Local Food When You Can - And IT Too!

So today I had the pleasure of making pancakes with my family.  It's a bit of a monthly, or so, weekend tradition with us.  My eldest, Amilia and I mix up the batter, she used to love to crack the eggs but has gotten in her head that the evil germs will get her if she gets egg on her now (long story there...).  Regardless, it's a fun time.

The first pancake never quite turns out.  Either the temperature isn't quite right or the batter.  Amilia, Bella (our dog), and I share the first one.  We comment on how we might adjust things...  Bella always says she needs just one more bite to have creative input.  It's quite a good time.

Well, you might be saying now, "Why are we talking pancakes on a tech blog?"  Good question, and the answer will probably confuse you a little at first.


See, this set of pancakes was a little different than usual.  This week my wife and Amilia made a quick trip to a local store, The Blueberry Patch.  As you might have guessed from the name, they sell blueberries, and now's the time to pick'em.  There's nothing quite like fresh blueberries; you just can't get that at a chain store.  Oh, and my wife and daughters picked them by hand themselves too. 


The dynamic of a local company is that if you end up not liking what they sold you, you're likely to tell others of the quality of what you got, and that will have a direct impact on their bottom line.  That's why it's best to deal with local providers, and IT is like that too.

Find a local provider with a great reputation' someone that can cover the basics.  Lean on that organization to refer you to specialists when in need; DON'T ask them to be the one-stop-shop, it's just not realistic.  Interview possible providers and ask for references!  Also, expect to be interviewed too.  Any good IT provider will be careful of the accounts that they bring on as well.  Hey, if they can't make money servicing your account, they won't be in business long.

Be leery of the one guy shops... Yes, you'll get a great price and probably decent service, but that guy's got to take a vacation once in a while... and what happens when he lands just one more account than he can properly service?  Would you buy your blueberries out of the trunk of a car?  Then why buy your IT that way?

There are many great options  in almost any market.  Ask around and you're sure to uncover great providers... and remember, interview!