Making PROGRESS

With the warmer temperatures and springtime sunshine the trailer season has begun. The majority of dealers seem to be at least moderately busy selling trailers and ordering new ones.

Even though sales have picked up and the trailer industry has some "breathing room" we have to keep a long-term philosophy on the forefront of our minds. Diamond C and dealers alike must continue to look for sales growth opportunities and exploit every sales tool available.

So you say "My dealership just survived the hardest winter in 20 years...we're finally busy again...the markets are still very unstable...the last thing I need to do is start spending all my money on new stuff..."

I agree! With the challenging markets we face today we have to be more creative than ever in how we conduct business and progress forward. So as you consider your plans and long-term strategies, look for low cost or FREE sales and marketing tools that your dealership can use to draw customers in and capture more sales.

Here are two FREE and low cost tools that you may be able to use:

• FREE online Classifieds: http://www.craigslist.com/ and http://www.kijiji.com/. I have heard good testimonies for each of these sites from various dealers. Both work basically the same way and if you have basic internet skills are very easy to use. You just have to create an account, then you can list your trailers for FREE. With Kijiji they do give you options to keep your listings at the top of the ranks for just a few dollars, but there is no obligation to spend a single dime. Based on my experience with these sites I would encourage you post with pictures and prices. Maybe post your price leaders like Diamond C's RANGER Brand trailers to draw customers into your lot, then you can do your best to up-sale and maximize the profit per trailer.


• Post Cards and/or Fliers are another very affordable way to keep in touch with your customers. The flier below is a special postcard offer that any Diamond C Dealer can take advantage of. For only $.27 per contact you can inform your customer base of your current promotions and newest products...your "attention getters." Combine this tool with follow-up phone calls and you are sure to get more customers in the door. Click the flier to enlarge it and read details. When distributing postcards or fliers be sure to keep in mind that many retail establishments (such as feed stores, livestock sale barns, and gas stations) have bulletin boards where your info can be posted for free. Take all the free exposure you can get!

So... remember that our industry is seasonal... don't let up! Continue to make proactive progress daily. At Diamond C we are committed to providing our dealers with every sales and marketing tool we can. We are not just a trailer vendor, we are a business partner striving to promote symbiotic relationships.

To learn about the many industry leading sales tools available to Diamond C dealers or to share your sales and marketing ideas please do not hesitate to contact a Diamond C Dealer Consultant at 800-827-3512.