Retail business

[Dave M]

I've looked over the many post regarding building the retail part of our business. I congratulate Coitster for originating that topic and for his many responses to questions from various techs. Kudos go out to all the techs who have applied Coitster' method and seem to have success.

My observation of this retail technique is this. Correct me if I'm wrong, because my brain is wide open on this matter. For this method to work successfully 12 months out of the year, one should live in a warm section of the country?

I live in Maine and for maybe 4 months (Dec., Jan., Feb., Mar.) I don't see how that method would work. Too darn cold!!

I would love to do more retail business but here in Maine I'm glad I have a variety of accounts...fleets, rental, dealerships, commercial and return customers. 95% of those accounts allow me to work inside when needed.

I guess my point here is that I hope not all new techs depend on just retail business because depending on where you live may determine if that is successful.

[GlassStarz]

Hey it gets cold here in VT in the last couple months (the coldest ones) I have built my buisness up to 80% retail I did $3750.00 in retail for march while still maintaining most of my fleet accounts I guess its how and where you look. I bought somepre printed 4x8 WR brochures from liquid resins put em in every dealership I was already ins service dept and a few i wasnt in hand the service guy a abe when i show up to do the job give the dealership a good price on any fleet stuff I do if im there for a retail job(25% off). Im set up at a Carwash on the main drag so i can jet to any called in jobs or sell to the carwash customers while im sitting there waiting. I plan on adding a few more locations for the brochure soon 1 hr lubes etc. The town im working in has about 40,000 people and several dozen glass shops as well as at least 4 full time repair guys I guess its how you sell yourself.

[Dave M]

Glassstarz,

I realize you are in Vermont and was hoping you'd reply! During the months of Jan. and Feb., what is your % estimate of vehicles repaired outside and those repaired inside?

During these months my retail was down but only because I was not marketing that area. I can't see myself going to a business looking for a repair, selling the repair and than doing the repair outside in sub-freezing weather that we had this winter. If I can see my breath outside than in my opinion it's too cold to do a quality repair. Did you read the cold weather article in the AGRR mag. 2 months ago?

I'm not saying that repairs can't be done in that type of weather because a good tech knows the do's and don'ts for cold weather repairs.

[glassdoctor]

I have had the same concern about doing retail in the dead of winter.

But my concern is more on the saeeling end than the actual repair. If my fingers and toes can take the cold, then I can do the job right. Take measures to warm the glass etc and the complications are mostly just freezing your a$$ off.

Although moisture is a big problem on many winter days. Frost every morning is not good.

It's about time I get out and try selling some retail now, can't blame the weather anymore

[magicogar]

I have an idea. How about getting a heating blanket and cover the entire windshield while working under it? Modify it by adding suction cups to it.

If you use my idea and start marketing the product, I want a case of beer!

[2hipp4u]

Hi Dave

I havent started doing any actual repairs yet, but I am going to run into the same problem next winter here in nebraska. I would suggest picking up your customers car and taking it to your shop if you have one or home to your garage when it gets that cold. This is what I plan on doing.

If you got good insurance, your bonded and put fort a very professional image I don't think you will have very many objections.

I figure this will add about 30 minutes more to each repair I do when it's cold, but I can't stand working in the cold.

I would say the cold is a good incentive to work your butt off when it's warm and rat hole the revenue to get through the cold months.

Then take that money some place warm !!

2hipp4u

[GlassStarz]

1. i keep my box in the car warm if its gonna be gettin cold I throw one of those little glove warmer packs in the tool box.
2. You can use a thin resin well in cold weather heat up the glass slowly using the defroster use one of those non contact laser thermometers from Radio Shack ($49) make sure the glass is somewhere close to 60 deg not much warmer.
3. Go slow on the pressure when you put on the injector and dont cycle it as much as normal you got hardly any uv in the winter so after you cover the injector its ok to take longer than normal.(avoids the unwanted broken windshield)
4. If you work out of the Car Wash like i do I have a bay to pull into if needed 10 deg or below also if ive been called to one of my dealerships from the brochure I try to use the recon bay or wash booth if they will let me.. otherwise keep a warm rag over the injector during the process the heat going though the glass will keep it warm.
5. I wear a thick ski glovewith a heat pack in it when its very cold since you are doing everything slower the touch isnt as important.
6. 4 or 5 outside repairs a day when its cold I go home. if when I get 15 done for the week I go home and do a coit. some weeks i dont get my 15 cause there is stuff fallin out of the sky since I swiched to WR so i could have more time to work on my Art if its crappy out I stay in the studio with a half naked model.
7. Winter sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

[Coitster]

Dave M,
Thanks for the comment about my Retail post. I have to add a few things here. First off I developed that paticular technique in Spokane Washington and it was actualy in the dead of winter when I started doing it. Just wear long underwear. Another comment, that is only one technique in over 40 successfull things that I have done in the past. I have only posted that technique for people who are looking to make money RIGHT NOW and don't want to invest any money or time. That being said I have used marketing techniques that have made some of my best booking days on rainy days. Sometimes I book more jobs on rainy days then I do on clear days. Now granted on clear days I get to do the jobs but I can get a lot set up on rainy days. Just think of that as one thing you can do out of many things. For different times of the year use different techniques. Don't put your whole business under just one thing. That just won't work. Hope that helps.
David
Coitster

[CPR]

My Easy Up tent has 3 side panels with it anyone ever try to use one of those in the cold with a portable heater. I have seen alot of electric and propane heaters that should get you through the day. I know I would be in there all day with the grill going and the steaks sizziling.

[Dave M]

2Hipp4U,

I do not have a shop, mobile only. I have a nice 2 car garage (not heated) and it does not get very warm inside in the winter!

I've thought about taking vehicles back to my home but it seems to have a lot involved......2 seperate repair kits and supplies or transfer tools each time a car was brought back to my house (inside the customers car?) What about insurance? Working your business out of your home could bring up a whole bag of insurance problems. Make it very clear with your agent about what coverage you would need.

Coitster,

That is why I have a good mix of accounts. Rained here 1/2 the day and still did $400. All wholesale accounts, not one retail. Of course, if there had been some retail the $ amount would have been much higher!