When distributor Nathen Arnold went independent in 2014, he joined the GearWrench Street Team.
Distributors who participate in the GearWrench Street Team program have access to product discounts and receive free items after purchasing a certain amount per quarter. Members are also able to utilize another resource while running their routes: the Street Team van.
In addition to the ratchets and wrenches GearWrench is known for, Street Team members are encouraged to stock the full line of GearWrench products including sockets, pliers, screwdrivers, specialty tools, the recently launched impacts and more.
GearWrench Street Team Field Market Manager Jason Bede assists mobile distributors in the Midwestern region with their business by joining them on their routes occasionally, following the distributor in his GearWrench Street Team van. An additional four representatives assist other Street Team members throughout the U.S.
Set up through select warehouse distributor partners, there’s no cost for distributors to become a Street Team member.
“There’s no contract,” Bede explains. “We’re only here to make it as easy as possible for them to sell our product. That’s it. And they pay us nothing; everything is free.”
Arnold mentions how unique and helpful it has been to have a support team to help out while running his route.
“It’s a nice perk to have a Street Team van show up in your area and show product, and help with giveaways. People want to come out and look at the van and see what he has,” Arnold says of Bede. “It does give you a jump start, which is a nice feature to have, and you’re not even paying a premium for it.”
Arnold explains that he gets a visit from Bede every few months, to help push promotions and provide giveaways on the truck.
“In the early stages, I learned a lot from them too and how to embrace it,” says Arnold.
“He has a lot of great ideas,” Bede says of Arnold. “A lot of things that have been implemented in our program have been ideas that have come from him.”
Bede generally will see about two or three Street Team members each week, traveling throughout his region to provide support.
“For the Street Team members, what we try to do is give them everything necessary to sell the whole line of GearWrench. It’s easy to sell ratchets and wrenches, but GearWrench has grown in the past few years, so we make sure they’re familiar with the full line,” explains Bede.
“As far as warranties go, the easier it is to buy and take care of customers with a GearWrench tool, the more GearWrench he (the customer) is going to buy,” Bede continues. This awareness can then help Arnold achieve more sales.
“Just like it’s my job to make sure that our dealers have everything they need to sell GearWrench, Apex makes sure I have everything necessary to get that to them. It’s definitely a two-way street,” says Bede.
