As tool requirements for technicians continue to evolve, so do custom tool trucks and how you display products within them. LDV’s commitment to designing and building the best tool trucks and product displays for them continues to evolve as well. We have released several new features in recent years to help you make the most of the space within your mobile tool store.
Layout and organization are very personal decisions, what works for one person, will likely not be preferred by another. We see some customers take a very big-picture approach to laying out their truck; looking at what tool storage they want to be able to display, figuring out a workspace for themselves, and leaving the rest for general tool storage and display. Other customers are very particular and design individual sales and display space for nearly every product they carry. Beyond the major considerations of how much space to allow for tool storage and how much space you’d like for a workstation and repair station, we’ve included some great options to consider below when laying out your truck.
Layout flexibility
Some distributors sell a lot of toolboxes. In this case, it is common to see three toolbox openings to carry them. But what if your customers aren’t buying boxes or you want to feature different products in that space? LDV offers the MRC, or Mobile Retail Center, a rolling shelf that can be inserted into one or more box openings when you elect to leave a toolbox off the truck. Our MRCs can include adjustable shelves, LED lighting, and more so it becomes a true extension of your store and display space. We always recommend removable shelves above the toolbox area, so you can continue to display product above the box while maintaining flexibility to show a hutch or top box when desired.
“The number and size of toolbox openings has been a real discussion point with customers in the past few months,” says Paul Giese, LDV tool truck sales specialist. “Trucks that have three box openings are often being ordered with a mobile retail center for additional product display space when a box isn’t being displayed in that opening. We can even add lighting to the shelves like a conventional display shelf.”
Also see: Changing it up to boost sales
Slatwall has taken off like a rocket recently as well. Slatwall is great near the desk, repair area, over box openings and more.
“Slatwall is great because it’s so easy to change up the [tool truck]," notes LDV Tool Truck Sales Specialist, Jeff Rueter. "If you have an arsenal of bins, shelves, and hooks, you can keep the [tool truck] looking fresh for your customers.”
The overall theme is flexibility. You want the ability to change which products and how they are displayed in your store quickly and easily. Also don’t overlook your point-of-sale areas where you can hang beef jerky, gloves, hand cleaner, and more. Slatwall provides easy options for displaying a wide variety of these items.
Get organized
Dealing with broken tools is another evolution we have seen in recent builds. We have been integrating tool chutes at the workstation that allow you to drop the tool into the chute which leads to a bin in an exterior storage compartment. This clean and convenient solution keeps unsightly broken tools out of your truck’s interior and makes getting them out of your truck so much easier.
Another great way to get organized is the use of a dedicated socket center. Our heavy duty socket centers can be installed at the repair center or in the actual store area. These drawers and slides are designed to handle a lot of weight and can be upgraded with high-strength magnets to ensure loose sockets and sets stay put during transport.
“Adding a socket center is a great way to get organized," says Jay Essman, LDV tool truck sales specialist. "In the past, finding a way to display loose sockets was always a challenge. Now a dedicated drawer stack can be utilized so everything has a home. This makes it so convenient for your customers to find what they are looking for.”
Another great feature to include is exterior storage boxes. These allow you to carry additional inventory while not overloading the store. You want your customers to be able to find products quickly without having to move boxes or other large items in the process.
“Almost every custom truck that leaves here has at least one exterior storage box and for good reason,” explains Rueter. “Even if you are buying a pre-owned LDV-built tool truck, look for one with exterior storage. We design and build them in-house.”
Make suggestions
A lot of our ideas come from you. You tell us you need a power tool display, a better desk area, or a better way to handle warranty repairs, and we engineer solutions to meet your needs. Whether you are buying a new tool truck or a pre-owned one, LDV-built trucks are high-quality tool trucks. Even our pre-owned trucks go through a rigorous inspection, diagnostic, and refurbishment process to ensure they are ready to hit the road.
