Regional resellers: Mount Barker

Debbie Lindsay, ISeek Computing

ISeek Computing began in 2003. My husband Simon, a programmer by training, started the company as a one‑man operation. 

We bought a small business in Adelaide city and later opened a second one in Brighton. We then decided to amalgamate both stores and move it out to the Adelaide Hills, which is where we live. I came on 10 years ago in a managerial role and Simon has moved on to do programming with Adelaide University.

We have Leading Edge Computers as our retail store, while ISeek Computing itself has always been a servicing business for both consumers and business customers. We offer devices that are tailored to the customer’s needs, not just sold on price.

We have our own ideas for training and education, and we run VR and 3D printing demos. Businesses are moving more and more to managed services, so we’re looking at implementing more managed services contracts and setting up local phone support as well.

FACT FILE
Founded  2003
Suppliers  Apple, Asus, Leader Computers, Lenovo, Toshiba
Director Debbie Lindsay
Staff  7

Andy Roberts, Mount Barker Computing

I was a mechanical engineer at uni, but got into a fairly serious motorbike accident and broke my neck and back. While I was off uni, I started doing some IT work and it just progressed from there. I did IT support for a company, then opened my own business 20 years ago. Back then, there was very little internet activity. It was more about custom-building PCs and solving a lot of software problems. The custom-building has been a part of the business we have prided ourselves on.

It’s important to watch your overheads; they are always a killer in small businesses. Rather than trying to compete with Harvey Norman, provide a good service and product that people are prepared to pay for. 

We spend a lot of time finding out what a customer’s needs are, and then we select an appropriate machine to do the job. 

We do a lot of troubleshooting, including remotely. We have moved into bigger businesses now, up to about 15 users, providing hardware, networking and backup solutions.

FACT FILE
Founded  1997
Suppliers  Asus, Leader, Intel, Microsoft, Toshiba, HP, LG, Canon, Epson, Netgear, Logitech
Director Andy Roberts
Staff  4

Patrick Coen, Patrick Coen Computer Services

I started off working for a couple of IT companies and later went into a Jim’s Computing franchise. I got out of that and started my own business seven years go.

I started doing break-fix and cleaning computers. I offer a $99 on-site service to speed up, secure and update computers. Now, I’m setting up networks left, right and centre, and picking up more and more clients.

A lot of my clients are in the CBD and Victor Harbour. I don’t have a shopfront, so I offer purely on-site services. I haven’t really advertised in the last five years; all of my business has come through word of mouth. I am looking to put someone else on the team, because it is getting to be too much. Everyone seems to need IT services, and as my clients say, once you have a good IT person, you don’t want to let them go.

FACT FILE
Founded  2010
Suppliers  Anything and everything
Director Patrick Coen
Staff  1