For independent tool distributor James Stinson, hand and specialty tools make up the majority of his sales. Located in central Georgia, Stinson visits shops ranging from dealerships, small repair shops, truck shops to even some mining shops.
Even while busy on the road, Stinson makes it a point to always keep a working relationship with his own community. It’s important to him and, by doing so, helps his business. In fact, his latest big-ticket hand tool sale stemmed from a call from a local foundation asking for his help.
As part of a grant, the foundation was looking to provide select graduating automotive and diesel students from the nearby vocational technical college with various hand tools to help jumpstart their careers.
“They gave me a list of items that the students might like to have, and I fulfilled it as much as I could with the amount they gave me,” Stinson says.
While giving the foundation a good discount, he was able to provide the students with pry bars, torque wrenches, wrenches, ratchets, sockets, and screwdrivers, to name a few.
“I try to keep a good relationship with the instructors,” Stinson says. “They call on me from time to time with different things, so it worked out pretty well.”
Having been around the tool business his whole life - his father retired as a mobile tool dealer in 2015 - Stinson understands the importance of helping his customers, taking care of their needs, and what technicians look for.
