Melvin “Mad Mel” Hattell of Thornton, Colo. has done it all. Before selling tools, Hattell worked as an automotive technician, as service adviser, welder and fabricator at a machine shop, and even did classic car restoration. Eventually Hattell decided it was time for a career tune-up.
“Being that I was in my mid-forties at the time I knew that I need to give my body a break from crawling under cars and trucks all day,” says Hattell. In the summer of 2016, he decided to pursue a franchise. “My Cornwell dealer at the time turned me on to Cornwell … The route that they had available could [not] have been more perfect. I lived right in the center of it and even worked at some of the shops that were on the route.”
In the 16 months that Mad Mel Tools has been in Business, Hattell took a route that he was barely breaking even, to ending 2017 at number 67 on Cornwell’s ‘Top 100’ dealers in the country.
Hattell’s route covers North Metro Denver. The businesses on his route range from small independents to dealerships, collision repair, hot rod shops, as well as city- and county-run facilities.
Hattell transferred the lease of his first truck – a Ford step van purchased new in 2013 – from the existing dealer when he started out, but quickly outgrew it. “I had taken over the route in September, and by June I was outgrowing it and started shopping for my next truck.”
In October 2017 Hattell upgraded to a 2018 Freightliner M2 22’ Wide Body from Summit Body Works. The truck took about three months to build. Since that time he has seen an increase in business.
“I have added more inventory, as I have more space. The wide body allows more customers on at a time and the conversations are better as the space is more comfortable.”
It’s important for Hattell to keep a clean, organized space. He sweeps and mops up, and organizes product, at least once a week and keeps things fresh by calling attention to new products and limited time deals. “Being from the automotive industry spending 20+ years as a technician, I have been on plenty of tool trucks as a customer and I know what I like to see in a dealer and his/her tool truck,” says Hattell. “Focus on customer service and have plenty of inventory.”
The mobile tool business has been kind to Hattell.
“It has been such a great experience, I have learned a few things, and I have met so many great people – staff and fellow dealers alike,” he says. “I love my job; 2018 should be a growing year for the business and I am really looking forward to it.”
