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3/23/2004 |
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Computer store rides wave of growth
PORT CHARLOTTE -- NextWave Computers is expanding its horizons well beyond the Port Charlotte store that president and CEO Tom Welchman opened four years ago. Franchise-owned stores opened in Tampa in October and Clearwater in November, while other stores are on the horizon for Fort Myers, Palm Beach County and Broward County.
Beyond Florida's borders, a NextWave franchise is scheduled to open in Detroit sometime in May, and the growth is not likely to stop there.
"NextWave is registered in 38 states for franchising opportunities," said Jon Clark, president of Clark & Christopher, the Port Charlotte firm NextWave hired in September to handle its nationwide advertising efforts.
Opened as the Computer Store in 2000, NextWave adopted its new name last May, when it entered the franchising business.
Lifelong Detroit residents Mark Nesbitt and Mark Ihara are opening the franchise in the Michigan city.
"We are very excited to be a part of this exciting company," Nesbitt said. "Being victims of corporate downsizing gave us the final push we needed to pursue the dream of owning our own business. After several months of researching business opportunities, NextWave Computers stood out as the obvious choice.
"We're excited to bring the combination of technical expertise and service to Detroit that has fallen by the wayside with the emergence of the big box electronics retailers."
"More and more customers are becoming disenfranchised by the lack of real customer service and product knowledge," said Welchman. "Clients demand detailed answers in plain language to questions and one-stop solutions from sales to after-sale support. The big box stores have proven over and over that they can't deliver that level of service or support; their focus is only on selling you something cheap, period.
"People love our customer-focused products and services and NextWave customers never have to wait for a sale to get the lowest price."
The company practices what it calls "No Asterisk Pricing," selling complete systems with extended warranties without hidden fees or extra charges for monitors or keyboards. Further, there are no rebate forms to fill out and send in, as is typical with mail order and other retailers.
Each NextWave store is staffed by owner/operators and technicians who are certified to perform warranty services on most major name brand computers and printers, Clark noted. Additionally, NextWave offers a full line of computers, peripherals, supplies and classes as well as networking solutions for firms ranging in size from small home offices to large corporations.
Recent clients include the Pinellas County school system, for which the Clearwater store secured a contract to provide RAM (memory) chips. Closer to home, NextWave recently completed installation of a computer system at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County.
"The system is pretty mobile throughout the building," said the center executive director, Marcus Johnson.
The center funded the new computer network with a $45,000 grant from the Selby Foundation. NextWave installed 30 computers and two wireless printers. They will be used for the center's computer classes, two-hour sessions that meet once a week over a four-week period. The classes cost $29.
"We cover data processing, surfing the Net, digital photography, everything," Johnson said.
Welchman described the contract as "a perfect example of how local businesses can always support one another to ultimately benefit our town. This is truly a 'win-win' for the local economy."
For more information on the Cultural Center computer classes, call (941) 625-4175.
For more information on NextWave, contact Jerry at (941) 764-5800 or e-mail him at jerry@nextwavecomputer.com.
By DAN MEARNS
Source - Sun Herald Newspaper
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