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The director of The Repair Shop.ie William O’Brien, working on a phone in his workshop in Pollardstown, Mitchelstown. Photo: Sandra Quinn

At 17, most of us were busy doing homework, catching up on the latest television series or nowadays watching hilarious, but pointless YouTube videos.

Young William O'Brien from Pollardstown just outside Mitchelstown however, is bucking that trend as he boasts an impressive repair business which rivals much of his competition for mobile phone, computer, screen and tablet repair.

A Leaving Certificate student in the CBS Secondary School in Mitchelstown, William is not only running his own viable business from home, but his prices are considerably lower than his competitors, his professional manner is impeccable and the service is second to none.

In line with the nature of his business, William is hoping to do electronic engineering in the University of Limerick when he goes on to college next year and over the next few years, he hopes that his business will grow and thrive.

The idea behind the business was born when a friend of the family asked him to fix an iPhone 4 and he said he'd give it a try. From there things blossomed and before he knew it, more people were asking him to fix things and he saw an opportunity to start a business using the skillset and knowledge that he possessed. Subsequently, TheRepairShop.ie was started in March, 2014.

William told The Avondhu that engineering would be his strongest school subject, while things like maths, physics, business studies and construction all play a part in some way as well.

He is a sole trader and is director of the company, with no staff at present.

"I used all of my own money to start the business and I had €800 saved from summer work and bits and pieces, which I used for things like the website domain, the Facebook page, paying for advertising and sponsored slots and now I have built up a bit of a following and a profile. Word of mouth is how I get most of my business though, because if a customer is happy, they will tell their friends and family about it."

William explained that social media can be a great help, as he has gotten more than 100 Likes for some of his Facebook posts, which show smartphone or iPhone screens smashed to smithereens and then fixed, so that they are as good as new for the customer.

He stressed that people spend a lot of money on their phones, and screens smashing are a regular occurrence, so being able to fix somebody's screen quickly, efficiently and for a competitive price are all very important, as people don't want to be without their phones for long.

In order to get the business name out there, he also put his business cards in prominent places around Mitchelstown, like in AIB, as they helped him to set up a business account and he ran competitions on Twitter and Facebook to boost the business profile.

"I started by fixing things like phones, tablets and PC's and it is something I've always been interested in. From when I was just six or seven, I used to visit Andrew Butler of Abitec in Clonmel and I'd be fascinated by how he'd fix computers and things. I did some practical work experience with him, just to get an idea of how to fix common problems and also to gain a good understanding of how a business in this area works and he was very helpful.

"If anyone comes to me with a problem, I'll do my best to fix it and so far, I haven't had any disappointed customers, thankfully."

William explained that the most common problems are damaged or smashed screens, water damage or a computer or tablet becoming slow or 'freezing'.

He stressed that many people seem to think that it would cost too much to get something fixed, as they don't realise that it can be done for a very reasonable cost, in very little time and by someone in the locality. He added that people sometimes panic and opt for the first service they see rather than shopping around, as they are desperate to have their device back in working order.

"I think a lot of people leave things in drawers to get dusty, because they think a repair would cost too much, but my prices are very competitive and the service is really quick. For instance, for an iPhone 5 screen repair, I would charge €70. Last year that would have been about €120 because the phones were so new and someone else might be charging €200 now. That €130 can make a huge difference and I'm local as well, so it's handy for people around Mitchelstown. I also include a courier service within Ireland, so that the device can be collected and delivered directly from and to the customer."

He added that the throwaway culture of the Celtic Tiger era is certainly gone and people are placing more value in getting something fixed for a fraction of the cost of replacing an item.

Even though he's still in school, William never underestimates the importance of a happy customer and on top of providing a top class service, he also provides an after sales service, which includes six months warranty that will cover damage or faults, within reason.

"In general, I find that customers are very happy with the service and they will often refer people onto me or return with other products that they had thought couldn't be fixed."

When asked by The Avondhu about his age, William did admit that customers are surprised when they realise how young he is, but he said that once they realise how professional the business is, any ideas they had about him being too young to run a successful business, soon disappear.

A very ambitious entrepreneur, William is hoping to grow his existing business, so that it might eventually generate local employment. But he is also hoping to set up a sister website in the future, which will buy and sell refurbished devices.

"I hope to continue the business as I go through college and I want to thank all of my customers who have supported me so far," he said.

CONTACT DETAILS: William O'Brien, Pollardstown, Mitchelstown. www.therepairshop.ie, info@therepairshop.ie, 087-0686696, follow TheRepairShop.ie on Facebook or @therepairshopie on Twitter.

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