Main Street Buzz, Tech businesses

This week’s Main Street Buzz is all about mainstream technology and marketing your business. Tablets, smartphones and computers are a part of everyday life, but technology isn’t always perfect and a new store in Idaho Falls is all about reviving gadgets.

The Cell Phone Repair store recently opened its Idaho Falls branch.

“It’s kind of play on C-P-R you know, saving somebody or saving your phone type of thing,” said store manager Jake Panstole.

Trained technicians run free diagnostics on your electronic device and then give it some CPR. But don’t let the name fool you, the store can revive almost every type of tech gadget.

“We do anything, small consumer electronics. Tablets, phones, iPods, Nintendos, PlayStations, Xboxes, anything like that,” said Pantsole.

But if you need to fix your start-up business and reach those wanted customers, Knowble is an online community that can provide business advice.

“Basically, what I’ve always said is that if you’re interested in making money in the 21st century you’re obviously going to have to use Facebook and twitter and e-commerce, and that’s something that sometimes the older generation doesn’t understand and that’s where I come in,” said Knowble’s founder, 22-year-old Tyler Kraupp.

Kraupp has been using his laptop for games and homework, but he is now a recent graduate from the Art Institute, and his laptop is his business partner.

“It’s still a noble profession to be an entrepreneur in this country, but it’s still extremely difficult,” said Kraupp.

Kraupp decided to take the challenge of building a business and turn it into a profitable conversation by starting his own pay-to-use online community of business-to-business mentoring.

“If you want to be successful, you’re going to have to do it online,” said Kraupp.

The mentors for Knowble offer advice in business sectors ranging from finance to social media for a monthly cost of $14.95.