LithGeek Custom Gaming Computers

It’s always sad to see another local business in Lithgow close its doors. Times are tough, and it can feel like a real struggle to keep going. Yet somehow, our little computer repair and retail shop has been growing. We’re not rolling in money (trust me, I’m not getting a fancy car any time soon), but we are managing to stay open and even expand.

So, if you’re thinking about starting your own business in Lithgow—or looking to keep yours afloat—here’s some advice from our own journey.

Our Humble Start

We launched MacMason as a mobile repair service, working out of a shed in the backyard. (You have no idea how hot it got in there!) As word got around and business picked up, we ran into a pretty nice problem: we needed more space for repairs.

Our first step was renting a single desk from Jackie at Lithgow Tech Services. But again, we quickly outgrew that little desk—try repairing three iMacs all at once on a single surface! Eventually, we moved next door and opened our own small storefront for MacMason.

That was great until Jackie decided to sell Lithgow Tech Services. My wife and I took the leap and became the proud new owners. (We’ll be rebranding it as Lithgeek soon—stay tuned!)

To be clear, we’re not raking in piles of cash every week, and there are plenty of times we’re just scraping by. But the important part is: we’re still here, not closing our doors.

The Advice

1. Get a Website and Blog Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does!)

During the COVID lockdowns, I had time on my hands, so I started writing blog posts about Mac repairs, password management, common scams—anything tech-related. Those blog posts have been invaluable. If someone in our area searches Google for anything remotely techy, there’s a good chance our website pops up.

Unlike a Facebook ad that disappears when your budget runs out, a blog post keeps working for you forever. Something I wrote back in 2020 still attracts new customers today, and it cost nothing but a little time to create.

And let’s face it: people Google for businesses—they don’t scroll through Facebook hoping to stumble upon you. If you keep producing helpful content, you’re the one they’ll find.

This shows the progression of every time Google puts our website in front of someone. The beginning of the chart is when we took over the website and there was only one blog post!

2. Your Reputation Is Everything

In a small town, word of mouth travels fast. If you provide great service, people will mention it to their friends. If you don’t, well, they’ll definitely mention that, too!

But it doesn’t mean the customer is always right. (They aren’t, trust me.) However, do your absolute best to make them happy. If you make a mistake, own up to it. We certainly did: when we started, our ticketing system occasionally dropped the ball on repairs. One customer got really angry—and rightfully so. While they might never come back, we learned from that experience and built a much better system that ensures no repair ever slips through the cracks again.

Being consistent, being honest, and learning from mistakes builds trust. And trust is gold in a small community.

3. The Employees Are Not Expendable… Your Business Is!

You hear horror stories about managers treating staff poorly—sometimes even making teenagers cry on the job. (That’s a real story I heard recently.)

Don’t be that person. Your employees are the core of your business. If you take care of them, they’ll do the right thing for your customers. Mistreat them, and word will get around. Before long, no one worth hiring will want to work for you.

We have the best staff!!! You can’t have them … MINE!! Get your own!

4. Think Outside of Lithgow

Lithgow is wonderful, but it’s small. You’ll likely need to look beyond town to grow your customer base. That means investing in a solid website, creating interesting content, maybe even running carefully targeted ads. We’ve drawn customers from outside the region, and that extra foot traffic helps us keep the lights on.

Our unique services set us apart:

• Custom case mods (new designs coming soon!)
• Apple software expertise from California
• Over 20 years’ experience teaching seniors how to use tech
• Podcasting
• Digital art classes

These offerings attract folks who are willing to drive in—or even ship their devices—for our help. We’ve had Macs sent from as far as Newcastle!

5. Be Community Minded

I don’t look at other shops as competition. If someone else in town is better suited to a particular job, I’m happy to refer customers over. Get to know your neighbors, help each other out, and keep an eye on what the community needs.

At the end of the day, a rising tide lifts all boats. If we all work together, we can make Lithgow a friendlier place to do business—and maybe see fewer “Closed” signs on our main streets.

6. Adapt your tech!

Look yes this is a bit of an ad! But you need to have good tech. Outdated systems can be very expensive when they go down. Finding a POS system that works for you is a game changer. If the tech is not working for you it is time to upgrade.

• Do not use the same password for everything
• Social media is not a website replacement
• Backup your computers!

Final Thoughts

Starting and running a business in Lithgow isn’t easy. We’ve had our fair share of challenges, and we’re sure there will be more. But by focusing on a strong online presence, caring about our reputation, treating our staff well, thinking beyond our town’s borders, and supporting our community, we’ve managed to keep going—and even grow a little.

If you need help with your computer or just want to chat about what we do, feel free to drop into MacMason or the soon-to-be-rebranded Lithgow Tech Services (Lithgeek). We’re always here to help—and to keep Lithgow on the map!