OUR STORY: 16 YEARS OF GRIT, MENTORSHIP, AND TECH MASTERY

At Honiton Tech Shop, we don’t just swap parts; we engineer solutions. Our history is a mix of high-stakes “deep end” learning, local legends, and a relentless drive to stay ahead of the curve.

THE 6 AM EMERGENCY (2014)

Our owner, Luke, started his journey here in 2014. A sudden crisis caused by staffing issues had left the shop in a desperate spot, leading to a 6:00 AM emergency call from the shop’s founders, Steve and Teresa Smith.

At the time, Luke was a seasoned PC technician with years of computer experience and college business qualifications, but he was navigating a difficult chapter in his life—facing major financial hurdles and personal challenges. Despite the risk of losing his finances and having zero knowledge of smartphones, he “bit the bullet” and jumped in. That first day was a whirlwind; between calling Steve 100 times to ensure perfection and repairing five laptops in a single afternoon, Luke proved he was exactly what the shop needed.

YEARS OF MENTORSHIP & THE MOVE

Steve didn’t just give Luke a job; he provided a masterclass. Over the following years, Steve mentored Luke in the intricacies of mobile technology, starting with the iPhone 3G. As the tech evolved, so did Luke’s skills, eventually moving beyond standard repairs into advanced software diagnostics, network unlocking, and complex system recoveries.

In 2015, we moved to our current home in Lace Walk to keep costs down for our customers. That moving day is still a local legend—mostly because Steve managed to obliterate a massive glass display cabinet during the transition! Despite the broken glass, we officially rebranded as Honiton Tech Shop and solidified our place as the town’s independent tech hub.

RESILIENCE & THE 2021 TAKEOVER

The COVID-19 pandemic was a massive test. We fought hard to stay afloat while serving as a digital lifeline for the community, repairing the laptops and phones that kept families and students connected through the lockdowns.

On July 8th, 2021, Luke officially purchased the business, the assets, and the name. It was a battle against post-pandemic red tape; the banks were incredibly difficult about opening business accounts, and securing a new lease while managing major financial and living situation hurdles was a massive challenge. Luke fought through the bureaucracy because he believed in the shop’s mission. Since taking over, he has completely overhauled the workshop with state-of-the-art diagnostic gear and the industry’s highest-grade parts.

ADVANCED ENGINEERING TODAY

Today, Luke runs the shop as a solo operator, personally overseeing every repair to ensure the highest standards. While the day-to-day is a one-man show, Luke maintains a very strong professional relationship with Jake at Dailyz Tech in Crewkerne.

Jake, who originally worked for Steve and Teresa in 2022 before purchasing the Crewkerne branch from them in 2025, is recognized as one of the best in the industry for micro-board repairs. Over the last year, Jake has personally trained Luke in micro-circuitry and advanced logic board diagnostics. This allows us to repair the tiny components on the boards themselves—fixing devices that most other shops would deem unrepairable or simply cannot fix.

OUR JOURNEY AT A GLANCE