Still wondering what this Internet thing is? A lot of consumers are.
Here's hoping they consider joining the rest of the world by signing up
for a class offered by PC Professor Howard Fellman, 34, became the first
PC Professor when he began teaching computer training in Boca Raton,
Florida, in 1989. When his tech-minded brother Steven, 32, came on, they
expanded the business to include certified repairs. Youngest brother
Robert, 24, joined them in 1995, adding his knowledge of advertising.
Their new business model produced more sales in one month than Howard
made in a year teaching.
Offering courses from basic computing skills to certification
courses, the Fellmans have relocated several times to accommodate their
growing number of classrooms. They began franchising in 1997, and
they've expanded to include 52 employees—including 18
Microsoft-certified technicians—in two company-owned locations.
The Fellmans are now looking to spread their model through nationwide
franchising. The main requirement for prospective franchisees is that
they espouse the Fellmans' belief in high-quality customer service.
Whether it's no-charge service consultations when they can't fix your
computer, free refresher courses or free practice time for their
students on Fridays, PC Professor always has customer service in mind.
It must run in the family.
