Winter is a tough season in the Berkshires for local businesses. Many of the businesses on North Street in Pittsfield, MA rely on foot traffic and window shoppers for steady income. This past Saturday (04/05/2014), I walked around North Street trying to generate some business of my own by stopping into the local stores to offer my computer services. Unfortunately, it was a rather disappointing venture. There was a common refrain among the shoppe owners - that their businesses were barely surviving. As an up-and-comer to the local business scene, it was hard to listen to the majority of owners and managers tell me their hard-times story: unless they were just telling me this to get me out of their hair - but that's hard to believe since every story had that eerie similarity. It seems that even the main drag of Pittsfield, MA - the heart of the town - is not the ideal locale for a new business such as mine.
SkiyeLab is not particularly a retail business, although I do sell refurbished computers and other electronics. My business relies on the services I offer for income. I fix computers and other electronics as well as build websites, offer consulting for businesses and do networking for home or office businesses. It seems no matter which aspect of business you're in - retail, professional services or both - the town of Pittsfield, MA is a slow-going place for your business to exist; even on what is supposedly the busiest street in the city.
This saddens me greatly. It gives me little hope that my business has a chance in this town - before it has even really started to get off the ground per-se. But, this also inspires me to make my business more unique. If what I offer is like no other place around, that would maybe be enough to bring enough clientele through the doors to not only keep my business afloat, but for it to potentially thrive in a town where most of these other businesses are failing.
Maybe no matter what I do, the business will fail though. Maybe it is the local economy? Maybe it is because the local per-capita income is roughly only $20k/year and that over 15% of the families live below poverty? I don't know for sure of course: this is purely speculation. But I do know what 99% of the business owners I spoke with yesterday told me - and that is "business is tough, especially this time of year."
Anyway, if you do happen to need computer or electronics services and you reside in the Berkshires, you can count on SkiyeLab.
Thanks for checking in! Stay tuned for more...
Showing posts with label Berkshires. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Berkshires. Show all posts
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Businesses in Pittsfield MA
Labels:
Adams,
Berkshires,
computer services,
computers,
electronics,
local business,
North Adams,
North Street Pittsfield MA,
Pittsfield,
professional services,
Skiye,
SkiyeLab,
SkiyeSounds,
Western Massachusetts
Location:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
SkiyeLab LLC
SkiyeLab Computers offers computer related services ranging your computer needs at competitive rates. We have over 20 years of combined computer experience to suit your needs. We understand finding a good and reliable computer tech is like finding a good mechanic - once you find one, you stick with them. So why would you switch to us? Well...simply because we're better for a better price. Albany wants thousands for data recovery, I recovered nearly 70,000 files for a DJ friend for $100
Servicing electronics and musical instruments/equipment in the Pittsfield, MA and surrounding areas. Websites and music related matters are worldwide.
Please contact us for more details and solutions for your electronics needs.
Services Offered:
- Computer Repair/Hardware Installation
- Operating System Upgrade/Install
- Virus Removal/Computer Diagnostics
- Web Design, Hosting, Coding and SEO
- Data Recovery (deleted files/forensics)
- Graphic Design/Logos
- Consulting
- Networking
- Database Management Expert
- Crystal Reports Expert
- Data Services (API, EDI, etc)
- Customer Service Management
- Apps Development
- Windows, Mac and Linux fluent.
413-418-1533
Labels:
Adams,
Albany,
Berkshires,
computer services,
electronics,
local business,
North Adams,
North Street Pittsfield MA,
Pittsfield,
professional services,
Skiye,
SkiyeLab,
SkiyeSounds,
Western Massachusetts
Location:
Pittsfield, MA 01201, USA
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