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The end of the year is coming up quick, so we wanted to slow things down and take a look back at some of our most popular Tales from the Road articles from 2021. The Professional Distributor team chatted with mobile tool dealers from across the country (and beyond), both flag and independent, to get the scoop on the best selling tips and tricks, why they pursued this business, and what their plans for the future are. Let us know which story you enjoyed reading most!
5. Steve O'Leary, Mac Tools
O’Leary runs a multi-truck operation within Hudson Valley, New York. His team consists of three other distributors and between the four connecting routes they hit a variety of stops including landscapers, construction shops, and mom and pop shops, as well as "anyone who wants tools." Early on, O’Leary learned that the key to being a successful business owner is to always look ahead.
4. Brian Baker, Mac Tools
Brian Baker is a multi-route operator and tool distributor with Mac Tools out of Columbus, Ohio. His routes run throughout the northeastern part of the city, servicing dealerships, independent shops, and body shops alike. To keep the customers coming out to his truck, Baker ensures that he switches up the tools and equipment he stocks every other week.
3. Brian Deakins, Independent
When independent tool dealer Brian Deakins was last featured in Professional Distributor in 2013, he recently made the big decision to leave California for a new start in North Carolina. Deakins now enjoys his route located just outside Charlotte. It’s a nice mix of small towns and bigger cities as well as independent shops and dealerships. His customers are mostly automotive, but some stops include body shops and agriculture shops.
2. Matt Rowaan, Independent
Matt Rowaan is part of the two-man team that makes up the independent mobile tool dealer business, Toolbox Inc. Rowaan predominantly travels through St. Catharines and Thorold in Ontario, Canada where he visits a mix of dealerships, independent shops, and agricultural customers. With the large number of wineries in Niagara, Rowaan also sells tools to a company that services and sells equipment to harvest grapes.
1. Bruce Ellis, Cornwell Quality Tools
For 17 years, Cornwell Quality Tools dealer Bruce Ellis has been running his route in northern Alabama and southern Tennessee, putting on an average of 250 miles a day. And he wouldn’t want it any other way. Over the years, Ellis has dialed-in to his sense for reading customers’ personalities. When a new customer steps onto his 2019 24’ Freightliner he says he can quickly tell what type of customer they are going to be — such as a good customer or someone he doesn’t want around for too long.
