Sales Tip: Think outside the box

Jan. 24, 2025
Perfectly organized displays look nice, but when it comes to landing a sale, there are other options.

Independent distributor Hal Holbert hits up a variety of customers in and surrounding Knoxville, Tennessee. From tire, body, car, truck, and industrial shops to construction companies, trailer shops, docks, junk yards, and more, the distributor notes that he does as much with a single truck as some distributors do with three.

To accommodate all these customers and make sure they get everything they need, Holbert likes to fully display the products on his shelves.

“I try to display everything,” Holbert says. “I open it up so they know what they're looking at and that way they can pick it up and see how it works and … if it'll do what they want [it] to do.”

He also lets them take the tools back into the shop to test them. This often leads to a sale.

About the Author

Emily Markham | Editor | PTEN and Professional Distributor

Emily Markham is the editor of  Professional Tool & Equipment News (PTEN) and Professional Distributor magazines. She has been writing about the automotive aftermarket since 2019, after graduating from UW-La Crosse with a bachelor's degree in English. During her first three years with Endeavor Business Media's Vehicle Repair Group, Markham also wrote for Fleet Maintenance magazine. 

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