After just over a year operating out of cramped quarters on Mill Street in Byram, will re-open Saturday, April 7 at its new location in central Greenwich.
"Making the move to Greenwich Avenue from Byram is a big leap for us," said CEO and co-owner Travis Sluss. The new space at 53 Greenwich Ave. is nearly four times the size of the Byram store.
"I used to live and work on the Avenue," said Sluss. "So I know this is the right place for us."
We Love Apple
According to Sluss, a lot of the staff at MacInspires have worked at the Apple store. "We love Apple," explained Sluss. "There are a lot of times the Apple store is the best place to shop, like for an iPhone," he explained. "We don't plan to sell Apple products." MacInspires instead will focus on support, repair, training and accessories.
Naturally Curious Staff
With a staff of seven, Sluss and co-owner Loren Gelbstein, along with education director Lance Pendleton describe a nimble team. "We have staff with a mix of expertise from networking, to education to diagnosis of computer problems. All our employees are naturally curious," said Sluss.
Empowering Customers With Technology
"We're here to empower people. To make them fearless about their use of technology. For people who are overwhelmed, we hold their hands and make it fun!"
Tipping Point Technology
MacInspires expects delivery of a 3-D printer in the next week or so. "We're really excited to bring tipping point technology to the Avenue," said Sluss. Customers can learn how to design and print onto the 3-D printer, which outputs dabs of plastic that build up to form a three-dimensional object. "It can output an object as big as a loaf of bread," explained Sluss, though more typically a customer will want to output a scale model of a house, for example.
MacInspires Classroom Experience
The spacious Greenwich Avenue quarters include classroom space where education director Lance Pendleton will oversee a maximum of five students at a time. In the "Say Hello" classes, novices can, for example, learn to surf the internet and how to best use Google and Safari.
The "Get to Know" intermediate courses cover topics such as how to record music on the computer. Advanced courses will move on to what Sluss calls tipping point technologies, like creating for 3-D printing.
There will also be free seminars to larger groups that will run an hour.
Retail
At the front of the store, retail area will feature everything from cases and cables, to robots as well as creative accessories.
Repair
As they did in Byram, the MacInspires staff will repair and service Apple products such as iPhones, iPads, iPods and all Mac computers. So if you drop your iPhone in the pool this summer, don't fret. Just bring it to the folks at MacInspires.
Make it Snappy and Don't Charge Me for the Diagnosis
Staff generally fix a broken iPhone while a customer waits about 20 minutes. "We do not charge to diagnose a problem unless we're required to open a computer," said Sluss. "And that rarely is the case." Even better news is that diagnosis for broken "i-devices" like iPads, iPods and iPhones is always free.
Consulting
MacInspires also offers consulting services for both homes and businesses. Staff will, for example, install multiple wireless access points to assure that devices function well around the house, or set up and maintain a business's "digital backbone" – point of sale, website production, networking, and general support. Sluss used his own team as an example. "All our phones and computers at MacInspires are linked together so we can push information back and forth."
The store's grand opening is Saturday, when the staff plans to publish a schedule of their classes on their website MacInspires.com.
Tel. (203) 531-5720
Hours:
Monday-Saturday 10 am - 7 pm
Thursdays until 8 pm
Sundays 11 am - 5 pm
