Press Release
“You want to open a computer store in Stuart, Nebraska?”
Mark Stracke, founder and co-owner of Affordable Computing in Stuart, remembers well all of the raised eyebrows and skeptical looks from his friends when he told them his plans back in 1993.
He had just completed a 10-year stint as a government contractor dealing with computers and technology during the Cold War era. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, his company offered its employees early retirement options and Stracke didn’t hesitate to accept.
He quickly got in touch with his childhood friend, Scott Bouska, and they began making plans.
With a population of a little more than 600 people, the small farming community of Stuart in North Central Nebraska doesn’t exactly spring to mind as an ideal site for a business based in technology.
Nevertheless, the two men knew that with a good business plan and lots of hard work and determination, they could find success. At the time, Bouska was working in Rapid City, S.D., for a software firm. But, like stracke, he was ready for a change.
Stracke and Bouska had both grown up in Stuart and had been classmates since second grade. Both men had always dreamed of being able to return to their hometown to raise their families.
Although Bouska was initially tied up with his work in Rapid City in July 1993, Stracke opened the doors of Affordable Computing for business and was joined by Bouska in 1995.
The business quickly outgrew its little building on Stuart’s Main Street, so when they learned that a larger store across the street was for sale, they purchased it.
They are located in Stuart TV & Applicance and have been there ever since.
In 1998, they added Elkhorn Net, a dial-up Internet service and provided coverage to the Stuart, Atkinson, and O’Neill areas.
In 2003, they became one of the first providers in the state to offer wireless Internet service to their customers. Their coverage area continues to expand with advances in wireless technology and with the growing demand for broadband Internet from their customer base.
By combining all of these ventures, they have been able to succeed despite the challenges of operating in a sparsely populated area that’s largely influenced by the economic cycles of agriculture.
“Our customer base covers a large geographic area compared to our counterparts in the cities,” Stracke said. “We’re authorized service dealers for several product brands, such as RCA and Dell, so it’s not unusual for Scott to be south of Valentine one day and as far east as Norfolk the next.”
Customer loyalty is also key to their success.
“The community support has been terrific,” Stracke added. “People have learned that we offer quality products and services, and that we’re going to be here when they need us.”
This commitment to quality has helped their business thrive despite competing with high-volume box stores and a fast-growing Internet retail industry.
- Story Courtesy of the Norfolk Daily News
