Sales tip: Make your truck spiffy

May 1, 2013
Auto repair may be a dirty business, but cleanliness drives sales

Your truck is a retail store on wheels. To increase your success you need to do the same things any successful retailer does. A neat store is more profitable than a messy one.

"You won't find neatness listed in any marketing textbooks," says Guerilla Marketing author Jay Conrad Levinson. "Yet, the presence – or absence – of neatness exerts a powerful effect upon a person's decision to purchase … [it] is a potent and inexpensive marketing weapon."

"Make sure that the truck is clean inside and out," says Cornwell National Sales Manager Dave Columbus. "You want to give a professional appearance. You want to make sure your driver area is clean and presentable. You don't want boxes in the aisle. You want the lighting to be bright ... It's important to look at all this because first impressions are so important."

Tidy a little each day to keep clean-up manageable. Toss your shipping boxes, sweep your floor, dust your shelves, change burnt-out bulbs, and empty your trash every night when you're restocking your shelves, says Columbus. It's easy to lose sight of how your truck looks to customers when you've been on it 10 hours a day. Don't let your truck's appearance slip.

Sponsored Recommendations

Report: The 2024 State of Heavy-Duty Repair

From capitalizing on the latest revenue trends to implementing strategic financial planning—this report serves as a roadmap for navigating the challenges and opportunities of ...

Fleet Industry Benchmarks: How does your fleet stack up?

Discover how your fleet compares to industry benchmarks and gain insights from a 2024 Benchmarking Report on maintenance spend, turnaround time, and more. Join us to identify ...

Reducing CSA Violations & Increasing Safety With Advanced Trailer Telematics

Keep the roads safer with advanced trailer telematics. In this whitepaper, see how you can gain insights that lead to increased safety and reduced roadside incidents—keeping drivers...

80% Fewer Towable Accidents - 10 Key Strategies

After installing grille guards on all of their Class 8 trucks, a major Midwest fleet reported they had reduced their number of towable accidents by 80% post installation – including...