april2022 - 36

SHOW ME YOUR TRUCK
Social media for the win
This Cornwell distributor likes to stay one step ahead of his
competition by utilizing social media to help boost his sales.
By Emily Markham, Associate Editor
C
ornwell Quality Tools distributor Ron Davitt likes
to stay ahead of the curve in more ways than one.
From his consistent purchasing of new trucks to
his use of technology, Davitt works hard to give himself
an edge against the competition.
BUILDING THE TRUCK
In order to avoid the inevitable pile-up of repairs that comes
with operating a tool truck, Davitt likes to purchase a new
one every three to four years.
He got his current truck, a Kenworth 2021 with a 24'
wide body box, June 2021 from Herr Display Vans. Davitt
notes how fortunate he was not to have any hiccups when
getting this new truck built. He was able to catch a cab and
chassis just as it was coming in, and his total wait time for
the finished truck was only around five months compared
to some distributors who are having to wait over a year.
For this truck, Davitt decided to have all the shelving
on wheels, giving him endless possibilities for arranging
his truck. He has no specific spot for a toolbox, but if he
wanted, he could run only toolboxes or none at all. The
truck also has removable shelves that can snap onto the
wall and tons of lighting.
Additionally, the truck features pull-out walls, which
help save space and work well for hanging smaller items.
And there's, of course, a refrigerator on the truck too.
" These guys expect to get a drink when they come out, "
Davitt says.
Another way
Davitt helps keep his
customers cool is the
truck's awning. He'll
pull it out if it's not too
windy to create some
shade for the technicians
while they're waiting
to get on his truck or
just taking a break. He
also had the truck built
with a generator so he
can keep the A/C running
even at his longer stops.
Ron Davitt
Virginia Beach, Virginia
36 Professional Distributor I April 2022 I VehicleServicePros.com
STAYING ORGANIZED
After seven years of cruising between dealerships, body
shops, farming operations, and more, Davitt has created an
organizational system that works well for him.
" I like to know where everything is, " the Virginia Beachbased
distributor says. " I like to keep order, so part of that
is I have 14 drawers on this truck. "
Some of the drawers house sockets and socket sets,
so that when a customer pulls it out, they can find exactly
what they're looking for. The other drawers are used to store
warranty parts and extra stock. Davitt can't stand having
empty space on his truck, so he keeps plenty of backup
products on hand to ensure the shelves are as full as they
were at the first stop of the day.
The Cornwell distributor also tries to open up as many
products as possible. Although this can be difficult with
the large amount of inventory he carries, he'll bookcase
some products.
" In the industry, we do what's called bookcasing, where
the products sit almost like books on a shelf, " Davitt explains.
" But from week to week I will alter what I display versus
what gets bookshelved so that the truck looks fresh, and
it keeps the guys coming out every week. "
When it comes to his workspace, Davitt always uses
a two-level desk - something he's surprised isn't more
common in the industry - as it allows him to have a space
specifically for his computers, printers, books, and helps
keep other customers' paperwork private, while still providing
a space for the customer to place their products
for check out.
MAKING SALES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Davitt is big on utilizing social media for his business.
The Cornwell dealer estimates that a third of all his sales
come from his social media campaigns.
" I have a thing called 'Cornwell Corner' on Saturday
morning, " Davitt says. " Throughout the week if I see a guy's
using a tool in a way that I hadn't seen before or was pretty
cool, I'll video, I'll photograph it, I'll put it up on my closed
group, and next thing I know, I have three guys saying,
'Well, I want that tool.' So, I just sold three tools without
even going to their shop. "
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
april2022

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