October 15, 2025 • 25 mins
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Thomas Barnes.
A technology entrepreneur and franchise owner, shares his journey from corporate IT to owning an Experimax store, specializing in Apple product sales, service, and repairs. He discusses entrepreneurship, customer service, hiring strategies, and the challenges of competing in the tech repair industry.
Segment Breakdown & Key Highlights Introduction & Background
- Host Rushion McDonald introduces Thomas Barnes as Atlanta’s Technology Guru, highlighting his love for math and science that led him into the tech industry.
- Thomas reflects on his 30+ years in IT, working with Fortune 50, 100, and 500 companies, and his decision to become a business owner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entrepreneurial Journey & Franchise Ownership
- Shares his motivation to own a business instead of working for others, officially becoming an Experimax franchise owner in 2021.
- Explains his research process, initially exploring food and beverage franchises before discovering the Apple-focused Experimax model.
- Highlights the brand's niche market—specializing in Apple product repairs and sales, leveraging his tech and business expertise.
Challenges & Competitive Strategy
- Discusses the difficulty of hiring skilled technicians, emphasizing the need for Apple expertise but openness to training individuals with Android/Windows experience.
- Introduces John Goldwasser, his store manager, who is proficient in both Apple and Android technology.
- Differentiates Experimax from Apple Stores, offering shorter wait times, personalized service, and no mandatory appointments.
- Competes with local repair shops, emphasizing his store’s established reputation and specialized expertise.
Customer Service & Business Growth
- Emphasizes treating employees with respect to ensure loyalty and a strong team culture.
- Discusses customer acquisition costs and his strategy of actively networking and promoting his store.
- Highlights customer experiences, mentioning loyal Apple users seeking alternatives for repairs and upgrades.
Entrepreneurship & Lessons Learned
- Stresses the importance of faith, resilience, and risk-taking in business.
- Encourages entrepreneurs to step out on faith and not fear challenges.
- Talks about the importance of a business plan, sharing his experience of developing financial projections for securing loans.
About Thomas Barnes
- Atlanta-based technology entrepreneur with 30+ years in IT.
- Franchise owner of Experimax Sandy Springs, specializing in Apple product sales, service, and repairs.
- Passionate about customer service, mentorship, and business growth.
- Advocate for entrepreneurship, faith-based leadership, and strategic planning.
Thomas’ journey showcases determination, business acumen, and a commitment to providing quality tech services. His Experimax store serves as a go-to alternative for Apple users, offering expert repairs and personalized customer experiences.
Want to learn more? Visit Experimax Sandy Springs or follow Thomas Barnes' business updates online. #BEST
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I am Rashan McDonald, a host the weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, please visit
our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and click to be a
guest button Chris, submit and information will come directly to me.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Now, let's get this show started. My guests.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Maximized his love for math and science as a kid
to become Atlanta's technology Guru. At his business, he brings
people together by helping them achieve their technology needs in
a warm and welcoming environment. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation.
One of my favorite guests, mister Thomas Barnes. How you doing, Thomas?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Listen McDonald, I'm doing wonderful, my friend and yourself. Thank
you for having me on the seion.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You know, Thomas, I got squeezed one of my favorite
people because I add you in a long time. The
little backstory when I do this segment of my show
called Bragging Segment. Thomas was one of the first guests
to call in. He it was just promoting your business,
just letting everybody know what you feel good about your business,
what you bring to the table about your business. With
assets you bring to your business, the customers will value
(01:13):
if they came to your place of business. He saw
the opportunity to market in his brand, which is second
what the segment was all about, and he took advantage
of that. He came in studio where the great interview,
and you are a franchisee owner, correct.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Thomas, That is absolutely correct, Yes, sir, Now I started.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I set you up real good, I said, Atlanta's technology guru.
Tell us about that title.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Well, mister McDonald exceptate put my background dance. For over
thirty years in the IT space, I worked for Fortune fifty,
Fortune one hundred, Fortune five hundred companies, and I decided
a few years back actually doing COVID at the height
of COVID, to pursue something I always I do, and
(02:00):
I was branching down and having my own business. Not
always worked very hard for others and made them or
their businesses successful, So why not meet And just through
the grace of God, I was able to do that.
I started the journey in twenty twenty and became an
officially a store of business owner in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Now that the type of business you chose to get in,
was there research involved being a franchise ee? And why
did you choose to be a franchiseee in instead of
just starting up your shop from scratch.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
To be very honest with you, short, I answer your question, Yes,
it was research involved. Over the years, going back to
my twenties, I always used to study Kiplinger's magazine inc magazine.
They always do a ink five hundred. For some reason,
franchises always just kind of stood out for me. Not
that I couldn't necessarily done this on my own. I
(02:55):
absolutely could have, but the franchise model was kind of
always appeal to me, if you will, and if I'm
being very honest with you, when I start this journey,
the very thing that I do was the further thing
from my mind. I was looking at other franchises, more
so in the food and beverage space, if you will.
(03:17):
And then, and going back to the question you asked
about doing research and my doing research that happened to
come across Experien Max, which is the name of the business,
my store that I own, and I start learning more
about the company and their existence, how long they've been around,
what the products we're all about, and simply put experien Max.
