Mac Tools distributors are kicking it into ‘Overdrive’ in 2025
In February, Mac Tools distributors gathered in Washington D.C. to attend this year’s Mac Tools Tool Fair. With 117 vendors at the show, the over 900 distributors had plenty of tools and equipment to peruse for filling their trucks.
Each year the tool fair has theme based on the company’s current objectives and initiatives while also building off of the previous year’s theme.
“For example, in 2021 our tool fair theme was Mac Tools Strong as the company was moving forward through COVID,” explains Tracy Sears, Mac Tools director of marketing and communications. “This then naturally progressed to Accelerate in 2022, Full Throttle in 2023, Driven in 2024, and finally Overdrive for 2025, exemplifying our growth initiatives.”
Must-haves on the truck
One major focus for this year’s show was Mac Tools’ New Product Development Program.
“We believe that new products and innovation are one of the main drivers in the business,” says Rob Ronan, Mac Tools vice president of channel marketing. “The early results of the program are extremely impactful with over 500 new products being launched at the show.”
Of the many new products, there were three “hero products” launched, including the Max90 Ratchet, Macsimizer Evolution Tool Storage, and Elite XC Scan Tool.
“Our distributors spent a lot of time learning and providing feedback on these launches,” Ronan notes. “They have a lot of excitement behind them, and we believe will drive to share gain in the market.”
Additionally, there were a few products launched at the show that were not for sale. Mac Tools introduced their new point of sale system, Account Management Portal or AMP. This is scheduled to go live for distributors in Q3 this year, along with a customer-facing mobile app that the distributor’s customers will be able to use.
Class is in session
While training is key for all distributors attending the tool fair, it’s even more crucial for the 130 new distributors in attendance.
This year’s training classes covered diagnostics, power tools, tool storage, and business.
“Educating our distributors on key products and programs during the Tool Fair helps to set the tone for the year and provide a path for achievement,” says Tony Atwell Mac Tools learning and development manager. “The curriculum for each class is designed to educate distributors on new products, sales techniques, and business development.”
Training for Mac distributors doesn’t only happen at shows, though. When an individual first decides to become a franchisee owner, Mac has a training program that has the distributor learning on and off the truck.
The training starts with a week of learning how to run a successful business, then transitions to attending Mac Tools University in Columbus, OH for eight days of interactive learning. It then caps things off with their district manager riding in their truck with them for two weeks to show them the ropes, explains Trevor Lorton, Mac Tools director of franchise recruiting.
“Our franchisees run a business on their own,” Lorton says, “but they are never alone.”
Next year’s tool fair will be held in mid-February in San Diego, California.
To view more photos of the event, check out the Mac Tools Tool Fair 2025 photo gallery.
