A roving phone and tablet repair service started by a former contestant on TV’s Dragons’ Den has secured significant financial backing and become the first business of its kind to be approved by Samsung.
Darren Ridge and Aaron Brown, owners of communications specialists Onecom, have made a six-figure investment in WeFix.
WeFix has a fleet of vans fully kitted out as mobile phone and tablet repair workshop and offers a same-day service to fix cracked screens, camera faults and speaker issues within a one-hour window.
The company was founded by Oliver Murphy, who in 2014 secured a £50,000 investment from Dragons’ Den star Kelly Hoppen for his business, Reviveaphone, selling repair kits for water-damaged phones.
The company later bought back Hoppen’s shares as it evolved into a mobile repair service, and Murphy sought further investment to support his ambitious growth plans.
Following the new investment, the company has been rebranded WeFix and, with help from its new backers, has already been successful in securing its status as the first Samsung-approved mobile repair service.
“We see huge growth potential in WeFix, and that’s why Aaron and I have made a significant investment both in monetary terms and in terms of the benefit of our contacts and experience in growing businesses,” said Ridge.
“The endorsement from Samsung has been a result of that, and Oliver’s success so far has proved that there is a huge market for WeFix’s services.
“There isn’t really anything else like it out there. Sorting out a repair for a cracked screen or faulty device can be incredibly frustrating and time-consuming. WeFix solves that problem by going straight to the customer with a fully kitted-out workshop in the van, and fixes it within the hour.
“It’s very easy to use, cost-effective and encourages people to repair rather than replace where possible. That’s why we decided to follow in the footsteps of Dragons’ Den and invest in Oliver.
“We are very much ‘in’ and excited about the future of WeFix, and particularly its potential to create future employment in the south and nationwide.”
WeFix, based in Boreham, Essex, currently has 10 vans operating around London, Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Exeter, Coventry and Luton, completing around 1,000 repairs a month of Samsung and Apple devices.
All WeFix mobile workshops are kitted out to manufacturer-approved specification with the latest tools, equipment and approved parts needed to repair all Samsung and Apple phones and tablets.
The investment will support the company’s growth plans, with a target of 100 vans in operation serving customers nationwide by 2020.
Murphy said: “Darren and Aaron are passionate about mobile devices and growing businesses, and that’s why I felt they were perfect partners to make this investment in the future success and growth of WeFix.”
WeFix customers simply book a repair at www.wefix.co.uk stating which kind of Samsung or Apple device they have, and the nature of the repair.
They then confirm a one-hour window for the trained and security-cleared WeFix repair engineer to visit their home or workplace, and confirmation is sent to the customer by text or email.
Within an hour of the chosen time, the device is fixed in the van, with repairs usually taking no more than 60 minutes.