Premium Computer Solutions: Sales, Service and More
Before most people even thought of owning their own computers, John Archer, owner of Premium Computer Solutions, was already hard at work fixing and selling them in Louisville. Archer got his start with computers in the mid-1970s and started Premium Computer Solutions 20 years ago.
“I’ve seen a lot of advances in technology,” Archer said. Computers were once seen as geeky devices. “They’re integrated in everything people do now.” Through the ever-changing landscape of desktops and laptop systems and the growing field of video conferencing, he’s carved out a business where personal service is keystone.
The Hikes Point shop is an authorized dealer for Dell and HP, and also sells a variety of used systems for shoppers on a budget. The shop services most major PC brands and some generics, as well as Apple laptops and the MacBook, MacPro and iBook.
Archer declines to criticize national-name competitors who sell and service thousands of computers weekly, but says many shoppers prefer a family-owned business where they can call in with questions and talk to the technician working on their PCs.
One big change in recent years has been the move to laptop/notebook computers, he said. Three years ago, 80 percent of his sales were desktop systems. Today, sales are about 70 percent laptops and 30 percent desktops. “That changes our focus on how we service them,” Archer said. People with a computer that’s out of commission are typically in a hurry to get it back, and that requires keeping a larger inventory of parts than he once thought was necessary.
Premium is a family business. Archer’s wife, Peggy, and two sons work at the shop, along with a technician who primarily performs remote services for business customers – a part of the operation that Archer would like to see grow.
Posted on Feb 4, 2011 by Bill Wolfe
