Device Pitstop is Good for Small Businesses

Check out this article from inc.com, which highlights Device Pitstop as a great option for supplying small businesses with high-quality, affordable electronics. Check it out:

Device Pitstop employees working around table

10 Overlooked Budget Hacks for Starting a Business

Starting a business can be costly, but you can do it on a budget and still get the same results.

By Adam Heitzman

Let’s be real, getting a business off the ground is hard. Balancing employee management with everyday operations with promotions and PR with new client outreach with current customer satisfaction…yikes, that can get overwhelming and expensive.

Aside from your standard penny pinching accounting and budgeting tips, there are plenty of ways to stretch your business budget. By employing some of these overlooked budget hacks, you can shave hundreds off your operating costs and watch your profits soar.

  1. Locally optimize your website for more foot traffic.

The majority of mobile searches usually end up in a purchase from a local business. Think about mobile users who search on the fly: they might Google “Mexican restaurants near me,” read some reviews, and then select a nearby restaurant to eat at. For free or nearly free, you can optimize your website through reviews, citations, listings, and more to make sure you’re directing as much foot traffic into your store from the internet at possible.

  1. Maximize free resources.

Just about every business owner knows the importance of having a social media presence, especially since it’s free. But what many businesses overlook are the associations, groups, and networks that can be used to their entrepreneurial advantage. Customers like businesses that are part of associations and broader professional networks because it increases the trustworthiness of the brand. It’s also a great way to meet other business owners and develop mutually beneficial, professional relationships you can learn from.

  1. Negotiate with your suppliers.

And by negotiate, I mean haggle. When it comes to product suppliers and vendors, treat their asking prices as more of a starting point than the actual price you’ll be paying. Wifi, cable, office supplies-many of these things can be negotiated through your account manager, especially if your business has been a long-time customer. Shaving a few bucks off of bills here and there can add up to savings of hundreds of dollars.

  1. Barter your business with other businesses.

Back up to the mutually beneficial, professional relationships idea. You can barter the services you offer with the services of other businesses to achieve mutual goals. Let’s say you own a small PR firm and your office is in dire need of a professional paint job. Find a locally owned painting business and offer to do some PR work for them in exchange for some of their services.

  1. Outsource.

Election season has made “outsource” a dirty word, but you don’t have to outsource every last business function to another country. Freelancers and contracts can often be hired for much less than a full time employee. If there’s something you’d normally hire a position for, such as website design, writing, social media, etc., consider hiring an independent worker. More often than not, they can get the work you need done for a fraction of the cost.

  1. Cut employee costs.

If you don’t want to outsource any jobs and want to keep employees, you can always try cutting down the costs accumulated by employees. If you’ve been catering lunches once every week for years and the cost is getting to be a bit much, reduce it to just monthly catered lunches. Some businesses have even found a four day work week to be a better fit for their employees, who work hard to enjoy their extra day off, and their costs, which are reduced by not having a fifth day of office operations (think: water, electricity, etc.).

  1. Embrace inexperienced hires.

Experienced employees are awesome, but also expensive. Unless you’re in a business that absolutely requires a certain level of experience, such as a private medical practice or law firm, be more open to inexperienced employees. Recent grads are often willing to accept a much lower salary than someone with 5 years of experience, and with a little guidance, an inexperienced but bright employee can do just as good a job.

8. Buy used electronics/sell old electronics.

Electronics are one of the most necessary and expensive parts of owning a business. Computers, phones, laptops, upgrading outdated technology-it adds up quickly, but most businesses and offices can’t operate without them. The good news is that the prevalence and necessity of technology has made attaining it much easier. Try going through a reputable refurbished electronics store for your tech needs, such as Device Pitstop. You can buy your business’s electronics at a discounted rate, sell your older gadgets without biting too much of the cost, or even trade when it’s time for an upgrade.

  1. Buy discounted office furniture.

Much like electronics, another costly but necessary piece of office equipment is office furniture. Desks, chairs, and conference room tables are deceptively expensive. Discount furniture companies offer cost-effective solutions for getting your office the right look. You can rent office furniture or buy from a clearance selection for discounted pieces that are good as new. Taking the discounted route on the expensive stuff like electronics and furniture can save your business thousands of dollars.

