Association For Serious Tech Repair People
The TCA Welcomes Former Members of the Now Defunct ACRBO
While the ACRBO website is still live it appears as if they have stopped all operations sometime in the last 3-4 years. The site was last copyrighted in 2014, but the last blog post was in 2019. We reached out to all of the ACRBO board members and only got a response from two of them. One said he knew for sure they shut down and the other said they had not heard anything in years.
For those of you who are not familiar with the ACRBO, it stands for the Association of Computer Repair Business Owners and was founded in 2009. The site states, that “the Association was formed by Daniel Hand owner of Computer Medics of Northern Virginia LLC after realizing that there were no professional Associations for the smaller computer business owner to become part of. With the increase in membership the Association created a “Leadership” team to help maintain the site and promote the industry.” At one point serving more than 2,000 members.
By all accounts ACRBO was successful in its efforts to help its members during it’s time in operation. We would like to thank Daniel Hand and the other folks at ACRBO who moved the industry forward and welcome any former members to join the TCA to help us carry on the legacy of the ACRBO.
WHO SHOULD JOIN THE TCA?
The Tech Care Association (TCA) is non-profit 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 2020 by Rob Link that is designed for professionals in the tech care industry. Tech Care is defined as any one who “takes care” of tech after it’s sold or people who repair, support, refurbish, and recycle tech. “Tech” is loosely defined as any consumer electronics with a (mother) board and a (power) cord — the tip of the spear here are phones, tablets and computers. It is our belief that more consumer electronics need to be taken care of to reduce and eliminate e-waste in the world.
TCA members are made up of small businesses across the country that help take care of tech in their communities. These small business people are on the frontlines of the industry and, although small in size (mainly mom & pop type shops), they number in the tens of thousands across the country. Making them our largest and most important resource for tech care.
What was once considered the cell phone and computer repair industry is now the Tech Repair Industry, which falls under the larger Tech Care Industry. The TCA seeks to serve any business interested in furthering the industry to moving it forward for greater success for all. The TCA welcomes any and all companies that operate in this space into its body of members.
WHY CALL IT TECH?
In our modern society all things are becoming tech. More and more of the products we buy each and every day are becoming infused with technology. From IOT connected appliances and personal electronics (toothbrushes & sex toys) to furniture and electric vehicles. Everything is becoming TECH!
Those that learned to take care of cell phones and computers are leading the way in this new and vital industry of tech care. These community based helpers are changing the way we look at the world and the products we buy. They help keep this massive wave of new products in the market longer, which again reduces the amount of waste that enters our ecosystem.
Tech Repair People have learned — in most cases — how to service and repair tech without the help of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), as the Right to Repair Movement has pointed out for more than ten years now. These are brilliant people who have learned to reverse engineer tech and even fix it on a board level — a process called micro-soldering.
WHY IS TECH CARE SO IMPORTANT?
As our society relies more and more on tech these community based tech care people become even more important to our world. Our world only has so many resources to make new tech and if and when supply chains are disrupted they will be relied upon even more so.
The other main reason to support and use tech care professionals is the looming e-waste disaster that our planet is facing. An ecological nightmare is looming form all of the electronic waste our world is producing. In 2024 the United Nations declared e-waste to be a world wide crisis.
Consumer electronics make up most of this waste. E-waste can leak harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, and cadmium into the soil, which then contaminate ground and surface water. This contamination can lead to serious ecological problems, affecting not only land but also nearby water sources.
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ACRBO-is-no-more.png10801080rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-08-18 00:00:002024-08-17 14:39:18All Tech Repair People Are Welcome Here
The tech repair industry is so much more than phones but that seems to be almost everyone’s focus. Fix more phones. Sell more phones. Get Apple & Samsung to give us better access to more phone repairs. Make Google easier to market our phone repair business to more people. Phones. Phones. Phones
Phones are the bright shiny object that every repair shop lusts over. Cracked screens are the low hanging fruit (pun intended) that gets everyone into this business.
But what if I told you that there is a better way?
The inspiration came to me over a year ago during a call with a major OEM (I mean a big one that sells a lot of phones). We were speaking to an influential contact that offered to help get us to the right person to get more repair work. He said to us, “have you ever considered small appliances. Because EVERYONE tries to get the phone business.”
