february2023 - 34

SHOW ME YOUR TRUCK
Community matters
This distributing duo attributes their
success to caring for their
customers and community.
By Emily Markham, Associate Editor
E
ach tool distributor has their own way of getting
customers out and onto their truck. For Brian
Wendl and Amanda Cunningham, a Mac Tools
distributing duo, one of their main motivators is the sense
of community they've created with all their customers.
" Our relationship with our customers is both business
and friendship, " Wendl says. " We love our weekends,
both for catching up on work and for our favorite relaxing
activities, but it's a rare one when we're not at a birthday
party or shower for a customer-turned friend. "
To better serve their community of independent shops
and dealerships, Wendl and Cunningham decided it was
time to get a newer, bigger truck.
TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW
In December 2019, the Mac team decided to order a 2018
Freightliner MT55 with a 22' box from Herr Display Vans.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 they didn't end up getting
their truck until around July 2020.
For the layout, they didn't exactly go with something
standard, since the couple wanted to ensure there was
enough space to fit a Macsimizer HD toolbox. Wendl notes
that they " move a lot of tool storage, " so some of the shelves
on the truck were moved up to accommodate the toolboxes,
and they also made their three toolbox openings a
bit wider to adjust for boxes with side lockers.
Another design element on the truck includes 12 pullout
drawers. Wendl notes that they love the amount of lay
flat space the drawers give them for displaying products.
Especially because of the rough roads along their route
through Southeast Virginia into Hampton, Newport News,
and Yorktown; it makes it difficult to remove products from
their packaging and display them as many other trucks do if
they're falling off the shelves. Though most of their space is
To view more photos of Brian
& Amanda's trucks, scan here
lay flat storage, they do have some vertical display shelves,
as well as a power tool display rack and a diagnostic station.
On this truck, the couple decided to forgo having any
magnetic rails. In the past, they've had issues with random
sockets disappearing. They also changed up their desk setup.
This time around, they chose to have an L-shaped desk that
tucks into the side and allows them to look back over the
truck. This allows them to see everyone while on the truck,
and the duo loves having that ability.
AN AWARD-WINNING YEAR
Often, buying a new truck results in a boost in sales. Though
Wendl and Cunningham didn't receive their new truck until
the back half of 2020, it still played its part in helping them
achieve No. 1 in the nation for Mac Tools.
The distributing duo swept the awards that year, winning
Regional Excellence, Eagle Award, Presidents Club, No.
1 Single Truck, The Goodson Award, The Founder's Award,
and a new award created that year- The Diagnostic Award.
" Our success is due to our strong work ethic and the
care we have for our customers and community, " Wendl
says. " We try to give back every day for it. "
The duo has found a multitude of ways to give back
including giveaways for their customers, raiseing money
for charity events, and donating items for raffle events for
local organizations. Additionally, during the early days of
COVID-19, they were able to source thousands of masks,
regular and N95, and donate them to a local VA hospital.
To keep spirits high during the holidays, the couple
started decorating the truck, and on Christmas Eve when
many shops are closed, they still take the truck out to deliver
donuts to the technicians who are working.
" At the end of the day, " Wendl says, " we just strive to
do our best. Our customers see that and appreciate it, and
those relationships more than anything are really the key
to our success. "
Brian Wendl &
Amanda Cunningham
Hampton, Virginia
34 Professional Distributor I February 2023 I VehicleServicePros.com
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/distribution/tool-distributor/article/21291668/show-me-your-truck-brian-wendl-and-amanda-cunningham-mac-tools http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
february2023

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