Technology consultants upgrade own equipment with SBA loan

BROOMFIELD ? Sometimes a little boost makes all the difference.

Although Digital Dimensions borrowed only $10,000 — the minimum amount banks lend for Small Business Association (SBA) loans — the extra capital has made a noticeable impact on the two-person operation.

“It’s taken the pressure off,´ said Erica Gamet, owner of Digital Dimensions. “I can spend a little more to get our name out there and give our clients what they need.”

Gamet and her husband, Jeff, provide technology consulting for the printing and publishing industries.

“We help them utilize and integrate the technology that they either have, or are getting,” Gamet said.

This can include Internet access, peripheral devices such as scanners, and software to organize and regulate workflow.

The SBA loan obtained in March of this year helped Gamet invest in more marketing and purchase new equipment.

Gamet markets Digital Dimensions through clients’ recommendations, direct mail, and www.digi-wizards.com, the company Web site.

As for the new equipment, Gamet believes that it’s essential to keep current for her type of business.

“We have to have the latest and greatest to help our clients,” Gamet said. “If they don’t have a good system in place their clients are unhappy because it takes too long to get the product.”

A self-described “techno diva,” according to her business cards, Gamet strives to make customer comfortable with technology.

“Technology doesn’t have to freak you out,” she said. “We don’t throw a lot of techno jargon at you. A lot of people don’t use all the technology available to them to profit their company.”

One of Gamet’s specialties is cross-platform networking, which can make Macs and PCs interface smoothly. This compatibility is especially important in the publishing industry, Gamet said.

“Generally, the sales and front-end people (in a publishing company) have PCs,” Gamet said, “and the graphics people have Mac. Everyone should be happy.”

Gamet tries to solve her customer’s technology problems, not push sell them into buying specific hardware or software products.

“We don’t sell any product of any kind,” she said. “We’ve been asked to, but we won’t because we want to give an unbiased opinion of what will really work for you, not because it will make my wallet fatter. If you don’t have your principles, what good is anything else?”

Gamet does advise client on what kinds of products will best meet their needs.

“We hear a lot of people say, ?So-and-so told me I need this,'” Gamet said. “But if they’re a car lot and you’re a publisher, how will that work for you?”

Storage is one of the publishing industry’s specialized needs. “If you throw it all on one hard drive, you’re not going to find it,” Gamet said of the large number of sizable text documents received by publishers and printers.

Gamet and her husband also train in-house computer support personnel with different seminars such as “Managing Digital Assets” and “How to Do Networking.”

In 2000, Digital Dimensions grossed $56,000, and Gamet hopes to expand the company this year with the help of the SBA loan.

“We’ve been using our own money (to fund the company),” Gamet said, “but we want to make this a big growth year. (The SBA loan) will give me flexibility to try new things.”

Eventually, Gamet hopes to hire employees to perform the consulting work so that the couple can have more personal time. She also would like to expand the network installation arm of the business because it is more lucrative than consulting.

“We want to be the name you recall when you have tech issues,” Gamet said. “Usually, it’s an emergency, but we want there to be a comfort aspect.”

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