Of course. Every repair related company in the world wants the phone business! And it’s nothing but a race to the bottom to offer the lowest prices. Whether you’re a repair shop fighting against 20 other shops in your area or a wholesaler trying to compete. Everyone wants the lowest price, which makes it tough to make any money at all.
Friends, the consumer electronics (CE) industry is a trillion dollar industry, and yes phones make up about half of it. So of course everyone’s attention is focused on phones. But think about it this way. If half of the CE industry can create a $40 billion phone repair industry (my estimate) what can the other half create?
You’ve heard me say it many times in the past. More and more products are becoming tech. That’s on display every year at CES. Workout equipment. Kitchens (pots & pans, cutting boards, small appliances, etc.), vacuums, pet products, and so much more! All of it needs to be repaired and serviced. Right now too much of it gets destroyed because it has to be shipped for service/repair.
This creates e-waste — which has become a global nightmare. If companies can get their products serviced easier, without shipping it, it’s more likely to stay in the market.
The consumer electronics industry is diversifying!
I wrote a very short piece back in July last year that got a ton of responses. A lot of repair people wanted to know how to diversify their business. I even noticed a few other people in the industry claim they had the answers. It’s an important question. Beyond that it is also an incredible opportunity.
An opportunity that one person or one company will never fully capitalize on. But one that a collaboration of companies will be able to seize. This is what I mean when I encourage the industry to work together — which some, unfortunately, never will. But that’s okay. They will just simply get left behind cleaning up the shards of glass in their shops.
Independent tech repair has all of the advantages to be able to service more diverse products. But no bigger advantage than it’s network of locations across the country (some estimate more than 25K locations). These are what I like to call community based tech care locations.
Two important points here on naming: 1) the word TECH is more ubiquitous (it covers more than phones), and 2) the word CARE includes repair but covers so much more. More means troubleshooting, support, diagnostics, setup, etc. We are the tech care industry, and tech repair is one of the biggest segments for us. AND we can be more!
Working Together – Staying In Our Lanes
We can ALL succeed if we ALL stay in our own lanes and appreciate what others do. It’s important too to have an attitude of win/win when working with partners. In other words, I win if you win. Meaning sometimes you have to give up something for someone else to win too.
For local TECH REPAIR BUSINESSES that means focusing on what you do best: Repairing tech. Advance your skills, stay focused on repair, and taking great care of customers. You are the frontline!
For ADVANCED TECH REPAIR that means opportunities to support more devices and create more solutions. Find ways to help OEMs fix their products that can scale. Fix things and post videos that help everyone learn how to do the work.
For national WHOLESALE/DISTRIBUTORS you play an important role here. Be ready to manage different parts and support more products. You are the lifeline for those in the tech repair business.
For REPAIR DEPOTS realize that your solution is a legacy one and not what customers want as a first option. There is still a lot of demand that can and will flow into your channel from the frontline.
For REFURBISHERS & RECYCLERS help design systems to pickup products from the frontline. Either using a regional hub model or a simple pickup and delivery system. Lots of opportunity for the companies that get it right.
Some of you just simply need to stay out the way. You don’t need to be a part of everything or pretend you know what you’re doing. It’s best if you ask yourself and others how can I help.
The strength here is THE NETWORK! It is all of the different segments of the industry working together to help lift up the industry. It is having a win/win attitude that is more focused on the greater good than selfish deeds.
For the TCA it means we are the glue that brings everyone together. Join us (literally become a member) and let’s all work together to make the tech care industry into what it can be!
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Success-for-2023.png788940rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-07-30 00:00:002024-07-29 16:37:17The Way We All Succeed In Tech Repair
As a guy who ran a multi-shop tech repair business and did a lot of consulting work I know the true secret to success. SAY YES MORE OFTEN! Okay, it’s not really a secret it’s really just a good business practice. Successful companies, in any industry, find a way to say yes to their customers more often.
How many times does a customer call or come into your business and ask, “Can you fix…?” And how many times do you and your staff not say yes immediately or even worse you say no? I promise if your honest with yourself you will realize how often this happens or how often your staff says no.
