Alfredo Santana, a Mac Tools distributor based in the San Fernando Valley of California, designed his truck with his customers' comfort in mind - and his own. When it came time to get a new tool truck, he made the decision to get a cab truck instead of a step van, even though it means he sometimes needs to park on the street when there is not enough space at one of his stops.
“At first I was unsure of how it would drive or fit in my route, but you adapt," Santana says. "Sometimes I need to park on the street so shops can go about their work. A cab is very comfortable versus the step van."
He also made sure to spec the truck with air conditioning in the customer area in addition to the cab.
“I now have an A/C unit for the cab and two for the back,” Santana says.
Another source of comfort comes from the spacious shelves, where customers can browse stocked items without having to dig around or move other items. Santana strives to provide many more tool options to customers and sell what’s on the shelves without having to order tools or dig through stacked shelves. “My ultimate goal is to have an efficient truck with minimal back-stock in my garage, with a wide variety of tools to satisfy my customers’ needs,” he says.
Keeping his customer space comfortable encourages customers to come out of their work space and onto the truck. Allowing them to browse freely can add up to more sales than if Santana went into the shop to promote his wares.
