[AT] OT- Cornwell Tools

Thu Jul 13 18:37:53 PDT 2017

I have a sales story that might be helpful. One of the many reasons that 
I was not ultimately profitable as a farmer my first go around starting 
at age 14 was that I was not at all good at sales. After 4 years of 
small profits, I was expanding and had borrowed money to to do so. But 
between drought, too many equipment repairs and under-capitalization, 
probably my lack of sales ability was the straw that broke the camel's 
back. I went to work for a seed company (I already had lots of pertinent 
experience) and then technology companies.
      Because I had superior logic and technical skills and also enjoyed 
helping people I ended up as an engineer providing support of many kinds 
to both pre and post sale activities. Eventually I realized that I was 
often the person who caused the successful sale to happen even though I 
did not see myself as a salesperson. What had happened was that because 
I actually enjoyed solving people's problems, I had become able to sell 
what they needed by solving their problems! As a result I was then able 
to take that ability and use it in farming too.
      If your son in law is to become a success in the tool sale 
business, it is more important to solve the customer's problem than to 
slickly sell, but it must be paired with business skills. Good luck.
                     Grant Brians
On 7/12/2017 2:12 PM, Mogrits wrote:
> Yeah Stephen, and I hold that concern...
>
> They are young and stubborn, and I'm just now getting wise enough not to
> say "I told you so" when things go South but this will be a big,
> life-changing decision. Could be a great thing, but it's more likely not
> going to end well.
>
> One of the hardest things about parenting sometimes is watching your
> children fail. I'm just going to raise some questions so she takes an
> honest look at him and he takes an honest assessment of his own traits and
> skills. Don't get me wrong- they are both FINE young adults and he indeed
> has a lot of skills but sales is absolutely, positively not one of them.
>
> Warren
>
> On Wed, Jul 12, 2017 at 4:42 PM, Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Going back a couple steps in this thread, I wanted to highlight this
>> comment:  " I also have doubts about his ability to get out and sell
>> himself as he has not shown this ability to date."
>>
>> Tool dealer HAS to be a natural-born salesman.  This is a serious concern
>> you're raising here.
>>
>> SO
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Jul 12, 2017 at 4:21 PM, Dan Glass <dglass at numail.org> wrote:
>>
>>> I think that bankruptcy rate is lower than the national average for
>>> startup small businesses.  I think a lot of people don't realize you
>>> usually don't make any money for the first couple of years unless you
>>> really work you butt off.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 7/12/2017 3:12 PM, Mogrits wrote:
>>>> Thanks for all the replies guys. Just to re-state: This is my son in
>> law
>>>> making this decision, not me.
>>>>
>>>> I'd done my research on the tools and understand they are good, quality
>>>> tools- some of the last still made in USA. My concern comes from
>>> statistics
>>>> such as 30% bankruptcy rate for tool-truck businesses, which is quite
>>> high.
>>>> I also have doubts about his ability to get out and sell himself as he
>>> has
>>>> not shown this ability to date.
>>>>
>>>> Just normal father-in-law concerns since it is a considerable
>> investment.
>>>> It is a little reassuring to hear from you guys that at least the
>> product
>>>> is a good one, and that several of you knew of long time successful
>>>> operators. He has close connections with two of the local trade schools
>>>> mechanics shops, and thinks this will gain him access to a pipeline of
>>>> incoming potential customers. My opinion is the young starting
>> mechanics
>>>> are going to be visiting swap meets and pawn shops to build their
>>> starting
>>>> collections- not buying off a tool truck.
>>>>
>>>> I guess time will tell.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again,
>>>> Warren
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jul 12, 2017 at 1:31 PM, charlie hill <
>>> charliehill at embarqmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Regardless of which brand,  the tool truck business is all about being
>>>>> buddies
>>>>> with the mechanics at the dealerships.  If they like you, and you race
>>>>> together on
>>>>> weekends, etc. and if you feel comfortable with the risk and the
>> credit
>>>>> aspects of
>>>>> selling to mechanics on time and collecting the money it CAN be
>>> lucrative.
>>>>> It can be a disaster too.
>>>>>
>>>>> Charlie
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Jim Yost
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 12:20 PM
>>>>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>>>>> Subject: Re: [AT] OT- Cornwell Tools
>>>>>
>>>>> We have a Cornwell dealer in my area. He has been in business for
>> quite
>>>>> some
>>>>> time now. I have a few of his tools. Compares to Mac and Snapon
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> Jim
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jul 11, 2017, at 10:38 PM, Mogrits <mogrits at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is anyone familiar with these or know anything about them? Son in law
>>> is
>>>>>> considering becoming a dealer and I'd never heard of them. It's a
>>> pretty
>>>>>> big investment- he'd have to buy the tool truck and pay for a lot of
>>>>>> franchise training. I can't stop whatever he does but have a nagging
>>>>>> feeling it's a mistake.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornwell_Tools
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm thinking an obscure brand in a market dominated by Snap on and
>> Mac
>>> is
>>>>>> going to be a tough sell. But maybe it is not as obscure as I think.
>>>>>> Anyone
>>>>>> have experience with them?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Warren
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