Listen I saw it all the time in my repair business and I had three shops that grossed over $1million in revenue. It would drive me crazy! My most successful shops were confident and said yes. My least successful shops doubted and said no.
Friends, you operate a REPAIR BUSINESS. Every time some one asks if you can fix something you say YES — without blinking — without hesitating — without doubting. And don’t you dare ever say NO.
This philosophy should exist in all circumstances!
Why Say Yes, Every Single Time?
Because it’s true. Everything can be fixed. The only variable is how much is the customer willing to pay to fix it. That’s not your job to decide — let me say that again. It is NOT your job to decide if a customer should fix something or not. Your job is to fix things. Determine a price. Deliver the price to the customer. Always be honest and let them decide.
You have to have the attitude that everything can be fixed (for a price) if you want to succeed in this business. You have to establish this as your mantra and drill it into your employees. Otherwise you’re going to say no, or maybe, and then you’ll lose more business than you win.
Find partnerships that can help you succeed in the short term and then learn the skills you need to bring all of the business in-house.
Now I’ve been at this for 20 years and my shops repaired tens of thousands of devices. Could we fix everything that came into our shops? NO, of course not. But that’s not what’s important here. It’s the attitude you have to have to win. People who win have a winning attitude. I could list dozens of examples (sports, business, arts, etc.), but I think you know what I mean. But seriously, do you think a guy like Elon Musk ever doubts what he can do??!! In repair that means saying yes to your customers with all of the confidence you have.
If you want to win you have to have a winning attitude!
How Do You Back It Up?
First of all, you are going to surprise yourself. You are going to challenge your staff or yourself to fix something unfixable and you’re going to win.
Maybe it’s a repair above you or your companies capabilities — keep learning! In that case you can ship it off to another shop. In my early days we couldn’t micro-solder so we shipped all of those jobs off to another shop for repair. We didn’t make a lot on those transactions but we got a reputation in the market that we could fix anything. Once we learned how to micro-solder the profit followed.
You get one shot to win a customer — they aren’t going to check back with you in the future to see if you can do new things. Say yes and then figure it out! When you do you will win more business, they come back, and they will refer you to others.
NEVER SAY NO! Offer the customer a solution even if it doesn’t make sense to you. Super old phone? Might make sense to you to upgrade. But what if they have a special rate plan that they would lose if they switched devices??? I’ve also seen people that have a sentimental connection to a device. Doesn’t make practical sense but it’s what they want. JUST SAY YES!
In the startup world there is an expression called “Fake it till you make it” — I’m sure you’ve heard it. Here’s a good definition: to consciously cultivate an attitude, feeling, or perception of competence that you don’t currently have by pretending you do until it becomes true.
Sometimes you have to fake it till you make it!
“I Only Want To Fix __________ !”
When uBreakiFix started they quickly adopted the motto, “We fix anything with a power button.” Then morphed that into a question directed to their customers of, “What can we fix for you today?” Brilliant! Because in one sentence they communicated to their customers they could fix anything.
When a customer came into a UBIF store they said YES!
A lot of times when a new repair business opens up they only focus on phones. It happened to me. We refused to even fix related devices like computers. Well UBIF sold their company for around $250 million dollars and I didn’t.
A repair all tech strategy is the best strategy! Why? Because it builds your customer base and gives you more repeat customers. Acquiring customers is expensive. Customers are the lifeline to your business. Build a strong customer base that knows they can come to you whenever their tech needs repair and you win!
Here’s the best part. Many tech items these days are very similar when it comes to repair. And EVERYTHING is becoming tech! Demand for your services is only going to grow if you adopt a repair all tech philosophy.
UBIF had it right when they said anything with a power button. I will take it a step further and say anything with a power button and a circuit board. Once you advance your skills you will be surprised what you can fix.
Every tech repair shop should be repairing computers, laptops, TVs, robo vacuums, small appliances, and so much more. Demand for the repair of these devices is only going to grow.
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Say-Yes-More-Often-Animated-Instagram-Post.png10801080rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-07-08 00:00:002024-07-07 17:32:11Unleash Business Growth: Say Yes to Repairing All Tech
Ahh… summertime! The hot weather sets in, school lets out, and summer vacations begin. Funny how most summer trips revolve around water. Maybe a lake, river, ocean or the manmade type at an amusement park. Or perhaps just a trip to the local pool to cool off for a bit.