(03:40):
We have a niche market for Apple users, Apple product
users and owners, and I found that to be very
appill to me because as you and really the world knows,
people love the Apple products. Opportunity where I could leverage
my background both technically and business wise and capitalize upon
(04:01):
an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Now, when you do a business like that, like I say,
it's not like hamburgers, you know, you can make any
You can get anybody to make a hamburger, you know,
just got to make sure they prepare correctly. The people
you hire have to have a certain tech skill set,
and how do you find those type of skilled people
then maintain a certain level of loyalty to stay with
your brand.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Those are great question. You're absolutely correct. Yes, it's not
as easy as going out there and finding someone who
can use your analogy, who can make a hamburg and
train and do so. Yes, you do have a special
skill set to do this. Ideally someone who has a
technology background, preferably in the Apple space. It's not that
(04:45):
if you're in a different space, perhaps working on androids
and the winner's devices that you cannot be trained in that,
because you absolutely can, or if you're fortunate enough, you
may have somebody who's skilled in both areas. And one
of my key team members who's actually my technical lead,
(05:06):
my store manager, if you will, mister John Gold. While
he had quotes to ten years when he came to me,
his space was mostly into Apple space. But I'm very
fortunate and that he understands both sides, both Android and Apple.
And a key component for me in terms of retention
(05:28):
is treat people like you want to be treated. And
so for me, it's about showing respect. I mean, you know,
to get respect, you have to earn it, you have
to show it, you have to demonstrate it. And I
like to lead from the front. So nothing that I
asked the guys to do in my store are not
things that I'm not capable of or willing to do myself.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Which is a very competitive business.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You can drive down any successful community street, You'll see
this brand, this brand of broken laptop, broken phone, bringing in,
we'll fix it on the spot. How do you cut
through that clutter? Timas of trying to let everybody know
that you an African American man, has franchised out of
(06:13):
an experien max because that has to be noted. And
I'm sure to sure your business isn't dominated by people
of color, but you have chosen to get in the
business that does generate revenue, so why not? So how
do you cut through the clutter of promoting your brand
and also standing out from your competition?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
To be very honest with you, it is not without
its own set of challenges, but quite cantily one of
I believe the differentiating factors between my business and others.
Again going back to we have a very niche market
being Apple, so that of itself. The store that I'm
fortunate enough to be an owner of has been in
(06:54):
existence for ten years. You're a Maxue child started in
twenty fourteen. It was the store that I currently own
was one of the very first franchise stores open in
the country. I was very fortunate to take over or
buy a business that had been there for several years
(07:14):
prior to my taking ownership. So that being said, there
was some built in clientele already, and so I think,
but even having that built in clientele, that is not
an automatic recipe for success. You still have to get
out here and what I'd like to say, shaking hands
and kissing babies.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more
Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making
Conversations Masterclass, hosted by Rashaan McDonald.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
That's something I have to do on a continual basis
to try to maintain the customer base we have as
well as trying to grow the customer base. You always
hear people talking about customer acquisition costs. That's a very
real thing. So between me leaving the store, not always
being in the store, going out introducing myselves to individuals,
(08:17):
to other businesses, letting them know the business services that
we offer, how we can help them. And I like
to always say that we're an excellent alternative to the
Apple Store. If you go to any Apple store throughout
the country and any mall, it stays crowded. One of
the differentiating factors up between us and the Apple Store.
You can come to my store. We do take appointments,
(08:39):
but it's not necessary whereas the Apple for a generally speaking,
you have to have an appointment you go to the
Apple Store. I hear this. It's not me talking, it's
well askual customers tell me they go in there sometimes
have to wait anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours
just to be seen. You come to my store, my store,
you would not have to wait generally speak and when
(09:00):
you walk in the store, you're going to be greeted.
I was by myself for one of my friendly and
professional team members, as you mentioned earlier, in a very
warmer hospital environment, and we're going to be able to
speak to you immediately. Got to go through second and
third party to get the access that you need to
get your questions answered and know your device fix.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
You know, it's really you know Apple. You know, I'm
not trying to turn this into an Apple commercial, but
you go into any high end locational Apple, those stores
are packed, I mean packed. It's like they're giving away
stuff for free, and then you walking there out of curiosity,
You're going, what's going on in here. There's a certain
level of loyalty and also there's a certain level of
(09:43):
expectations when they come in there for service. And one
thing I've noticed about your brand, Thomas, you always talk
about customer service. You always talk about people leaving with
a clear understanding that they come into the right place
and so talk to my audience about how you built
that DNA at your location.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Quite honestly, treating each and every customers if they've come in,
whether it's their first time in or they've been in
a hundred times before. We want you to have a
unique and very pleasant and excellent experience each and every time.
And if we do something wrong or not do your
satisfaction and want to bring that to my attention so
(10:24):
we can correct it as soon as possible. That's the
only way you can learn and grow. But for me,
it's about, like you said, customer service, treating each and
every experience as if it's the very first time, and
never taking anyone or anything for granted, because when you
walk through our doors, it's a pleasure. It's considered an
honorary because you could go to your As you said earlier,
(10:45):
there are a lot of other people that work in
this space, maybe not necessarily Apple specific, although we do
things other than just Apple products, but there are a
lot of quote unquote repair stores specifically for phones with
experiences through cells service and repair, and not just phones,
but whether you're trying to buy a laptop, we're trying
(11:06):
to buy a desktop, get a laptop or a desktop,
fix your iPad or your phone, or a combination thereof.
