In Episode 63, Samuel McVay sits down with Joel Fox, owner of Fix It Quick Computers in El Dorado and co-founder of Speed Trap Distillery. What started as pandemic-era curiosity about alcohol production has evolved into a fully licensed craft distillery operating out of a shared facility with his IT business. Joel's journey reveals the mindset of a tinkerer-someone who fixes things, learns by doing, and sees opportunities where others see obstacles. From his early days fixing computers because "if you're going to break it, you better learn how to fix it" to building a distillery from scratch, Joel embodies hands-on entrepreneurship. The episode explores how his IT background shaped his approach to problem-solving, why he transitioned from retail shop work to primarily on-site service calls, and how Speed Trap Distillery became more than just a side project. With Thursday-Saturday hours and space for events, Joel has created a community gathering place that serves both as a functional business and a social venue for birthday parties, retirement celebrations, and office events.
Joel Fox's story is a masterclass in entrepreneurial adaptation. Starting with a passion for fixing things-literally and figuratively-he built Fix It Quick Computers from the ground up. Like many service business owners, Joel discovered that the traditional retail model wasn't where the real work happened. "90% of my customers are on-site stuff," he explains. This realization shaped his business model: drop-off convenience matters less than responsive, reliable service that comes to the customer.
When COVID forced his computer shop out of its physical location on North Main in El Dorado, Joel worked from home like everyone else. But the pivot that changed everything came when Speed Trap Distillery-a venture he co-founded during pandemic lockdown-needed a building. What began as curiosity about craft distillation became a licensed operation, and suddenly he had facility space to share with his IT business. "It kind of worked out," he says with understatement.
The distillery itself reflects Joel's engineering mindset. When a customer asked about bacteria concerns in the production process, Joel laid out the facts: fermentation happens at temperature, then the still reaches 200 degrees, and finally the liquid becomes hyper-proof alcohol. "If it makes it past that, it deserves to kill you," he jokes. This methodical approach to problem-solving-whether debugging code or perfecting a spirit-runs through everything he does.
What's instructive for other local business owners is how Joel built a community around his ventures. Speed Trap Distillery isn't just a production facility; it's become an event space. With seating for about 50 people, the space hosts birthday parties, retirement celebrations, and office gatherings. This multi-use approach to a physical location mirrors smart local business growth strategy: maximize every asset. By operating Thursday through Saturday with an appointment-based system and remaining flexible ("If you need something Tuesday, we'll figure it out"), Joel keeps customer service central to his model.
For service business owners, Joel's example highlights an important principle: your business infrastructure should support how customers actually want to engage with you. Whether it's prioritizing on-site service calls over walk-in traffic or creating a venue that serves multiple revenue streams, understanding your customer's needs-and building your online presence and operations around them-drives sustainable growth. Joel is currently working on expanding Speed Trap's online booking capabilities, recognizing that even craft distilleries benefit from the convenience of digital scheduling.
What does Joel Fox do besides owning Fixit Quick Computers?
Joel Fox is the owner of Fixit Quick Computers, an IT company in Wichita. Beyond his IT business, he's also involved in distillery operations, producing moonshine and rum. He's passionate about entrepreneurship and shares insights on both ventures through the Killer Growth Podcast.
How can IT companies and tech service businesses benefit from digital marketing?
IT companies like Fixit Quick Computers need local visibility to attract residential and commercial clients searching for computer repair, maintenance, and support services. Digital marketing through local SEO, Google Ads, and social media helps IT businesses rank higher in local search results, generate qualified leads, and build trust with potential customers in their service area.
How does KillerGrowth help IT companies and computer repair businesses get more clients?
KillerGrowth uses local SEO to get IT companies ranking for searches like 'computer repair near me' and 'IT support in Wichita.' We run targeted Google Ads and Meta Ads to reach customers actively seeking tech services, design conversion-focused websites, set up GoHighLevel CRM to manage leads automatically, and manage social media to build authority. This combination drives consistent client inquiries for computer repair, network support, and managed IT services.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other digital marketing agencies serving Wichita businesses?
KillerGrowth specializes in local service businesses-not generic e-commerce or national brands. We understand IT companies, HVAC contractors, plumbers, roofers, and healthcare providers need different strategies. We combine local SEO dominance with paid ads that work immediately, professional website design that converts, and GoHighLevel CRM automation so you never miss a lead. We don't just talk strategy-we deliver measurable results for Wichita business owners.
How can a local IT company or service business get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. During this call, we'll analyze your current online presence, identify opportunities to get more local clients, and show you exactly what's possible with a targeted digital marketing plan. No pressure, no sales pitch-just honest strategy for growing your Wichita business.