When I operated my repair shops we geared up for liquid damage season every year before Memorial day. And sure enough, it never disappointed us when it came to working on liquid damaged devices. I wrote it about it in my repair blog here.
If you do it right, summertime should be a profitable time of year for your tech repair business. Here are five simple tips to help you prepare:
TIP #1: Learn How to Repair Liquid Damaged Devices
I talk to tech repair shops all the time who don’t even do simple liquid damage repair work. In 2024 this amazes me. You don’t have to be able to do advanced board work or microsoldering to work on liquid damaged devices.
I can’t teach you how to do it in a newsletter, but there are lots of resources available online. Find them and learn how to do the work. You can find classes too. It’s all online, just like everything else you’ve ever learned.
Don’t let anyone tell you that liquid damaged devices cannot be repaired. They can! My shops had a VERY high success rate (over 80%) and we made more than 50% of our summer revenue on liquid damage work.
TIP #2: Advertise it to the World
Most people don’t know that liquid damage can be repaired. So you need to tell the world that you can help.
Get some posters and counter signs up in your shop.
Put up a roadside sign & other outside signs.
Social posts on all your platforms.
Drop off flyers at the local pools.
Push it at carrier stores when you drop off doughnuts & pizza.
Verbally alert every customer who comes into your shop during the season.
TIP #3: Write a Solid Blog Post
My number one blog post ever on my personal repair blog is about liquid damage. Getting repair customers is all about educating them about your services. A blog connected to your website is the best way to do it.
Just write an interesting success story about interacting with a customer. Or have someone write it for you. Either way blog posts are great ways to increase SEO and get more business.
TIP #4: Email Your Current Customers and…
Write a fun email to your customer base welcoming them to “Liquid Damage Season”. Give them some tips on how to protect their devices (zip lock bags are great & cheap). Then let them know to run, don’t walk, to your shop should they get any of their tech wet. Tell them what you can do for them.
PRO TIP: Work with local groups that have newsletters. Think outdoors clubs, bike clubs, adventure groups, vacation co’s, etc. that might have a newsletter. Ask them to publish an article for their members about your liquid damage service. You might be able to get a local newspaper or TV station to help you too.
TIP #5: Offer a Warranty for Every Job You Complete
This is tough, but if you want to generate more business then you have to stand behind your work. And if you’re doing it right you will be fine. This should be a premium service with a premium price. Build your price around knowing that sometimes you will lose money on supporting a warranty.
Work on advancing your skills! Be the best of the best! Until then find an advanced shop that can cover you when things go bad or you need advanced work.
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Blue-Pool-Party-Summer-Instagram-Post.png10801080rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-06-17 09:18:532024-06-17 09:18:55Discover the five tips to a successful tech repair summer
Hiring new techs is tough and is one of the most challenging things any tech repair business has to do. I get it. When I launched my repair business back in 2006 it wasn’t any easier than it is today. For more than tens years I hired hundreds of techs for my shops. Let me share a three tips that we found successful.
Tip 1: Hire Entry Level
You know your business better than anyone. Hopefully you also know how to repair things better than anyone — if not maybe consider doing something else 🤔. By hiring entry level you can mold them into the tech you want them to be!
Look for entry level people who are either fresh out of high school or looking for something completely new. The key here is finding people who have excellent problem solving skills and who love a challenge. Maybe these are people taking a gap year from school or who attending a community college. Or maybe it’s someone that wants to go right into a trade after high school.
Post a job that includes “ENTRY LEVEL” in the listing and be honest about what they should expect to get paid. Then ask them to do two things: 1) reply to the listing with a resume or job history, and 2) a cover letter or a couple of sentences on why they want this job. This is how you will will weed out submissions.
If they can’t reply to these two simple requests don’t bother bringing them in for an interview. They can’t follow instructions and will be a horrible tech.
INSIDE TIP: For the best techs it’s not about the money! It’s about the opportunity and the company culture. Talk about it in the listing!!
Tip 2: Setting up for the Interview
After you review your job listing submission and decide who you would like to interview. Send them an email or text message to arrange an interview. Give them a couple of dates that will work for you and ask if they can come in during those times.
