Independent distributor and GearWrench Street Team member John Salera turned wrenches for 19 years before becoming a mobile tool distributor. In the tool-selling business now for more than 11 years, he runs a route in West Palm Beach, Fla., that primarily services “mom-and-pop shops” with a few dealerships.
Driving a 22’ 2005 C7500 GMC truck with a full walkthrough cab, Salera says he has quite a bit of inventory and changes up his displays on a regular basis to make sure his products get full visibility from customers.
“Unfortunately I have a ton of stuff on my truck. You can’t display everything. Every six weeks or so, I’ll spend my Sunday and take everything off the truck and move everything around. Except the GearWrench stuff, that stays in the same spot.”
While quite a bit of Salera's inventory is GearWrench product, he also carries a number of other brands. "I carry everything else - Mountain, Sunex, Lisle. If it’s something someone wants, I have it."
“I sell a lot of tool carts. They’re a lot less expensive,” he adds, compared to larger toolboxes. “New (customers) starting out in the business can’t afford a new $5,000 box.
“I stock the carts on the truck. When I sell one there’s another one on the back of my truck the next morning.”
In addition to servicing his current customers, Salera is now in the process of setting up a second route in his area.