  1. Promote partnerships with charities.

As the giving season approaches, advertising tends to get more expensive. A great way to maximize your brand’s exposure on a business is by partnering with a charity. Not only does it attract loyal customers and draw attention from a wider audience, but it also gets you tons of free marketing and publicity through your charity of choice. Team up with a local nonprofit this holiday season to save on marketing and outreach.

Click here to see more from inc.com.

Pokemon Go Increases Foot Traffic at Device Pitstop Maple Grove

Check out this article from techrepublic.com about how Device Pitstop Maple Grove is one of the businesses drawing in techie crowds with Pokemon Go.

Device Pitstop store front

By Brandon Viliarolo

Pokemon Go: Real examples of businesses that have turned it into a moneymaker

Pokemon Go recently hit 100 million downloads, and the number keeps growing. Find out how these businesses turned the craze into increased exposure.

There are now more daily Pokemon Go users than Facebook visitors—that’s how you know it’s a real phenomenon. Facebook makes it easy to increase exposure and profits, so surely there must be a way for Pokemon Go to give your organization a bump—and there is.

There are a lot of businesses out there that have found novel ways to turn Pokemon Go players into customers and clients, even without a storefront. Take a look at these reports from businesses large and small—you might see something that is perfect for you.

Retail and restaurants

Device Pitstop, an electronics buy/sell/trade business, dropped a lure in front of their Maple Grove, MN, location and offered free charging cables to visitors who stopped by that day. By paying to boost the exposure of a Facebook post regarding the event they saw a huge increase in foot traffic—100 more people than usual came into the store on the day of the event.

Tasty Burger, an east coast restaurant chain, noticed that their Harvard Square location was a PokeStop. To draw more players into the restaurant they decided to give away a free order of tater tots to anyone who caught a Pokemon at their stop and showed a photo to the cashier.

Businesses you wouldn’t expect

The list of shops and restaurants taking advantage of Pokemon Go is endless, but they aren’t the only people who can benefit from the trend.

IT services company Nerdio has been working with their clients on an interesting way to get exposure. Nerdio is giving clients like comic shops and arcades a $10 weekly budget to use on lures, and when players catch a Pokemon at the location they can post it on social media with the business name and Nerdio tagged. Each post is an entry for a gift card to the business where the Pokemon was caught.

Even online tutoring marketplace Preply is getting in on the game. They’ve allowed users to sign up as Pokemon Go tutors, creating a marketplace for people who want help learning to play the game. With rates ranging from $2 to $42 per hour there seems to be a lot of money to be made in teaching people to play a simple mobile game.

Boston performing arts festival Outside The Box estimates they drew in an additional 1,000 people per day by dropping lures all over Boston Common during the festival. They tweeted about it a bunch and dropped new lures every 30 minutes, making sure people moved around the grounds and the whole festival got exposure.

IP camera manufacturer Vimtag has managed to gain exposure too. They started a contest for camera owners who snapped photos of people playing the game, and winners were able to receive cash prizes, free cameras, and deep discounts on premium products.

As if that wasn’t niche enough, PRO Housekeepers, a small cleaning and maid service from Tampa, FL, has drawn in a bunch of foot traffic thanks to lures. Increased foot traffic has led to more clients to the tune of almost $2,000.

The 3 big takeaways for TechRepublic readers

  1. If you have a storefront you should invest in a Pokemon lure, which can be purchased inside the app. Yes, they cost money, but a whole bunch of businesses have seen increased foot traffic because of them.
  2. Just because you’re not making sales doesn’t mean you won’t benefit from exposure. If people are stopping by they’re going to remember your name and potentially become customers or clients in the future.
  3. Even if you aren’t selling something you can still make money or gain exposure from Pokemon Go—it just takes a little creative thinking to figure out a way to make a mark!

Click here to see more from techrepublic.com.

DEVICE PITSTOP: Eden Prairie Store Grand Opening This Week

The latest Device Pitstop is opening its doors in Eden Prairie, MN, this week. Check out an article featuring the new store in a local newspaper below. Or read it online at swnewsmedia.com.

Device Pitstop franchisee Jeff Kiffin standing in his Eden Prairie store
Jeff Kiffin owns the Device Pitstop computer and mobile-device store in Eden Prairie.

Device Pitstop, a national chain that buys, sells, trades, services and upgrades computers and mobile devices at low cost, recently opened in Eden Prairie, according to a news release.