We can assist you, and we even sell accessories. We're
trying to get air pods, you're trying to get your
phone fixed, you need your battery. Replacing your phones. Oftentimes
we'll find customers coming in because a lot of people
(11:26):
may not know. If you go to the Apple store,
if your device is beyond a certain age, and that
doesn't necessarily mean it's really old phone. You may be
trying to get your battery place and Apple may tell you,
depending upon the year of the product, and we be
very clear about that, they may say we cannot replace
the battery and said device. It could be a laptop,
it could be a phone. Whereas you come to us,
(11:49):
whether you have an Apple product dating back to two
thousand and nine up to the most current product twenty
twenty four, more times than not, we're gonna be able
to assist you. And I'm not just saying that to
be saying that. I literally do have customers or try
I say, we have customers coming out of store with
Apple products from two thousand and nine twenty ten that
(12:10):
are still working, and maybe they're interesting getting that device upgraded.
They're not necessarily in a financial position to buy a
brand new Apple product, so they're trying to get this
one to last a little bit longer. Or perhaps they
just bought a new product because they have a device
that they want to hand over to a grandson or
a granddaughter. So is there anything I can do to
(12:30):
let this from last for another year or two or three?
And so we can assist them in multiple fashions.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I'm gonna tell you something. Thank you Thomas Bourne for
coming on my show. He's the owner of Expira Max.
That'say in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta, Georgia.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Correct, that is absolutely correct.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Cool, here's a question to you.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Okay, I am a PC guy, but also use Apple
pads and all these iPads.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
That's just the iPads now.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I got iPads when they first came out, and I
kid you not. I was looking at my office and
I was moved through stories because I've lived in La
New York all lease from Chicago, and I'm looking at
his iPad. Should I try to resurrect that iPad? I
got like three of them, and they got to be
at least ten years old. I would have to believe
(13:17):
they're at least ten years old. Should I try to
resurrect that. If I don't try to resurrect those iPads,
what should I do with them?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Thomas great questions.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
So if they're probably ten years older, may have very
minimal use for you, depend on what you're using it for.
But going back to what I said just a second ago,
how sometimes people may be passing something on to another
family member. So perhaps you have a grandson or a granddaughter,
or to listening audience, you may have a younger family member,
and you don't want to go out and spend three,
(13:47):
four or five hundred dollars on a brand new iPad
so that your grandson or granddaughter can simply be entertained
for a period of time. For a period of time,
then if all they're doing is playing some games so
far on it, it's possible that let's just say you
have an iPad that's seventy teen years old. You just
hain't used it it forever, but it just may need
(14:10):
a brand new battery that's the only thing wrong with it,
or perhaps you have a crack screen. Those items are
not super expensive to get repaired. I can tell you
just off the top of my head to do a
battery replacement and depend up on the mob iPad, it's
somewhere between one twenty nine and one fifty nine. So
(14:32):
if you can get a little dishal life out of
said device instead of you going out and spend it
upwards of three to five hundred dollars. Like I said, again,
if it's going to be you're you're passing it off.
It's not going to be your primary device that you
are actually using. You just want to give it to
a younger family member. So it may to answer a question,
(14:54):
it may be well worth spending one or two hundred
dollars to get said device fixed. And uh, you're coming
a win win situation for now only yourself, but for
the family member that you're going to give that device to.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Great.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
I'm talking to the technology guru, Atlanta's technology guru, Thomas Barnes.
He's a franchise owner of Experia Max right here in Atlanta, Georgia.
We'll be back with more incredible questions about entrepreneurship, what
he's doing when he ate being a techie, a tech geek,
and also the points of differation at Experia mix Spara
Max and really is about running your business, following your dream,
(15:29):
following up with a plan, and being successful. And he
understands those values. Now let's talk about being an entrepreneur.
What does it take Thomas Barnes to be an entrepreneur?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Well, first and foremost, I'm gonna stay faith first and foremost.
Faith and prayer. Isn't that the same?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Faith and prayer and kind of the same, Right.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
They are, they're related, but now there's one of the same.
But we're gon we're gonna go down on that rabbit
hole faith in prayer first and foremost. But am I
saying that I'll be the first to tell you one
thing that I've learned given reference to the Bible when
they say is walk by faith. There are days in
(16:15):
my store when literally, if I just went by what
I see before me, it's easy to get discouraged. I
have to keep the bigger picture in mind. And if
anybody knows anything about sales, you know anything about retail operations,
then you're gonna have your peak in your valleys. So
that's being down this business for three years. I mean,
(16:37):
I'm a true living testimony of what it means, you know,
walking by faith, because that what you see before you.
It can be easy to get discouraged if you just
go by what you may see in front of you
on a daily basis. You know, sometimes one man, it
could be nobody in the store. Next man, that could
be five, six, seven people in the store. So you
(16:59):
just have to keep your eyes the prize, if you will.
But beyond that, you can't be afraid to step out
on faith. Can and cannot be afraid to take a
risk if you're not a risk taker, I don't know
what to tell you. You have to know that you're gonna
have to be able to be willing to take a risk,
plain and simple. You can't just stand I'll use a
(17:22):
swimming pool if you will. You can't just stand at
the edge of the pool and saying I want to swim.
I want to swim, but you're afraid to get wet, right,
You're not doing You're not willing to die into the pool.
