Device Pitstop Newport News is the First in Virginia—Now Open!

Read about the first Device Pitstop store to open in Virginia in this article from dailypress.com. Congratulations, Device Pitstop Newport News!

Device Pitstop franchisee Paul Washington in his store
Device Pitstop Newport News franchisee Paul Washington.

York County franchisee opens first Virginia Device Pitstop in Newport News Tech Center

Paul Washington of York County is opening a Device Pitstop today in Newport News Tech Center. The franchise repairs computers and cell phones on-site and buys and sells gently used computers and mobile devices.

“I think it’s a service that will fit the area well,” Washington said.

Customers can get laptops, desktop computers, tablets and smartphones below original prices because they are used and refurbished, according to a news release. The store certifies and tests the products, which are backed by 30-day and extended warranties.

The store also sells new accessories, he said.

Washington said he opened his store at 12080 Jefferson Ave. in Tech Center because he liked the new shopping center, which brought new brands to the market. Tech Center is highly visible and the AT&T store next door could bring more walk-in clientele to Device Pitstop, he said.

Device Pitstop started in Las Vegas in 2003 and currently has 10 stores nationwide, but plans to continue growing, according to its website. Washington had been working in a corporate job and wanted to run his own business, particularly one that appealed to his computer geek side.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call the store at 757-234-7565 or visit www.devicepitstop.com/newportnews/.

Click here to see more from dailypress.com.

Device Pitstop Attends the Super Mobility Trade Show in Las Vegas

Earlier this month, Device Pitstop sent a couple of staffers to the Super Mobility trade show facilitated by the CTIA. Read about what they saw and learned in this blog post by Robby Molberg, Device Pitstop’s Inventory Sourcing Specialist:

device pitstop smartphone

Definition: CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) is an association of companies that specialize in all things wireless, i.e. carriers (Verizon, AT&T, etc.), suppliers (Apple, Samsung, etc.), accessories and many more aspects of wireless technology.

Benefits: CTIA advocates for all of their members through avenues in government as well as helping facilitate education for consumers in relation to wireless technology. In addition, the organization is heavily involved with voluntary efforts to self-regulate the recycling and reuse of wireless product.

Super Mobility: They also facilitate the Super Mobility trade show held annually. This year it was in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

Super Mobility is the MUST ATTEND event for everyone who’s business revolves around wireless technology, whether that be the sale of said devices, their accessories or the repair aspect. The convention brings together all of the biggest names to facilitate industry collaboration between not only the well-known companies but the startups as well; plus, it offers educational opportunities for all.

1. Wireless Connectivity

4G Advancements/5G: We were able to attend several keynotes and listened to key industry leaders such as John G. Stratton, the Executive Vice President and President of Operations for Verizon.

Mr. Stratton spoke of many advancements still to come in the 4G LTE Internet connectivity we enjoy with our smartphones today. He also touched on 5G speeds and how Verizon is working furiously to develop the infrastructure and put in place the technological requirements to see it realized by the year 2020.

5G is predicted to bring about widespread usage of the Internet of Things. Quite simply, this would mean our everyday devices, i.e. refrigerator, washer, dryer, etc., would all become connected devices and controlled through such interfaces as smartphones and tablets.

5G could very well replace fiber optic lines being laid in select cities to increase the current average speed (30mbps) to 1GB (1,000 mbps) of download speed! In laymen’s terms, that’s replacing the average consumer’s mini-van with a Ferrari! This is specifically relevant to IoT (Internet of Things) and having more devices than ever connected to the web and their subsequent draw on current bandwidth availability.

Summary: With new technology just around the corner to help facilitate faster connection speeds and connecting more of our everyday devices as an aggregate, Device Pitstop’s role in their customer’s lives will greatly increase! 

As we become more reliant on technology to perform the most basic of tasks around the house, we may very well see our customers bringing a “smart” microwave in for repair or perhaps their “smart” thermostat (already in existence). This brings even more opportunity for education, repair services and saleable devices to the DP inventory.

2. Vendors – Parts

Wholesale Vendors for Repair: We were able to meet with countless companies that offer a vast array of repair tools and parts to encourage growth and streamlining the repair process that we currently engage in on an everyday basis.

Quality vs Cost – Meeting in the Middle: With a vast array of potential suppliers of mobile repair parts out there and highly visible at Super Mobility, discerning which vendors to utilize is a monumental task!

We have come away from the event with more than we could possibly utilize and are working quickly to ascertain which are here to stay and those that won’t have longevity in the marketplace.

This means determining quality product that meets our expectations as well as affordable costs to effectively compete in each and every Device Pitstop location. These vendors are vetted in our corporate location before their recommendation is made to the franchisees for their daily usage.

Innovations in Repair: Super Mobility is the best and brightest in the industry, bringing their creations to fruition and showcasing them to retailers/repair stores such as us! We were able to take part in demonstrations of the latest in repair technology. Such innovations will further the profitability of more and more devices being repaired, especially as these devices are becoming a part of IoT (Internet of Things).

3. Vendors – Wholesale Suppliers

Cellphone/Tablet Suppliers: Device Pitstop focuses on the recycle and reuse side of consumer electronics. We want to keep devices out of landfills and in user’s hands for longer! We consider this to be wise stewardship of the resources we’re entrusted with as well as a great way for everyday Americans to cut rising technological costs.

Everyone wants the latest and greatest in mobile tech but not at the price tag buying new entails. One of our primary goals at Super Mobility was to find and develop relationships with vendors of refurbished cellphones. Gently used, current models that will bring the affordability factor in play as well as staying current with the latest advancements.

We have definitely found said vendors and are working with them to bring the best, refurbished smartphone/tablet technology to a Device Pitstop near you!

Summary: CTIA Super Mobility was a whirlwind of exciting and innovating technological advancements that are currently available with many more to come in the near future!

The most impactful portion of the show was certainly meeting many current friends/vendors in person and furthering that relationship in addition to meeting a host of new ones! These relationships not only help us to stay relevant with today’s marketplace but keeps us on our toes for future innovations just around the corner and years ahead! One can never look too far in the future with mobile tech as it evolves at an ever-increasing speed.

Click here to see more from the CTIA Super Mobility trade show.

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.

From Chalkboards to Smartboards

Has it ever occurred to you that a classroom staple as iconic as the chalkboard could be reinvented over time? Believe it or not, the shifting landscape of education has been undergoing substantial changes since some of its earliest inceptions. Early 17th century classrooms quickly brought forth a number of unexpected innovations in areas as simple as the writing utensil, and the tail end of the 19th century was topped off by the revolutionary introduction of the “must have” chalkboard.

It’s difficult to imagine a time where schools lacked something as simple as a pencil, but the 20th century kicked off with the introduction of the convenient and money saving writing tool, and things only got more innovative from there. From experimental radio broadcasts to old standbys like the overhead projector and handheld calculator, the classroom has served as an arena for some of the most effective and widely used innovations in modern times. Check out our historical infographic down below to see how the humble beginnings of classroom innovation rapidly made its way from simple tools to the technological prowess of the smartboard.

tech infographic2