Screenz Computing Center Opens First Franchise

FARMINGDALE, NY (Wednesday, September 07, 2005) - Surrounded by CEOs, CFOs and other executives employed in today’s largest New York area companies, local entrepreneur Debora Shockness is plenty happy with her new title as “owner entrepreneur” of the Farmingdale, NY Screenz Computing Center franchise—the first franchise of its kind in the country.

Shockness, 42, who has been involved in the IT field for the past 20 years is about to fulfill a lifelong dream with the summer opening of her Screenz Computing Center at 294 Main Street in downtown Farmingdale. “With Screenz, I have the pleasure of utilizing my years of experience in the technology field by providing the neighborhood around my store with high speed Internet access, the latest software applications, digital printing and copying and a warm, professional work environment for novice or expert computer users.” A self-described “techie”, Shockness loves being able to leverage her passion for technology while providing a needed service to the community.

Shockness has had plenty of success in her business career having held positions with, Bell Atlantic, Arthur Andersen and Visiting Nurse Service of New York, but she always looked forward to the day when she could leave the hierarchy of the corporate world and control her own destiny by owning her own franchise business. Shockness saw how franchising offered her a unique opportunity to launch an innovative and proven business concept in neighborhood computing. The Screenz franchise provided support in areas where she needed it including real estate and site selection assistance, lease negotiation, store design and layout services, equipment purchasing, vendor relations, extensive training and local advertising support.

“The benefits of the Screenz franchise coupled with my technical knowledge will help kick-start my new venture,” added Shockness. In promoting the services offered at her Screenz location, Shockness will be promoting customer trials by offering a “free week” of computer access time to all customers around the opening of the store. “Once I get customers to come in and experience the Screenz difference, I know they’ll come back and become regular customers going forward.”

Shockness was born Panama and raised in Brooklyn and has been a Long Island resident since 1995. After deciding to purchase a Screenz franchise early in 2005, Shockness spent the better part of four months scouring various neighborhoods on Long Island in search of the right real estate locations. According to Shockness, “the Farmingdale location offered me the opportunity to be in a high traffic, downtown district near the train lines, a health club, restaurants and other neighborhood oriented businesses that thrive on repeat customers like dry cleaners, nail salons, hardware stores and local diners—that’s where I needed to be.” A “high achiever”, Shockness has such confidence in her ability that she sees the Farmingdale Center as the first of three locations she intends to establish in the area.

"There's no one else franchising this unique concept out there,”" Shockness said, referring to Screenz, one of the oldest Internet café and computing center chains in the U.S. “I can offer my customers access to fast computers, a T1 Internet connection, and a variety of software applications so they can do just about anything they want on a computer—from searching for a job and printing a resume to scanning and manipulating photos to downloading music for their IPOD,” added Shockness. Unfazed by the growing number of wireless access points, Shockness said “Screenz provides a great working environment where people can rent access time using the latest software and peripheral equipment so they don’t have to purchase and install them on their home computers.”

Screenz was founded in 1996 in Chicago, IL. Since that time, Screenz has established its position as a leader in the exploding field of personal computing and office centers. Screenz operates 3 company owned stores in Chicago and began franchising its stores in 2004. In addition to the Farmingdale location, a second franchise store is under construction in St. Louis. “I look forward to opening the first Screenz Computing Center franchise in the country right here near my home,” said Shockness.



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