You gotta you gotta be willing to get off of
that ledge and take a leap of faith if you will.
And I say that both bitterally and figuratively.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
And weighing in is not exactly taking a leap.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Now, Okay, I'm just letting you know you can wade in,
you know, because that's you kind of still on that
safe side, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Time of just.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Wading over there knee deep or make calf high water,
get on in there to that area where you know
you're underwater a little bit. You gotta you gotta stroke
some movement out there so you won't drown. That's what
being an entrepreneur is. And I tell everybody there on
the regular basis is that if you are a forty
hour week person.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I'm cool with you. That's life.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
But once you step out as an entrepreneur, you are
literally drowning every day you get up, and your job
is not to.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Drown each and every day. Sometimes some of my friends,
one friend in particular, she always jokes and teas him
and she was like, I don't get a chance to
see you us hang out like we used to. Whatever
she's like, and she'll be the person and she'll preface
it by saying, I'm happy for you, I'm proud of
all that you're doing, but we don't get a chance
(18:41):
to hang out like we used to. Well, the day
you talk to anybody who has a business, I don't
care if they've been in business for one year, ten years,
fifty years, whether you're selling ward on the streets, doing computers, technology,
have a restaurant. My business goes with me twenty four
to seven because it's always something to do, or wondering
(19:01):
if I did something because I've done it better, that
I miss something, that I forget to call somebody back,
What do I need to do? So I do know
how to step away, and I'm learning slowly but surely
of being able to step away a little bit. But
it's it's not hard. Although I have talented, comfortent and
capable people that I have confidence in my store. At
the end of the day Sunday through Saturday, weekend and
(19:24):
week out there, there's hardly any time that goes by
when I don't have my business on my mind in
some shape, form or fashion. I need to order this
for mister McDonald, I need to call missus Jones back whatever,
I'll call.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
McDonald back because I'm trying to confirm this interview.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
What did I do? Know? So and Grant you have
to learn how to delegate. You learn to delegate, and
that's also been a process for me, and sometime I'm
still learning to do. I don't have a problem delegating,
but sometimes there are sometimes certain things that you yourself
just have to do. So when it's left up to you,
(20:06):
everything can be delegated. Some of the other day to
day operational things I can't navigate some of the more
strategic things or things that only I can do.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Right, let me tell you, Thomas, as we close out
this interview, the business plan. You know, so many people
just jump out there, I want to I want to
start a business. Nowhere is the business plan. They don't
they they they may not understand what a business plan is,
the process and the need and the necessity to have
a business plan.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I'm going to tell you something. I raised my hand.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I made that mistake, and some businesses I've started, I
just started with the idea I can make money.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Talk about the importances of a business plan.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
So one of the things I had to do. But
as I was praying to go to the bank and
trying to procure my business was laying out a business plan.
And you have to lay out your assets, your liabilities
and mapping out Okay, here's what I belie if we're
gonna do From January December of this year, but if
you're going to a bank and trying to secure loan,
(21:07):
they're going to ask you, probably for a very minimum
whether you see your business in three years, So you're
going to have to do some projected cancelations. From a
business plan perspective, you're speaking of of not only what
the business is going to look like beginning today, what
is going to look like a year from now, what's
gonna look like three years from now, Because the bank's
going to know all those things, and so you have
(21:28):
to be able to look at your current assets, maybe
personally and professionally, and then being able to put all
those things down and as you're doing like an income
statement or a balance sheet, if you don't understand and
those those things are that I would strongly advise you
to seek professional advice, particularly somebody who maybe have either
(21:49):
an account not necessarily a CPA, but somebody who has
an accounting background and or a business background. That can
assisue with those things where you start trying to negotiate
a least all those things. You know, I was forced
to have a friend who works in commercial real estate,
so some of this to me, let me be very clear,
I'm not saying all of it was new, but some
of them. My background is I have a degree in
(22:09):
business with the major information systems, so some things weren't
foreign to me, but some were. And so I did
have to consult and have no problems saying that people
outside of myself to get some professional advice as I
was pursuing this endeavor.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
As we closed out the interview again I mentioned earlier
about my my iPads. Now I just wanted to I
got about four of them in I took, kid you not,
They're just not even on. I don't know if I
even have the adapters for them. So if I came
down to SPIRIMAX, uh what what? Would I just bring
(22:47):
them down there? Because I don't know the passwords anymore.
I don't know it, but I feel they should they
should have some value. I should get them back up
and running and things like that. So the procedure would
be for me to do what just bring them down there,
even though I don't even though I don't have power sources.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
That that's not a problem at all. Were in the store.
We have pretty much all the tools that are necessary
for us to at least pug the device up. You know,
a sense if it's coming on on its own, or
if it needs the battery, we'll be able to sid
you know, determine if it's doa they're on arrival, you
may need a battery. But we have all the tools
(23:24):
that are necessary where we can do their appropriate troubleshooting
diagnosis inside of the store, and we'll be able to
let you know in a very short period of time
what the what we believe the problem to be. And
once we confirm what the problem is, we'll let you
know that and what the potential costs would be. And
even if you have a forgotten password, that's not necessarily
an issue because of course with most Apple products they're
(23:45):
very secure and there's locked down by having an Apple
i D. Not a problem if you've forgotten your password
and or your Apple i D. Their means things that
we can do in the store where you can possibly
get a text or email on your phone that will
allow you to reset your Apple ID if you have
just totally forgotten it. And quite honestly, it may not
(24:06):
even be that drastic. Those matters. Those things matter. If
a person has data they're trying to preserve on device,
we may eat that. If you say, man, this thing
is just several years old. I just want to get
back up and running. I'm fine with you completely wiping.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yes, yes, yes, I will be saying that Thomas wipe
that bad boy so I can get back in business.
