Meet Winston-Salem’s own ‘Mr. Fix It,’ Julian Martin

BY BUSTA BROWN FOR THE CHRONICLE

“Being a young tinkerer, I would take my toys apart and then put them back together to understand how they worked. Even when I was able to rebuild them successfully, I would still get in trouble for it,” joked Julian Martin. He’s the owner and CEO of Appetite 4 Repairs, Inc. The company’s name is the perfect fit for Julian and his team. “I’ve always had an appetite to know how something works. I had to know, Busta!” said Julian.

Back in the ’70s we called brothas like him “Mr. Fix It.” If it’s your cell phone, computer, tablet, or gaming console, he can fix it! “What gives me the most joy is recovering the data from a waterdamaged device. Or being brought a device that allegedly couldn’t be fixed, and we would fix it. There’s no greater satisfaction. Putting a smile on a child’s face after we fix their cell phone or gaming device that other companies claimed weren’t repairable. I can fix it,” shared Julian. He added, “That’s why I make sure my prices are parent-friendly. Serving the whole family means everything to me.”

He’s not only brilliant, but he’s cool as well. He is an excellent family man, which makes his personality very warm and welcoming.

Another trait that sets Appetite 4 Repairs, Inc. apart from the rest is honesty. “When you’re doing something you love, it’s more than just about the money. Of course, it’s great to make money, but not at the cost of being dishonest to customers who are spending their hard- dining room,” said Julian.

Julian started his Winston-Salem-based company in 2009. “I’ve had plenty of jobs, but I was fired from every job I had.

I learned what not to do and the value of providing excellent customer service,” said Julian.

At Appetite 4 Repairs, Inc., they also buy, sell, and trade devices, but it doesn’t stop there. “We’re also a one-stop shop for cases, chargers, cellular prepaid plans, and more. We’re the only repair company with a screen protector for ALL phones. We can produce a screen protector on demand for any cell phone you desire. Samsung screens, for example. Many companies use glass protectors that only adhere around the edge of the screen, but that doesn’t stop the dust from getting between the screen protectors. Our protectors adhere to the entire screen, not just the border.

“Our turnaround time for repairs is excellent and is getting better and better. The average repair time is trepreneur some commonsense tech advice most people miss. “Two things: Make sure you have a backup of your information. Losing precious pictures and those visual memories is devastating. So, make sure it’s not only on a hard drive, because something can happen to that.” He recommends a server or cloud where you can access this information from any device. Many people don’t think about it until it happens.

“Secondly, whatever devices you have, don’t let it charge overnight. That will deplete and kill your battery life. You have to train your battery and de velop good battery habits. Batteries also have chips in them, so they develop the habits you give them. My battery lasts two and a half days. But I only charge my phone when it’s red and blinking. Make sure you train your battery well,” shared Julian.

“At Appetite 4 Re pairs, we aim to provide exceptional service for an economical price without

Timothy Ramsey Sports Columnist