Ever since he was a child, Scott Dargie has had a fascination with computers.
Dargie, who has become a small business owner in the Brantford community, has always loved technology.
“I’ve been playing around with computers since I was a child including [working on] the first TRS 80s that came out in the late 1970s and the Texas Instrument Systems. I always liked playing around with them, and from there, my love of computers just grew,” he said.
He then translated that passion into a career in computers. Dargie worked for Staples for close to six years, which then lead to opening Scott’s Computer Emporium in 2008.
“I basically ran the computer department at Staples, doing both sales and service. Unfortunately, I had bad knees, and I ended up having surgery, and for a second time. My doctor then told me that I couldn’t be on my feet for long, “ he explained. “I then decided to open up a business, and I did that with the help of unemployment insurance. They had a self-employment program that I was able to get into, and they helped me with that and starting my company.”
Despite competition from various other computer shops in the area, Dargie has remained a favourite because of his focus on excellent service and getting recognized by winning awards including multiple ‘Community Votes’ Platinum honours for ‘Best Computer Store and Best Computer Repair and Service,’ in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“Dealing with my clients is one of my favourite parts of being in business, [and] I’ve had a lot of good clients over the years, who have voted for me when it comes to community awards. I have been listed on the three best rated website [which] has been great [and] some of the corporate vision awards that I’ve received…they are all a testament to my dedication to the business,” he said.
Along with his customer service, Dargie’s work on computers has run the gambit.
“I do a lot of software related work…I’ll reinstall Windows for customers or back up their computer from one older computer to a newer one. Those are pretty much the main ones that I do. There was a point where viruses were very prevalent, and that was the majority of my business. But since Windows eight, Windows ten, that’s really changed,” he said. “I started doing Apple repairs, and I’m hoping that’ll bring in some more business [which] I already see happening.”
However, one of things that Dargie likes doing is creating customized systems for his clients and explained the benefits of commissioning one.
“I just love building computers…I’ve custom built desktops for quite a few years now, and that’s really my passion…but with the price of parts now [many] people don’t see the value in a custom-built system. I’ve done simple desktops all the way up to gaming systems, anywhere from $1,000 on up to $3,000 to $4,000 for a system,” said Dargie. “The thing with a custom-built system is that they have better parts than something off the shelf. Even the gaming systems, if you buy it off the shelf, you’re getting inferior parts [like] a low rated power supply in them [or] a motherboard that isn’t going to last. Whereas a custom-built system, whether it’s just a regular desktop or a gaming system, you’re getting nothing but the best parts that are on the market. You might pay a little more, but they’re going to last long. I’ve had systems that have been running for ten years, if not longer.”
Dargie went on to describe a custom gaming system he did for a customer.
“I did a gaming system for a young man that was in the Canadian military…he wanted a system that was better than something off the shelf, and he commissioned me to build one. I spent my time and got the parts together and built him a very good system, and he was very happy with it,” he said. “I think it was an Intel seven system 14th generation, which is the latest one…with liquid cooling and all the lights and all that.”
Nevertheless, as a small business owner, Dargie faces a variety of challenges.
“One of the major challenges is getting the name out there as there is a financial part to that and getting the customers and developing it from there [which has] been a real challenge. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of money for advertising, so I have to rely on word of mouth,” Dargie said. “There are a lot of computer shops out there, but I really don’t look at them as competition…I see it as another business in the community. If it’s something I can’t do, I’ll refer a customer to the other shops [which] I have no problem doing. Quite often, that customer will come back to me for something else in the future. There are a lot of places out there [so] I try to focus on customer service, and, of course constantly upgrade my skills and to provide better service for my customers.”
Despite this, Dargie, who has continued to do his part in the community by sponsoring a hockey team last year along with coaching baseball and softball, looks to build his business through word-of-mouth and excellent reviews.
“I have a lot of repeat customers and then new ones really love the five-star rating that I’ve got and my awards because of my track record for focusing on the customer and giving strong service,” noted Dargie. “I have had so many good experiences with customers through the years but one that comes to mind that is when I helped a lady. I don’t think I charged her at that time [but] she brought me a six pack of beer to show her appreciation and to repay my input in the way that she could…I thought that was really fantastic. And I’ve had people bring me Christmas cookies and do nice things because I helped them. It’s things like this that really makes my day and realize why I’m in business.”