I tell you I'm talking to Atlanta's technology guru. He's
Thomas Barnes. He has an Experira Max franchise location Apple specialist. Thomas,
thank you for taking the time. As usual, you delivered
to my audience information that they can win with and
(24:42):
some secrets to your success. Stay safe and stay strong.
And I'm gonna tell you this. I told you this
last time. You will see me this time at the
Expira Max.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Okay, it's my.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Ways a pleasure speaking to you, and I look forward
to singing some of my friends. Have a great event.
Thanks again for the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Masterclass
hosted by me Rashaun McDonald. Thank you to our guests
on the show today and thank you for listening to
the audience now. If you want to listen to any
episode I want to be a guest on the show,
visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money
Making conversation. Join us next week and remember to always
(25:17):
leave with your gifts.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
Keep winning,
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I am Rashan McDonald, a host the weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, please visit
our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and click to be a
guest button Chris, submit and information will come directly to me.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Now, let's get this show started. My guests.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Maximized his love for math and science as a kid
to become Atlanta's technology Guru. At his business, he brings
people together by helping them achieve their technology needs in
a warm and welcoming environment. Please welcome to Money Making Conversation.
One of my favorite guests, mister Thomas Barnes. How you doing, Thomas?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Listen McDonald, I'm doing wonderful, my friend and yourself. Thank
you for having me on the seion.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You know, Thomas, I got squeezed one of my favorite
people because I add you in a long time. The
little backstory when I do this segment of my show
called Bragging Segment. Thomas was one of the first guests
to call in. He it was just promoting your business,
just letting everybody know what you feel good about your business,
what you bring to the table about your business. With
assets you bring to your business, the customers will value
(01:13):
if they came to your place of business. He saw
the opportunity to market in his brand, which is second
what the segment was all about, and he took advantage
of that. He came in studio where the great interview,
and you are a franchisee owner, correct.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Thomas, That is absolutely correct, Yes, sir, Now I started.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
I set you up real good, I said, Atlanta's technology guru.
Tell us about that title.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Well, mister McDonald exceptate put my background dance. For over
thirty years in the IT space, I worked for Fortune fifty,
Fortune one hundred, Fortune five hundred companies, and I decided
a few years back actually doing COVID at the height
of COVID, to pursue something I always I do, and
(02:00):
I was branching down and having my own business. Not
always worked very hard for others and made them or
their businesses successful, So why not meet And just through
the grace of God, I was able to do that.
I started the journey in twenty twenty and became an
officially a store of business owner in twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Now that the type of business you chose to get in,
was there research involved being a franchise ee? And why
did you choose to be a franchiseee in instead of
just starting up your shop from scratch.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
To be very honest with you, short, I answer your question, Yes,
it was research involved. Over the years, going back to
my twenties, I always used to study Kiplinger's magazine inc magazine.
They always do a ink five hundred. For some reason,
franchises always just kind of stood out for me. Not
that I couldn't necessarily done this on my own. I
(02:55):
absolutely could have, but the franchise model was kind of
always appeal to me, if you will, and if I'm
being very honest with you, when I start this journey,
the very thing that I do was the further thing
from my mind. I was looking at other franchises, more
so in the food and beverage space, if you will.
(03:17):
And then, and going back to the question you asked
about doing research and my doing research that happened to
come across Experien Max, which is the name of the business,
my store that I own, and I start learning more
about the company and their existence, how long they've been around,
what the products we're all about, and simply put experien Max.
(03:40):
We have a niche market for Apple users, Apple product
users and owners, and I found that to be very
appill to me because as you and really the world knows,
people love the Apple products. Opportunity where I could leverage
my background both technically and business wise and capitalize upon
(04:01):
an opportunity.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Now, when you do a business like that, like I say,
it's not like hamburgers, you know, you can make any
You can get anybody to make a hamburger, you know,
just got to make sure they prepare correctly. The people
you hire have to have a certain tech skill set,
and how do you find those type of skilled people
then maintain a certain level of loyalty to stay with
your brand.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Those are great question. You're absolutely correct. Yes, it's not
as easy as going out there and finding someone who
can use your analogy, who can make a hamburg and
train and do so. Yes, you do have a special
skill set to do this. Ideally someone who has a
technology background, preferably in the Apple space. It's not that
(04:45):
if you're in a different space, perhaps working on androids
and the winner's devices that you cannot be trained in that,
because you absolutely can, or if you're fortunate enough, you
may have somebody who's skilled in both areas. And one
of my key team members who's actually my technical lead,
(05:06):
my store manager, if you will, mister John Gold. While
he had quotes to ten years when he came to me,
his space was mostly into Apple space. But I'm very
fortunate and that he understands both sides, both Android and Apple.
