Visionary Computer The little Apple shop that keeps on growing reaches a new benchmark

LAKEVILLE — Visionary Computer, an Apple Computer Value Added Reseller and Premium Service Provider that has been an indispensable resource for Northwest Corner Mac users, is growing and expanding. 

After several months of construction, an extension of 1,800 square feet opened May 1 (following an opening party on April 29). The new wing more than doubles the store’s original 1,300 square feet.

The extension includes a sleek new showroom, designed according to Apple standards, and dedicated spaces for meeting  with clients.  

The expansion qualifies Visionary Computer to become an Apple Premier Partner and sell Apple products such as the Apple Watch, and provides needed space to showcase the growing world of computing products such as iMacs, iPads and MacBook Pros.

David Maffucci prefers not to be referred to by the hefty titles of CEO and president of the company — even though that’s what he is. He would like to be considered only as one of the staff members whose main objective is to offer the client nothing short of complete satisfaction. 

“The most important thing this expansion gives us,” Maffucci said as he opened the door and led this reporter to a spacious and brightly lit room, “is a quiet and private space where we can meet our potential customers, listen to them and evaluate their individual needs.”

He compared it to the level of private and individualized consulting that one might get at a bank or even a hospital.

“I do really believe that what we are offering here is a complete care,” he said. “Our customers are individuals, they represent small and large companies and educational institutions. We help them to find the technology to fit their individual needs. 

“We help them decide the types of computers, network configurations, WiFi settings, virus protection they need. We help those who are moving away from the Windows environment to Apple. And we help customers who operate using both PC and Mac platforms so that they communicate seamlessly.”

Visionary is a good word to describe the slow but steady growth of the business. Maffucci started the company from his apartment in North Canaan when he was 23 years old, back in 1994. 

He was attracted to Bissell Street in Salisbury early on, in part because of its proximity to the main branch of Salisbury Bank and Trust and to the office of The Lakeville Journal (early on, customers used the newspaper office as a drop-off and pick-up site).

“Bissell always felt like a real commercial center to me,” he said. 

He’s had office space now in nearly every building on the small cul-de-sac. He purchased his present space in about 2008, but for a few years shared it with attorney William Morrill and the Smith, Watson accounting firm.

Eventually he took over the entire building (and was joined in about 2012 by his wife, Shelley, who is the company’s director of operations) and soon found that the demand was so great for products, instruction and repairs that he needed to expand. 

His hope, he said, is that the need for his company’s services and products will continue to grow and force him to hire still more staff.

“We’ve been very lucky,” he said of his new hires, including sales specialist Lea Clark,several new technicians and an education specialist to help customers use all the features of their products.

“We were able to hire a number of former Apple employees who had been living and working as far away as Danbury and Brewster.”  

Maffucci said the expansion was made possible by a loan from the state Department of Economic and Community Development. 

“It’s a great program to help small businesses and was phenomenally helpful,” he said.

Visionary is located at 29 Bissell St. in Lakeville. Call the office at 860-435-2211 or send an email to info@visionarycomputer.net.The store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The website is at www.visionarycomputer.net.