Starting a computer shop

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about starting a small computer shop here in this city. The location is quite good, in a developed residential area and many internet cafes. My target customers are typical working class people who may want a PC for basic usage, and their kids who may want to have a PC for entertainment purposes.

My plan is to order all my hardware off the internet, do some intensive price comparistion including shipping price etc and then build a range of PCs targetted for different people seeking different performance types computers. I will basically serve two sections: Workers - low level applications only - simple and inexpensive; Gamers - High level and wide range of computers.

Both sections can be customized according to requirement.

Now I was wondering if you people have anyother ideas to help me out? I'd really appreciate it. I am especially interested in getting some promotional ideas. I'm thinking about some kind of "Get this hardware free" offer or something of that sort. Like some free printer, a cheap quality and old one, with the low-end computers. And for the gaming part I can offer a free joystick or some games, basially anything which is of interest to the respective customers.

Thanks.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4051, old post ID:33253

[Red Squirrel]

I have a business run from my home and I do this, but I don't push it that much because its lot of hassle to get all the parts and profit is too low given the high cost of parts here.

Though if you plan to do this full time you can stock up on different types of each motherboard, cpu, etc so when you build a pc you already have a bunch of everything so no need to preorder. That's my main hassle with custom builds is I have to order stuff as I need it since I don't have the money to keep everything in stock, so a custom built computer can take like a month to get to the customer and I hate making people wait.

And since you'll have your own building and all you may as well turn it into an internet cafe as well, and offer other services such as repairing computers, etc.

Archived topic from Iceteks, old topic ID:4051, old post ID:33254