And a key component for me in terms of retention
(05:28):
is treat people like you want to be treated. And
so for me, it's about showing respect. I mean, you know,
to get respect, you have to earn it, you have
to show it, you have to demonstrate it. And I
like to lead from the front. So nothing that I
asked the guys to do in my store are not
things that I'm not capable of or willing to do myself.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
Which is a very competitive business.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
You can drive down any successful community street, You'll see
this brand, this brand of broken laptop, broken phone, bringing in,
we'll fix it on the spot. How do you cut
through that clutter? Timas of trying to let everybody know
that you an African American man, has franchised out of
(06:13):
an experien max because that has to be noted. And
I'm sure to sure your business isn't dominated by people
of color, but you have chosen to get in the
business that does generate revenue, so why not? So how
do you cut through the clutter of promoting your brand
and also standing out from your competition?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
To be very honest with you, it is not without
its own set of challenges, but quite cantily one of
I believe the differentiating factors between my business and others.
Again going back to we have a very niche market
being Apple, so that of itself. The store that I'm
fortunate enough to be an owner of has been in
(06:54):
existence for ten years. You're a Maxue child started in
twenty fourteen. It was the store that I currently own
was one of the very first franchise stores open in
the country. I was very fortunate to take over or
buy a business that had been there for several years
(07:14):
prior to my taking ownership. So that being said, there
was some built in clientele already, and so I think,
but even having that built in clientele, that is not
an automatic recipe for success. You still have to get
out here and what I'd like to say, shaking hands
and kissing babies.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more
Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making
Conversations Masterclass, hosted by Rashaan McDonald.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
That's something I have to do on a continual basis
to try to maintain the customer base we have as
well as trying to grow the customer base. You always
hear people talking about customer acquisition costs. That's a very
real thing. So between me leaving the store, not always
being in the store, going out introducing myselves to individuals,
(08:17):
to other businesses, letting them know the business services that
we offer, how we can help them. And I like
to always say that we're an excellent alternative to the
Apple Store. If you go to any Apple store throughout
the country and any mall, it stays crowded. One of
the differentiating factors up between us and the Apple Store.
You can come to my store. We do take appointments,
(08:39):
but it's not necessary whereas the Apple for a generally speaking,
you have to have an appointment you go to the
Apple Store. I hear this. It's not me talking, it's
well askual customers tell me they go in there sometimes
have to wait anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours
just to be seen. You come to my store, my store,
you would not have to wait generally speak and when
(09:00):
you walk in the store, you're going to be greeted.
I was by myself for one of my friendly and
professional team members, as you mentioned earlier, in a very
warmer hospital environment, and we're going to be able to
speak to you immediately. Got to go through second and
third party to get the access that you need to
get your questions answered and know your device fix.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
You know, it's really you know Apple. You know, I'm
not trying to turn this into an Apple commercial, but
you go into any high end locational Apple, those stores
are packed, I mean packed. It's like they're giving away
stuff for free, and then you walking there out of curiosity,
You're going, what's going on in here. There's a certain
level of loyalty and also there's a certain level of
(09:43):
expectations when they come in there for service. And one
thing I've noticed about your brand, Thomas, you always talk
about customer service. You always talk about people leaving with
a clear understanding that they come into the right place
and so talk to my audience about how you built
that DNA at your location.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Quite honestly, treating each and every customers if they've come in,
whether it's their first time in or they've been in
a hundred times before. We want you to have a
unique and very pleasant and excellent experience each and every time.
And if we do something wrong or not do your
satisfaction and want to bring that to my attention so
(10:24):
we can correct it as soon as possible. That's the
only way you can learn and grow. But for me,
it's about, like you said, customer service, treating each and
every experience as if it's the very first time, and
never taking anyone or anything for granted, because when you
walk through our doors, it's a pleasure. It's considered an
honorary because you could go to your As you said earlier,
(10:45):
there are a lot of other people that work in
this space, maybe not necessarily Apple specific, although we do
things other than just Apple products, but there are a
lot of quote unquote repair stores specifically for phones with
experiences through cells service and repair, and not just phones,
but whether you're trying to buy a laptop, we're trying
(11:06):
to buy a desktop, get a laptop or a desktop,
fix your iPad or your phone, or a combination thereof.
We can assist you, and we even sell accessories. We're
trying to get air pods, you're trying to get your
phone fixed, you need your battery. Replacing your phones. Oftentimes
we'll find customers coming in because a lot of people
(11:26):
may not know. If you go to the Apple store,
if your device is beyond a certain age, and that
doesn't necessarily mean it's really old phone. You may be
trying to get your battery place and Apple may tell you,
depending upon the year of the product, and we be
very clear about that, they may say we cannot replace
the battery and said device. It could be a laptop,
it could be a phone. Whereas you come to us,
(11:49):
whether you have an Apple product dating back to two
thousand and nine up to the most current product twenty
twenty four, more times than not, we're gonna be able
to assist you. And I'm not just saying that to
be saying that. I literally do have customers or try
I say, we have customers coming out of store with
Apple products from two thousand and nine twenty ten that
(12:10):
are still working, and maybe they're interesting getting that device upgraded.
They're not necessarily in a financial position to buy a
brand new Apple product, so they're trying to get this
one to last a little bit longer. Or perhaps they
just bought a new product because they have a device
that they want to hand over to a grandson or
a granddaughter. So is there anything I can do to
(12:30):
let this from last for another year or two or three?
