[AT] OT- Cornwell Tools

Fri Jul 14 07:25:27 PDT 2017

That is an excellent story, Grant, and I actually tried to allude to this
myself in one of my earlier notes.  My point, same as yours, is that one of
the keys to the success of a tool dealer is to understand the special
problems encountered by the auto tech and to know what tools solve these
problems.  Not sure I articulated it very clearly but again it's really an
excellent point.  It implies that the successful tool dealer needs to have
intimate familiarity with the modern-day realities of fixing cars.

SO

On Thu, Jul 13, 2017 at 9:37 PM, Grant Brians <sales at heirloom-organic.com>
wrote:

> 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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