august2022 - 34

SHOW ME YOUR TRUCK
Making it big in Texas
Since moving to Texas five years ago, this independent
tool dealer has three fully stocked trucks.
By Kayla Oschmann , Associate Editor
T
ool dealer Geoff Beveridge had done the unthinkable.
He uprooted his family of four from California
and moved to the big state of Texas with little in his
savings, no job, and no house. He decided to go independent
and joined the GEARWRENCH team, and within two
years, he had two trucks on the road and was looking for
a third driver.
This story may sound familiar. Beveridge's journey was
featured in Professional Distributor's pages back in 2018.
After learning about his recent expansion and success, we
wanted to catch up.
MAKE THAT 3 TRUCKS
Beveridge has since added a third truck - a 2014 18' Isuzu
cab over his wife is now driving (until they find a new driver).
Beveridge is still driving his 2000 20' Freightliner MT55, and
his son in-law joined him about a year ago and is driving a
2006 18' Freightliner MT45.
Between the three of them, they cover the South Dallas
area, stopping at many heavy duty equipment and truck
repair shops, automotive shops, and agricultural shops.
IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
Beveridge has over 300 lines of tools on his trucks, keeping
them fully stocked on a daily basis. As far as tool organization
is concerned, well there isn't one really.
" I'd like to say it's [sorted by type of tool], but sometimes
it's just getting it all on the shelves, " he notes. " There's quite
a variety of things on each shelf. It's not necessarily pliers
on one shelf and sockets on another. There's no particular
order, just a full and appealing selection. "
He likes it that way and so do his customers, he notes.
" It keeps them looking, and plus my displays change
every two weeks, " he says. " If you want to do well in this
business, you have to change the displays regularly, so the
customers see something different every time they come
onto the truck. Even though it's the same stuff the week
before, if you move it around, it gives them the perspective
that you have different things. "
Beveridge is all about his tools. So much so that his desk
is merely a 2' by 2' tool cabinet - just enough to house his
laptop, printer, and a credit card machine.
34 Professional Distributor I August 2022 I VehicleServicePros.com
To view more photos
of Beveridge's truck,
scan here
" I don't need a lot of room to write up a ticket and print
a receipt, " he says. " I try to save the room for the tools. "
More tools mean more demonstrations, and therefore,
more sales, he implies.
" Presentation without demonstration is nothing but
conversation, " he says without missing a beat. " You're not
going to make any money just talking about it. "
OVERCOMING SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
Instead of getting frustrated with what he can't order due
to current supply chain issues, Beveridge focuses on what
he can stock. It may be things his customers haven't seen
before, but notes that's the beauty of being independent.
" I have choices, " he says. " I can pick the things that
I want to sell. I've had to diversify and get some other
brands to fill those voids, but I'm still able to take care of
my customers. "
Beveridge credits God for his success in Texas.
" I'm using the gift that God gave me to support my family
and by doing so, he has allowed us to be very successful
in the mobile tool business, " he concludes.
Geoff Beveridge
Dallas, Texas
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/distribution/article/21271470/show-me-your-truck-geoff-beveridge-gearwrench http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
august2022

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