SOUTH FORK—Just a little over a year ago Joe McCarn and his wife Kathy returned to the Valley and moved to South Fork to open two businesses in the area. The McCarns were Valley natives who moved away for a few years before returning with a dream that has more than paid off for the entire family. McCarn first helped his wife open South Fork’s newest bakery the Bear Claw before diving into his own business, McCarn Computers. “I knew when I started this that it would be hard work because the demands for a computer repair business was in short supply. So, I network. I get out of the office and visit businesses on a daily basis and so far, it has worked,” said McCarn.
McCarn’s love for computer repair began at the early age of six, when he fell in love with the act of taking something apart and being able to put it back together in working order. “I have been in this business a very long time. If you count back all the way to the beginning, I have been fixing computers for 38 years,” said McCarn with a smile on his face. “I realized very young what I wanted to do and what I was good at.” One year ago, during Labor Day weekend, McCarn Computers was born and the ride has been fruitful ever since.
The business offers a wide range of services that reaches above and beyond the normal computer service located in the Valley. “When a business computer goes down, that whole business is pretty much on hold until it is fixed. A lot of the other computer services take your computer and keep it for a few days before returning it fixed. We try and not do that here because we understand the importance of having that machine up and running as fast as possible,” explained McCarn.
McCarn Computers does many other technologically-based services as well including, fixing smart phones, offering website design and maintenance, networking services that help businesses focus in on their potential clients online and even marketing advice that aids business owners in fitting all the pieces together to get the most out of marketing the business in question. McCarn specializes in this last part as he spends his spare time helping the South Fork Chamber of Commerce do exactly the same thing.
The office is ran by McCarn’s son, Travis, as he spends his days paying close attention to his customers and trying to grow his business in the Valley. McCarn currently has several Facebook and website pages he monitors and updates on a regular basis as well as a large computer account out of Monte Vista. “I recognize that it is hard to start a business here and so I am doing my best to offer help not only through the chamber, but through my personal business as well to anyone who needs help,” finished McCarn.
McCarn Computers is located at 23 Buck St. in South Fork and can be reached via phone at 580-5020 or through his website at www.mccarncomputers.com.