INSIDE TIP: Put together a questionnaire for them to fill out when they arrive. Ask them direct questions like:
Contact info: name, address, phone #, email
Employment desired & history: desired position & pay, hours they can work, schedule conflicts, start date, why are they applying, etc. Ask them about their last job: company, position, pay & why they left.
Add a signature space that includes a brief legal authorization (see applications online).
Why? Trust me when I tell you this will give you a lot of valuable information to use during the interview! Look at what they expect to make in pay. Talk about their last job. Why they want to get into tech repair. Hours they can work & any conflicts.
Tip 3: Look for These Skills
Forget about the perfect hire or hiring someone like you. It’s not going to happen. HIRE A TECH! Not a sales person or retail clerk. Also, don’t try to figure out if they will or will not be a good tech. Instead ask them if they about these skills:
Are they a patience person or do they get frustrated easily? Look for examples. Ask for instance questions. Impatient people make horrible techs.
Do they have fine motor skills? Have they worked with small parts. Maybe put together a model (RC cars, etc.). Look for examples. They will be working with tiny tools and tiny parts all day as a tech. This is important!
Do they have an attention to detail? Details matter in this business. It matters for check-in and it matters during a repair. Miss a detail and things can go bad.
Are they a tech geek? My best techs were 100% tech nerds. Enough said.
Are they committed to the mission of repair — this is a good question to ask yourself too? To be successful in this business you need to have the mindset that EVERYTHING can be repaired (more on this topic next week).
Do they demonstrate honesty and integrity? This is more a statement than a question during an interview. Good to lay the groundwork.
Hiring is tough for everyone in this industry. Don’t feel bad if you struggle. Be honest with the people you hire and pay them fairly. Don’t expect a new tech to save your business and don’t put too much on them.
The best operations help their techs become better employees and better people. Which means they may move on depending on how your business does. That’s okay. Create a culture that demonstrates your commitment to their success and you will build a winning team!
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hiring-New-Techs.png12001200rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012024-06-04 00:00:002024-06-04 17:09:38How to Hire New Techs for Your Tech Repair Business
It seem like the last two years we’ve seen a lot of tech repair operations convert their shops into one of the major franchises. But is that the right decision for your existing business? The answer is complicated.
On one hand the sales pitch is compelling. You can go from a no name (sorry, but most of you have little to no brand recognition) to part of a major brand. A recognizable brand should help you win more business. You also get access to guidelines and SOPs that can help you improve your business operations. And there’s more…
One of the major franchises promises that “store owners get a blueprint to success.” They go on to list all of the ways they will help you “Grow Your Business”: Brand Awareness, Marketing, Buying Power, Nationals Accounts Program, New Owner/Manage Training, Relationship with Mobile Defenders, and Relationships with Carriers and Manufactures.
Joining a Franchise System Sounds Pretty Good, Right?
There is always two sides of coin my friends and the TCA exists to help you make good decisions about your tech repair business. Sometimes that means we ruffle some feathers or go against the popular crowd. But we will always tell you the truth.
To help you understand your options better and give you more insight on the industry as a whole. Let me introduce you to Shane Mericle who leads the CPRIOA as an example of what a strong trade association can do for business owners like you.
Shane Mericle & CPRIOA
Shane is the founder and driving force behind a large group of CPR owners that is pushing their franchise owner (Assurant) for change. These efforts include a major lawsuit.
He was recently interviewed about the plight of franchise owners and talks about the MANY challenges of owning a franchise business.
If you are thinking about a franchise or you’re just interested in what’s going on this is a MUST WATCH VIDEO!
Anyone and everyone in the tech repair industry should watch this video. Shane knows this industry and is a pretty smart dude. His insights into running a tech repair business are valuable for everyone. I’ll warn you the video is almost an hour long but well worth the watch to help you better understand your business!
Look Before You Leap!
I’m not saying joining a franchise is right or wrong for you. But you need to know all of the facts first. Unfortunately there aren’t many people in the industry who are willing to put their necks out to share the truth with you.
Would I join a franchise? No, never! Is it right for some people? Yes, absolutely.
