This feature is a question-and-answer session with a new Blount County Chamber member. So, here we go with our 186th installment visiting with Thomas Hill, president/project manager for Computer Depot Business Solutions which provides IT help desk and cyber security support in 20 minutes or less.
Tell me more about your business. We started Computer Depot in 1998 as a retail computer shop for residential customers. 10 years ago we rebranded the company to be Computer Depot Business Solutions and now specialize in the service and support of manufacturing, accounting, and privately held medical/dental/optometrist practices.
What is your background? Thomas Hill Graduated with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1996. This degree helped spark an interest in the IT field and he has been a life long learner ever since. The Computer Depot Business Solutions support team holds many certifications in the Comp Tia, Microsoft, and with other hardware vendors.
Who is your mentor? My aunt Jacki and Uncle Kevin have been entrepreneurs their entire life. From an early age I watched them grow their business and believe their example had an influence on the direction my life took. While I thank my Aunt and Uncle for igniting the passion or entrepreneurship, I would be remiss if I did not mention that I am a huge fan of Mike Michalowicz, Greg Crabtree and Dave Ramsey. All of which are authors and helped me build a successful business.
Describe your customers. Our best customers are small businesses in the Manufacturing or accounting field or privately owned medical practices that are growing and value technology and the positive influence it has on their business. Most of the time these customers have a person that is “stuck” doing IT support but it is not their main role and they don’t enjoy it. Other customers have a “computer guy” but when called, he is slow to show up, and does not provide proactive services to limit the amount of down time when an issue does come up.
What impacts your business? The IT industry has changed a lot over the last 5 years. First with the explosion in the amount of Cyber Attacks on Small businesses and then with the COVID 19 pandemic. This has signaled for a greater need for well educated IT engineers that can look into the future and predict and prepare for the next disaster that small business will need to weather.
What do you wish you knew when you started? I would have read and learned about best practices in running a successful business. I would have spent more time identifying our target customer and developing a Marketing plan to directly engage that customer on a regular basis. Lastly I should have read “The E Myth” by Michael Gerber. In this book he talks about how business owners really just own a “job” . And because of this mindset entrepreneurs never realize the true potential of their business because they are too busy working IN the business and not ON the business.
What do you enjoy most about your business? I love the marketing and sales part of the business. I love to be able to set goal growth numbers at the beginning of the year and than develop a marketing plan to reach that goal. I also love working with our customers. Not so much as an IT Tech, because I don’t personally do that part very much. But I love working and collaborating with other business owners helping and encouraging them to reach their goals.