And so we can assist them in multiple fashions.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I'm gonna tell you something. Thank you Thomas Bourne for
coming on my show. He's the owner of Expira Max.
That'say in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta, Georgia.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Correct, that is absolutely correct.
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Cool, here's a question to you.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Okay, I am a PC guy, but also use Apple
pads and all these iPads.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
That's just the iPads now.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
I got iPads when they first came out, and I
kid you not. I was looking at my office and
I was moved through stories because I've lived in La
New York all lease from Chicago, and I'm looking at
his iPad. Should I try to resurrect that iPad? I
got like three of them, and they got to be
at least ten years old. I would have to believe
(13:17):
they're at least ten years old. Should I try to
resurrect that. If I don't try to resurrect those iPads,
what should I do with them?
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Thomas great questions.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
So if they're probably ten years older, may have very
minimal use for you, depend on what you're using it for.
But going back to what I said just a second ago,
how sometimes people may be passing something on to another
family member. So perhaps you have a grandson or a granddaughter,
or to listening audience, you may have a younger family member,
and you don't want to go out and spend three,
(13:47):
four or five hundred dollars on a brand new iPad
so that your grandson or granddaughter can simply be entertained
for a period of time. For a period of time,
then if all they're doing is playing some games so
far on it, it's possible that let's just say you
have an iPad that's seventy teen years old. You just
hain't used it it forever, but it just may need
(14:10):
a brand new battery that's the only thing wrong with it,
or perhaps you have a crack screen. Those items are
not super expensive to get repaired. I can tell you
just off the top of my head to do a
battery replacement and depend up on the mob iPad, it's
somewhere between one twenty nine and one fifty nine. So
(14:32):
if you can get a little dishal life out of
said device instead of you going out and spend it
upwards of three to five hundred dollars. Like I said, again,
if it's going to be you're you're passing it off.
It's not going to be your primary device that you
are actually using. You just want to give it to
a younger family member. So it may to answer a question,
(14:54):
it may be well worth spending one or two hundred
dollars to get said device fixed. And uh, you're coming
a win win situation for now only yourself, but for
the family member that you're going to give that device to.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Great.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
I'm talking to the technology guru, Atlanta's technology guru, Thomas Barnes.
He's a franchise owner of Experia Max right here in Atlanta, Georgia.
We'll be back with more incredible questions about entrepreneurship, what
he's doing when he ate being a techie, a tech geek,
and also the points of differation at Experia mix Spara
Max and really is about running your business, following your dream,
(15:29):
following up with a plan, and being successful. And he
understands those values. Now let's talk about being an entrepreneur.
What does it take Thomas Barnes to be an entrepreneur?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Well, first and foremost, I'm gonna stay faith first and foremost.
Faith and prayer. Isn't that the same?
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Faith and prayer and kind of the same, Right.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
They are, they're related, but now there's one of the same.
But we're gon we're gonna go down on that rabbit
hole faith in prayer first and foremost. But am I
saying that I'll be the first to tell you one
thing that I've learned given reference to the Bible when
they say is walk by faith. There are days in
(16:15):
my store when literally, if I just went by what
I see before me, it's easy to get discouraged. I
have to keep the bigger picture in mind. And if
anybody knows anything about sales, you know anything about retail operations,
then you're gonna have your peak in your valleys. So
that's being down this business for three years. I mean,
(16:37):
I'm a true living testimony of what it means, you know,
walking by faith, because that what you see before you.
It can be easy to get discouraged if you just
go by what you may see in front of you
on a daily basis. You know, sometimes one man, it
could be nobody in the store. Next man, that could
be five, six, seven people in the store. So you
(16:59):
just have to keep your eyes the prize, if you will.
But beyond that, you can't be afraid to step out
on faith. Can and cannot be afraid to take a
risk if you're not a risk taker, I don't know
what to tell you. You have to know that you're gonna
have to be able to be willing to take a risk,
plain and simple. You can't just stand I'll use a
(17:22):
swimming pool if you will. You can't just stand at
the edge of the pool and saying I want to swim.
I want to swim, but you're afraid to get wet, right,
You're not doing You're not willing to die into the pool.
You gotta you gotta be willing to get off of
that ledge and take a leap of faith if you will.
