Kimball Bruckner, who recently launched The Fix Computer Store on Brighton Park Boulevard, may be one of the least geeky IT guys in the business.
Perhaps it’s because he’s somewhat new to the game himself.
“I’ve always worked with computers, but I decided to take the dive into school to broaden my knowledge, and it’s been very enlightening,” he said.
After running an auto shop with his dad in Versailles for 18 years, Kimball started managing websites for auto dealerships, but when the economy – and the car industry along with it – tanked, he was out of a job.
In late 2008, he returned to Kentucky State University to pursue a degree in applied information technology. During his studies, he realized that Frankfort had no single store to respond to Frankfort’s computer needs.
“Really there wasn’t a solid platform for this type of business,” Bruckner said. “The Fix makes repairs, does upgrades, handles networking problems, develops websites, sells computers and does basically anything within the scope of computers that you could think of.”
No one tech, no matter how geeky, could solve all your problems, Bruckner says. That’s why The Fix has a team of technicians with different specialties.
“No one likes a computer problem,” he said. “These things can be extremely frustrating. The nice thing is that it’s a manmade machine, so there are avenues to get rid of these frustrations.”
But it takes a team. Aside from Bruckner and his wife, Lyn, who handles the books, there’s “a network guy, a website developer and a Dell certified repair technician – the whole circle.”
He put the team together from his classes at KSU.
“You can tell who knows what’s up and who doesn’t,” he said about his classmates.
He found the most talented students and offered them jobs at The Fix.
Since opening day on 11.11.11 (a little something for the geeks out there), the team has worked well, Bruckner said.
“We’ve had a steady flow since we opened, and we’re focused on making sure everyone is completely satisfied and all their problems are resolved,” he said.
Many customers need viruses removed or system upgrades, and once the relationship is established, The Fix can remotely access clients’ computers.
Bruckner says the convenience of remote access allows him to help people at the height of their frustrations.
Christmas Eve, he stopped by the store, and a client called to say that she had a virus and couldn’t listen to Pandora, a free online music service, which was putting a huge damper on her holiday cheer. Bruckner logged in and reset her computer so that her Christmas music could play again.
“That was really cool,” he said. “She was like ‘All right! Now I can listen to my Christmas music.’”
The staff at The Fix also helps customers in the market for new computers. Whether it’s a PC gamer looking for the fastest Alienware computer or a grandmother who simply wants to check her email, the staff can suggest the best personal computer.
Bruckner says he’s glad he’s still studying – he graduates this summer – because he can keep up with the latest and greatest. He’s currently developing an app for The Fix.
“Technology is always changing so you have to constantly keep up with it,” he said.
Personally, Bruckner likes to escape from technology during his time off. He and his family like to fish, boat and jet ski on the Kentucky River or lakes nearby.
“I almost have to have that hobby to get away from this hobby,” he said.
The Fix Computer Store
Location: 117 Brighton Park Blvd.
Phone: 502-352-2525
Email: Kimball@thefixstore.com
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