Vashon Tech Support, a computer service company owned by Island teens, will open a new storefront in town this month.
The Vashon business has provided technological fix-it services in Island customers’ homes for three years. But now, the four teens who offer computer repair, lessons and other assistance are prepared to elevate their company by opening an office Feb. 20 in town just north of Giraffe.
“We want to grow,” said Vashon Tech Support co-founder Jordan Soltman. “We want to get the word out to new customers and provide ourselves a central place to work. … We’re looking forward to having a place we can call our own.”
The four tech-savvy young people are counting on their new office location drawing in enough customers to pay their rent in the small, brightly painted office located where Vashon Island Travel once was.
“We’re assuming the new presence will attract more customers,” said tech support agent Dylan Payne.
Vashon High School seniors Soltman and Payne are joined in the company by senior Tyler Sayvetz and graduate Joey Sullivan. The young men are self-taught in technological support on both PC and Mac computers. Services the shop will offer include one-on-one computer lessons, computer servicing in their store or at a customer’s home, retail sales of computer parts and accessories and electronics recycling.
Though there is another tech support company on the Island, Vashon Tech Support owners claim they can service computers cheaper and more quickly than their competition.
“We can provide same-day and next-day servicing,” Soltman said. “We’re very quick, very thorough and we hold a very high standard for our work.”
Additionally, those who hire youth from the company are supporting the goals of the four, who are college-bound, he said.
Soltman and Sayvetz were underclassmen seeking employment when they conceived of the idea for a tech support company.
“We needed a job, and it was between Subway and starting our own business,” Soltman said. “We decided to go for it.”
The company has been successful since its inception, he added. He estimated his company has served 600 Islanders and performed more than 1,600 jobs.
Opening a store in the former Vashon Island Travel space is only fitting, Soltman said, because he performed his first tech support job there for the travel agency.
“And here I am in the same office,” he said with a smile. He and his fellow employees have spent many hours redoing the office space — painting and installing a new ceiling, floor and lighting.
“It’s been a pleasure to turn this thing around and make it look spiffy,” Soltman said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it’s going to be really great.”