The store is hosting a grand opening on May 5 at its location at 8252 Commonwealth Drive. The activities include $25 gift card giveaways and drawings for tablets, computers and other items. The business is owned by Chanhassen resident Jeff Kiffin.

“Device Pitstop carries a wealth of laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones and accessories including Windows, Apple, Mac, iPhone and Android devices and parts. They sell certified products well below original prices, backed by 30-day and extended warranties,” according to a news release.

“They buy customer equipment for cash or trade in. They also provide expert on-site repairs and upgrades. Whatever the need, Device Pitstop has a complementary product or service.”

For more information call 952-446-7168 or visit devicepitstop.com/edenprairie.

DEVICE PITSTOP: Recycle Your Electronics and Get Paid at Device Pitstop

On Earth Day and beyond, remember to recycle the electronics that your family no longer uses. Better yet, Device Pitstop will pay you for items that still have some life left in them. They’ll give you CASH On-the-Spot for your gently used computers, tablets, smartphones and more; then they’ll spruce them up and sell them to other customers for a great deal. Watch this video featuring Device Pitstop Overland Park to learn more:

 

DEVICE PITSTOP: New Store Opens in Alaska

Device Pitstop Archorage franchisee Scott Stansbury inside his new store.
Device Pitstop Archorage franchisee Scott Stansbury inside his new store.

One of our newest franchisees, Scott Stansbury, was recently featured in Alaska Business Monthly. Read the article about the opening of his Device Pitstop store in Anchorage, Alaska, below.

Device Pitstop, a national chain that buys, sells, trades, services and upgrades computers and mobile devices at low cost, is opening in Anchorage.  It’s a brand-new concept here — a one-stop solution to personal technology needs.

Device Pitstop carries a wealth of computers, tablets, smartphones and accessories including Windows, Apple, Mac and Android devices and parts.  They sell certified products well below original prices, backed by a 90-day warranty.  They buy customer equipment for cash or trade in.  The store also provides expert on-site repairs and upgrades.  Strategically, they offer a knowledgeable, transparent and value-oriented environment.

Device Pitstop opened March 17th at 701 W. 36th Avenue between Seward Highway and Minnesota Drive.   Call 907-644-0405 or check www.devicepitstop.com/anchorage-midtown/.

According to store owner Scott Stansbury, Device Pitstop sells quality used computers from $99 and factory-refurbished units from $250.  There are all major PC and Apple brands with a range of modern operating systems.  Device Pitstop also sells popular tablets and smartphones.  All are backed by 90-day hardware warranties and available extended-service plans.  All previously-owned devices are wiped-clean of personal information, given a fresh new operating system, and rigorously tested to deliver top-line working equipment at great prices.

Device Pitstop buys used products and helps customers convert their working and non-working devices into cash.  Technicians quickly inspect devices, offer a price quote and pay on the spot.   They also offer trade-in for another product at great prices – and can transfer all music, pictures, and documents at a nominal cost.

All device repairs and upgrades are performed in-house by expert technicians and usually same day.  Unlike big-box stores, computers are not sent to the Lower 48 or need weeks for repair.  And owner Scott Stansbury stresses transparency, explaining diagnoses, showing parts and inviting customers to watch repairs.

Device Pitstop technicians are certified, have all modern tools and parts available, and can even repair older computers.  Upgrades include additional RAM, hard-drive installation, anti-virus/anti-spyware software installation, operating system upgrades and more.  Tablet and smartphone repairs can include replacement of broken LCD, glass screens and batteries.

Accessories include laptop batteries, AC adapters, iPhone adapter cables, iPad accessories, smartphone cases, headphones and speakers.

Importantly, Device Pitstop has a green philosophy tied to recycling used equipment, not sending them to the landfill.  They bring non-working computers back to life or utilize good components in other repairs.  They safely dispose of other items by recycling in an environmentally-responsible manner that follows stringent state requirements.

According to store owner Scott Stansbury, Device Pitstop – Anchorage is a friendly neighborhood center for affordable computers, tablets, smartphones, accessories, repairs and upgrades.  He’s seen strong public enthusiasm, great word of mouth and more than 400 Facebook page likes, even before the store opened.  With his W. 36th Avenue location now open and a second store planned next year, Stansbury expects to be a major personal technology resource here.

Click here to see the article on the Alaska Business Monthly website.