Sales Tip: Buy into the buzz

Nov. 8, 2024
Making things exciting for your customers can turn a hard-to-sell shop into a steady customer base.

Mac Tools distributor Robert Tolbert is never hard to spot. When he’s at one of his stops, his truck can be seen lit up and blaring music – he once broke the ice with a new technician on his truck by dancing to 2000s hitmaker Usher. He’s never been shy with giveaways and promotions either, giving everyone who steps on the truck a raffle ticket.

"I've got customers bringing their wives and their children getting free tickets," he explains. "I said, 'Well, that's just more chances to win!' So a lot of them have picked up on it, and heck, they're bringing the supervisors and managers and owners of these companies that I service that have never been to my truck [before], but they're coming to get a ticket because it's all the buzz."

Tolbert has also been wearing something pink every day of the year to support people with breast cancer, and by now, the people at his stops would be worried if he didn't show up in something loud. The charitable initiative also helped the distributor engage and excite a frequently neglected customer base: women.

“It's just having relationships like that that go far and beyond your regular technicians,” he explains. “Heck, I've got more women right now owing me money on my tool truck because of this pink thing because they feel just as important now because I don't leave them out.”

About the Author

Griffin Matis | Associate Editor | PTEN & Professional Distributor

Griffin Matis is an associate editor for the Vehicle Repair Group. A graduate of the University of Missouri's School of Journalism, Matis works with Professional Tool & Equipment News (PTEN), Professional Distributor, and VehicleServicePros.com. 

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