Computer Doctor International: Growth means corporate changes

The rapid growth of Computer Doctor Franchise stores across the nation requires corporate changes within the Aberdeen, S.D.-based company, including a name change to Computer Doctor International. Founded in Aberdeen in 1992, the franchisor has more than 110 stores open or in development across the nation and in Mexico, with new stores opening weekly.

Computer Doctor affiliate company Loginet Inc., also of Aberdeen, has merged with Computer Doctor franchise Systems, Inc, forming Computer Doctor International, LLC, said founder and CEO Lonnie Helgerson. A new division called Franchise Fulfillment and Development Services now handles duties of the former Loginet company, Helgerson announced.

The fulfillment division ships equipment necessary to open new stores. "Our primary function is to walk store owners through the development process, from their first phase of training until their opening day," said Dale Bain, former head of Loginet who now serves as Senior Vice President of the fulfillment division.

The division supplies display tables and wall units, and provides franchisees with store layout, designs and fixtures, printed products, signs, cables and supplies packaged with the company trademark, uniforms and a Point of Sale computer system. However, the division will no longer sell computers and parts to franchisees as Loginet did, Bain said.

Helping spur growth is the corporation's national repair accounts, another division within the company. More than 30 major computer retailers and manufacturers now use Computer Doctor stores for repair and warranty work across the nation, dispatched through the national account call center located in the downtown Aberdeen headquarters.

Computer Doctor recently added several new locations, which all are independently owned and operated: Reno, Nev.; Iowa City, Iowa; Fairbanks, Alaska; Viera, Fla.; Jacksonville and San Diego. Soon to open are stores in Honolulu, Hawaii; Cedar Falls, Iowa; Tracy, Calif.; Bemidji, Minn. and Hutchinson, Kan. Recently purchased locations now in development are in Delaware, Virginia, Texas, Washington, Reno, and a second Mexico location.