Franchises can help business owners who need some guidance or direction in their business. However, now that uBreakiFix & CPR are owned by multi-billion dollar corporations I might stay clear of them. Smaller franchise systems, like: Techy, Cellairis, and HAILaGEEK are much better options! Look around too, there are numerous smaller and regional franchise systems that you could join.
Is joining a franchise a silver bullet that will save a struggling business? No, absolutely not! As I have said hundreds of times in the past there is NO SILVER BULLET! If you want to change the status quo in tech repair join us at the TECH CARE ASSOCIATION (TCA) or start another trade association! We need to be better organized or your business and the industry as a whole will go away.
Change is hard work! I admire Shane Mericle and the hard work of the CPRIOA.
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/image-4.png7681024rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012023-06-01 16:03:522024-06-03 22:24:12Thinking About Converting To A Tech Repair Franchise?
The One Simple Thing That Everyone in Tech Repair Needs To Do
If there is one thing our industry needs more than anything, it’s to…
If there is one thing your business needs more than anything, it’s to…
If our industry wants the OEMs to work with us and not against us, we need to…
BE MORE PROFESSIONAL
Do you want your business to grow? Do you want people to take you more serious? Do you want to provide a comfortable living for yourself and your family? The first step in accomplishing these things is to be BE MORE PROFESSIONAL!
A big part of what we do at the TECH CARE ASSOCIATION (TCA) is to advocate on your behalf — your membership helps pay for those efforts! We have spoken to Apple, Google and other OEMs to try and find solutions for you. Here is the harsh reality of those discussions. They don’t think you’re serious. Seriously, they don’t.
Why? Because when they look at our industry they don’t see many professional operations. Apple and Google our VERY professional companies that operate in VERY professional ways. They have standards. They have minimum expectations for companies they work with, and guess what? Most of you don’t even come close to what they expect!
Right to repair (if it ever passes – which BTW, the NY law looks like it might not become law) will NEVER solve that issue. They will have requirements for you to join. Professional requirements. Requirements you will be forced to achieve.
Getting our ads fully back onto Google AdWords is also an issue of professionalism. There is a simple solution staring us all in the face (work together in a trade association, like the TCA to set standards). Or you can keep “hacking” the system and paying others to help you with a “work around”. And dreaming that things will someday change. Or, take action now and work on becoming more professional.
The answer to many of our problems is simple: Become more professional! But hey, I get it some of you are not sure how to do that. So let’s answer the question:
How Do You Become More Professional?
I could make a long list of things to answer this question, but let’s start with something simple, free, and easy to setup. A LinkedIn profile for you AND your business.
Let me say first of all, LinkedIn isn’t just another social media site. It has become the de facto professional business directory for everyone. It can be a great business tool for you to be seen, find new partnerships, and do more business online. Anyone who is someone (big or small) uses LinkedIn every day. You should too!
PRO TIP: Immediately connect to as many people as you know! ESPECIALLY industry people, industry groups, and companies in the industry! Connecting to the TCA LinkedIn Page will help you establish credibility.
NEXT STEP: Create a LinkedIn Page for Your Business
Once you are logged into LinkedIn, click on the WORK icon in the upper-right corner of your homepage.
PRO TIP: Be sure that your profile is connected to your business profile! Also, encourage your employees to join and connect with your company page!
Don’t Just Join LinkedIn – Be More Active On LinkedIn!
Once you have joined or gotten back into your LinkedIn profile I’d like to invite you to connect with me and follow the TCA. Here are the links to do both:
Rob Link LinkedIn Profile – I have thousands of industry connections and I’m happy to help you connect with others!
I am always happy to connect with any and all business owners. Industry connections immediately make you look more professional. Try to connect with as many as possible and encourage others to do the same.
Connecting to professional associations, like the TCA, can also boost your online presence. Being a member of an association or network of similar businesses tells the world that you are a serious business person and a professional!
Now engage with people on LinkedIn and ask them to follow your company page. Make connections and post information about your business. Like industry posts and help promote others.
More than anything, act like the professional that you are!
https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Join-LinkedIn.png12001200rlink01https://techcareassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TCA-Logo-Color-locked-Instagram-Post-300x300.pngrlink012023-03-03 13:25:552024-06-03 22:25:38One Easy Thing To Make Your Tech Repair Business Successful
