Tent Locations

[Sikandar]

Hi,

I've been in the windscreen industry for about 3 months now and throughly enjoying it!
I wanted to know if most of you rely on tent locations to generate your income, or do you rely on fleet/dealer accounts more.

I've still not invested in a tent yet, but am strongly considering one!

Thanks in advance

Sikandar

P.S. great forum

[GlassStarz]

Boring! sit under the tent fix a few chips if your lucky for those without the ambition to go out and make some sales calls or build a dealer following im sure its ok but its gotta be a great way to get fat and out of shape I would be bored stiff. just my personal opinion

[Clarity Glass]

GlassStarz has some valid points. After 3 years of strictly tent set up and recent issues with city permit I have started mixing up the way I do business. To newbies I'd recommend a mix of fleet work, walking parking lots, and a tent set up if legal in your city or your willing to set up until someone tells you you can't. A tent gives your business more visibility to retail customers, but don't rely on it as the sole way to earn business.

[toab]

I will not be pluncking my butt in some mall parking lot under a tent looking like some cheap vendor for sausages..there is just tomuch world out there.i have a shop for drive ins and I plan to establish a route for dealers/fleets but I respect the tent people and look forward to meeting some of them some day as I am sure that tent guys certainly have a lower overhead than me and it is probably a good way to make a living for some.

[shermfiddle]

Oh Yea.....lots of boring stuff happens with a "tent" setup..like making hundreds of dollars per day and having to read the paper to occupy your time between customers. Oh..the joy of looking at your vehical just sitting and not using anymore gas at $2.99 per gal while "they" the customer comes to you. I guess I could try for more mobile jobs and sit on my duff driving all day? No thanks, I like it just the way it is. Gee..I still love this business.

[Clarity Glass]

Spring, Summer and most of Fall here in the Northwest sittin' in the parking lot isn't all that bad. It's fun when all four of my injectors are workin and I'm making about $200+ for 30-45 minutes work but then again it sucks when I have a rare day with zero repairs. Some of us just need to be constantly moving while others like to relax. Myself, I prefer the soft-sell approach versus doin' cold calls. I'm swithching things up because the winter months December and January sales fall dramatically and would like to keep a more even keel.

[kenb81]

I agree with shirm tents are great being one for years and making a good living at it. Its the same as having a shop you expect people to drive in as they drive past. Being in a mall parking lot you have hundreds of possible customers. All you have to do is walk the lot and tag a few windshields (with damage) and talk to few about getting it fixed.

[toab]

Kenb81..did you go with the trailer deal that you were workin on or did you find another place to pop a tent again??

[kenb81]

Toab; Trailer is up and running, i found a new perch and so far seems like it will be a great location

[Chris Williams (Trinsic)]

People and there fleets. The tents we have set up for the day avg 10+ windshields. Fleets don't bring in the same cash as insurance jobs.