Alex Chudzinski is working hard to transform the small cell phone repair business he started as a student at Lake Orion High School into a thriving, growing company.
In order to make it happen, the 2015 LOHS graduate is planning to lease space inside the Legacy Center (925 N. Lapeer Rd.) in Oxford Township as part of a program designed to provide a hand-up to budding entrepreneurs.
‘I’m really excited about it,? said Chudzinski, who will move his Cracked Electronic Repair there in November. ‘I think it’s going to be amazing for my business. Right now, I don’t really have a storefront. All my advertising is (through) word-of-mouth and social media. I’m excited to see how the Legacy Center is going to make it blow up.?
The program is called Legacy Ignite and it allows new, existing or home-based businesses to lease micro office spaces (under 200 square feet) for a relatively low price on a month-to-month basis. Rent is $550 per month.
‘It’s just a small space to show people what you do and get your feet underneath you,? said Christian Mills, owner of the Legacy Center. ‘It’s a good concept.?
Mills explained Legacy Ignite will allow entrepreneurs to test the waters and attempt to grow their businesses right on M-24 with a minimal amount of financial risk and commitment.
‘Normally, you’d sign a five-year lease to be in a prime spot,? he noted.
Being inside the Legacy Center will also provide businesses with exposure to the 15,000 to 20,000 families from a 60-mile radius that Mills estimates will visit his facility on a monthly basis.
Legacy Ignite started with four micro office spaces.
‘We sold out in about a week,? said Mills, who plans to add two more.
Although Legacy Ignite is open to entrepreneurs of all ages, Mills is particularly excited about the opportunity to work with young people like Chudzinski.
‘We want to take kids who have ideas and show them there are other ways to earn a living,? he said. ‘Not everyone has to go to college. I’m not advocating for or against college, but I think kids in the ninth and 10th grade should know there’s just a world of possibilities out there. We just want kids to be productive and successful and hopefully, stay in the community.?
Chudzinski started fixing his phone and his friends? phones as a high school freshman.
‘I used to do it as a hobby,? he said.
Within a few years that hobby grew into a business when Chudzinski realized he enjoyed the work, he was good at it and people were willing to pay for his services.
Today, he repairs 25 to 35 phones a week.
‘Once I break 50, I’ll probably have to start hiring people,? Chudzinski said. ‘I like fixing phones, but I want to get to the point where I can just work on advertising and marketing.?
He believes his business will continue to grow because cell phones are so commonplace these days.
‘Everyone has a phone and they all break,? he said. ‘The most common thing we do is screen replacements. That’s the main thing that breaks on your phone.?
Cracked Electronic Repair can also repair batteries, buttons, charging ports, auxiliary ports and speakers.
‘Anything that can break on your phone, we can fix,? Chudzinski said. ‘I’d say about 90 percent of repairs are done while you wait . . . The most common repair takes under 20 minutes.?
To learn more about the Legacy Center, please visit www.legacyiscommunity.com