A good mobile jobber is one who is dependable, honest, has inventory, and knows their products. A great mobile jobber is not only dependable, honest, has inventory, and knows their products but also is an expert in the vehicle repair and aftermarket industry and brings this expertise to their customers.
There are lots of good mobile jobbers out there every day helping technicians and shop owners with their tool and equipment needs. The great ones are not only providing the tools of the trade, they are also helping their customer shops build their business revenue and profits. Not simply because a healthy, profitable shop will buy more stuff for their shop but because being a great industry source makes you the helpful person repair shops and technicians rely on, and yes, in turn they will buy more cool tools from you.
One sure way to become an industry expert is to attend the two major industry knowledge events in November. Sure, your flagship events coming up in early 2023 are important buying events and well worth attending, but nothing will give you more overall industry knowledge than attending AAPEX and SEMA being held in Las Vegas, Nov. 1-4.
SEMA, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center Nov. 1-4 has over 1,700 exhibitors, and AAPEX held at the Venetian Convention Center Nov. 1-3 historically features 2,500 exhibiting companies.
AAPEX stands for Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo. Here is where you will see and learn about everything possible to keep a vehicle in tip top working condition. In addition, you will see and learn about the many products and services that will help your customers develop their shops into top notch sales and service producers.
This year at AAPEX a 10-bay garage is being assembled in the convention center. “Joe’s Garage”, a fully built-out shop on the show floor, will be used to accommodate product and equipment demonstrations. What a great place for you to learn about helping your customer shops grow and potentially finding some new stationary or support supplies for you to sell.
You can also stop at the Professional Distributor magazine booth for a bottle of water or a cup of coffee and chat with the editorial staff.
For more information on AAPEX, go to www.AAPEXSHOW.com
Now, SEMA is a car junkie, truck junkie, off road and tool junkie’s dream. SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association. Almost any aftermarket product you can think of, and many you haven’t thought of to make a vehicle look great, run great, and sound great is on display at SEMA.
The major tool manufacturers are all there demonstrating what’s new and love to have mobile jobbers stop in to learn what’s new and the best tool demos. Remember not everything manufacturers produce is available through your flagship brand. You will certainly see some new products and brands you will want on your mobile store. Many of the manufacturers will have tradeshow specials or at least samples for you to take home. Remember, if you have the new stuff on your truck, you will not be “just like the other guys.”
If you tend to watch some of the car shows on TV, you will likely run into almost all the stars on the show floor, or at one booth or another. They are there for autograph sessions but also for attracting new sponsors for their shows, too. Remember, everybody is selling something.
Many of the television car show builders are there with their latest projects for you to ogle. This is the show they want to show their best work. You might consider picking up a $200,000 restomod.
For additional show fun, in the SEMA Las Vegas Convention Center front parking lot, you will see additional cool exhibits that are too big for inside and stunt driven cars skidding and screeching everywhere. The monster trucks outside are unbelievable.
For more information on SEMA, go to www.semashow.com .
It might be timewise tight for you put this together, but for next year, consider organizing a trip for your customers to SEMA and AAPEX.
No, I am not expecting you to pay for a trip for your customers to Las Vegas, but I would bet if you just organized the trip, some of your customers would sign up to go with you.
It is not that hard to organize a trip like this.
First, send an email or text out to all your customers announcing you are looking into organizing the trip. Tell them what day you plan to depart, and what day you plan to return. Be sure they understand you are not paying for their trip. Tell them you are not looking for a commitment, but you want to see if anyone is interested.
Once you get an idea of how many are interested, contact a local travel agent, and explain you would like them to organize the trip for you. In addition to you, you cannot guarantee how many will go, but a good agent will be happy to help.
Next, you will go back to the interested parties, and tell them you are working with an agent, and the hotel will cost "X" amount of money per night, and the airfare will depend on how fast they book their flights. Since this is an educational work trip, it is probably tax deductible.
Have them contact the travel agent and see what happens.
I might suggest you spring for a dinner one night just to make a good showing.
The great part about offering a program like this to your customers is that even if no one goes, you look great in their eyes for even offering a cool trip like this.
I used to work for a really clever manager named Bob Z., who told me to call my merchant at The Home Depot and invite him to the 1992 Atlanta Braves World Series, so I called to invite the merchant, and he turned me down saying he already had several offers, but he thanked me a lot for thinking of him. Oddly, to this day when I see this merchant, he thanks me for taking him to the game, and how much fun he had. At no time did I ever go to a game with him or even have tickets to the game. Had he called my bluff, I would have had to buy off-market tickets at a small fortune, but in this case, I got the good will, and it didn’t cost me a dime.
Even if no one takes you up on your organizing effort for this year, consider it for next year and talk it up starting in the summer.
You might also send out a post trip report to your customers telling them about some of the cool things you saw and learned about, and how they could help them.
Have a great time and go sell something.
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