And I say that both bitterally and figuratively.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
And weighing in is not exactly taking a leap.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Now, Okay, I'm just letting you know you can wade in,
you know, because that's you kind of still on that
safe side, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Time of just.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Wading over there knee deep or make calf high water,
get on in there to that area where you know
you're underwater a little bit. You gotta you gotta stroke
some movement out there so you won't drown. That's what
being an entrepreneur is. And I tell everybody there on
the regular basis is that if you are a forty
hour week person.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
I'm cool with you. That's life.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
But once you step out as an entrepreneur, you are
literally drowning every day you get up, and your job
is not to.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Drown each and every day. Sometimes some of my friends,
one friend in particular, she always jokes and teas him
and she was like, I don't get a chance to
see you us hang out like we used to. Whatever
she's like, and she'll be the person and she'll preface
it by saying, I'm happy for you, I'm proud of
all that you're doing, but we don't get a chance
(18:41):
to hang out like we used to. Well, the day
you talk to anybody who has a business, I don't
care if they've been in business for one year, ten years,
fifty years, whether you're selling ward on the streets, doing computers, technology,
have a restaurant. My business goes with me twenty four
to seven because it's always something to do, or wondering
(19:01):
if I did something because I've done it better, that
I miss something, that I forget to call somebody back,
What do I need to do? So I do know
how to step away, and I'm learning slowly but surely
of being able to step away a little bit. But
it's it's not hard. Although I have talented, comfortent and
capable people that I have confidence in my store. At
the end of the day Sunday through Saturday, weekend and
(19:24):
week out there, there's hardly any time that goes by
when I don't have my business on my mind in
some shape, form or fashion. I need to order this
for mister McDonald, I need to call missus Jones back whatever,
I'll call.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
McDonald back because I'm trying to confirm this interview.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
What did I do? Know? So and Grant you have
to learn how to delegate. You learn to delegate, and
that's also been a process for me, and sometime I'm
still learning to do. I don't have a problem delegating,
but sometimes there are sometimes certain things that you yourself
just have to do. So when it's left up to you,
(20:06):
everything can be delegated. Some of the other day to
day operational things I can't navigate some of the more
strategic things or things that only I can do.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Right, let me tell you, Thomas, as we close out
this interview, the business plan. You know, so many people
just jump out there, I want to I want to
start a business. Nowhere is the business plan. They don't
they they they may not understand what a business plan is,
the process and the need and the necessity to have
a business plan.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
I'm going to tell you something. I raised my hand.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
I made that mistake, and some businesses I've started, I
just started with the idea I can make money.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Talk about the importances of a business plan.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
So one of the things I had to do. But
as I was praying to go to the bank and
trying to procure my business was laying out a business plan.
And you have to lay out your assets, your liabilities
and mapping out Okay, here's what I belie if we're
gonna do From January December of this year, but if
you're going to a bank and trying to secure loan,
(21:07):
they're going to ask you, probably for a very minimum
whether you see your business in three years, So you're
going to have to do some projected cancelations. From a
business plan perspective, you're speaking of of not only what
the business is going to look like beginning today, what
is going to look like a year from now, what's
gonna look like three years from now, Because the bank's
going to know all those things, and so you have
(21:28):
to be able to look at your current assets, maybe
personally and professionally, and then being able to put all
those things down and as you're doing like an income
statement or a balance sheet, if you don't understand and
those those things are that I would strongly advise you
to seek professional advice, particularly somebody who maybe have either
(21:49):
an account not necessarily a CPA, but somebody who has
an accounting background and or a business background. That can
assisue with those things where you start trying to negotiate
a least all those things. You know, I was forced
to have a friend who works in commercial real estate,
so some of this to me, let me be very clear,
I'm not saying all of it was new, but some
of them. My background is I have a degree in
(22:09):
business with the major information systems, so some things weren't
foreign to me, but some were. And so I did
have to consult and have no problems saying that people
outside of myself to get some professional advice as I
was pursuing this endeavor.
Speaker 3 (22:25):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
As we closed out the interview again I mentioned earlier
about my my iPads. Now I just wanted to I
got about four of them in I took, kid you not,
They're just not even on. I don't know if I
even have the adapters for them. So if I came
down to SPIRIMAX, uh what what? Would I just bring
(22:47):
them down there? Because I don't know the passwords anymore.
I don't know it, but I feel they should they
should have some value. I should get them back up
and running and things like that. So the procedure would
be for me to do what just bring them down there,
even though I don't even though I don't have power sources.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
That that's not a problem at all. Were in the store.
We have pretty much all the tools that are necessary
for us to at least pug the device up. You know,
a sense if it's coming on on its own, or
if it needs the battery, we'll be able to sid
you know, determine if it's doa they're on arrival, you
may need a battery. But we have all the tools
(23:24):
that are necessary where we can do their appropriate troubleshooting
diagnosis inside of the store, and we'll be able to
let you know in a very short period of time
what the what we believe the problem to be. And
once we confirm what the problem is, we'll let you
know that and what the potential costs would be. And
even if you have a forgotten password, that's not necessarily
an issue because of course with most Apple products they're
(23:45):
very secure and there's locked down by having an Apple
i D. Not a problem if you've forgotten your password
and or your Apple i D. Their means things that
we can do in the store where you can possibly
get a text or email on your phone that will
allow you to reset your Apple ID if you have
just totally forgotten it. And quite honestly, it may not
(24:06):
even be that drastic. Those matters. Those things matter. If
a person has data they're trying to preserve on device,
we may eat that. If you say, man, this thing
is just several years old. I just want to get
back up and running. I'm fine with you completely wiping.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Yes, yes, yes, I will be saying that Thomas wipe
that bad boy so I can get back in business.
I tell you I'm talking to Atlanta's technology guru. He's
Thomas Barnes. He has an Experira Max franchise location Apple specialist. Thomas,
thank you for taking the time. As usual, you delivered
to my audience information that they can win with and
(24:42):
some secrets to your success. Stay safe and stay strong.
And I'm gonna tell you this. I told you this
last time. You will see me this time at the
Expira Max.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
Okay, it's my.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Ways a pleasure speaking to you, and I look forward
to singing some of my friends. Have a great event.
Thanks again for the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Masterclass
hosted by me Rashaun McDonald. Thank you to our guests
on the show today and thank you for listening to
the audience now. If you want to listen to any
episode I want to be a guest on the show,
visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money
Making conversation. Join us next week and remember to always
(25:17):
leave with your gifts.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
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