Phone Rehab owner Omer Tas is one businessperson who not only found a way to diversify during COVID-19, the lockdowns prompted him to start a second business, open a new shop and employ more people in the Wollongong CBD.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Tas has operated his mobile phone repair and accessories store in Wollongong Central for eight years.
But when coronavirus pandemic changed people's work practices, resulting in many more working from home, he was able to expand his service to computers, gaming, laptop and other tech devices.
Mr Tas has not only opened a tech shop outside the mall in Crown Street but employed more people as a result of COVID-19.
The new shop, Tech Recovery, is located next to Aussie Disposals, while Phone Rehab remains where it has always been in Wollongong Central.
"Last year during COVID the workload decreased a lot so we started getting into doing laptops and PC repairs as well," Mr Tas said.
"That started picking up really well during the first lockdown and we couldn't really fit it all the small kiosk. So we opened a second store with the more corporate name of Tech Recovery."
Mr Tas said the other good news for his business is that Apple just announced an independent repair provider program where businesses like his can apply for approval to be certified as a repairer.
"We are fortunate to have been recently accepted for both our businesses," Mr Tas said.
"I believe we are one of the first to be accepted as an independent repair provider in the country."
In addition to running and diversifying his business Mr Tas has remained active in the Illawarra community during both lockdowns in NSW.
Phone Rehab donated more than 1000 masks to the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District when they there was short supply last year. And during the bush fires it helped affected communities as well as firefighters and volunteers by providing free repairs.
The business was also able to expand during the first round of COVID-19 pandemic by launching a pick-up and drop-off service. Which resulted in it picking up new clients Australia wide.
"We also had a mobile repair van going to houses and businesses to conduct repairs so that customers didn't have to come to us," Mr Tas said.
Tech Recovery is now accredited as a drone repairer and now does out-of-warranty work for JB HiFi, Officeworks and The Good Guys. It is also a service repair agency for Radio Rentals.
Read more:
The Illawarra Mercury newsroom is funded by our readers. You can subscribe to support our journalism here.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
