april2023 - 36

SHOW ME YOUR TRUCK
The 'SK Tool lady'
This tech-turned-tool dealer switched
careers 18 years ago and hasn't looked back.
By Kayla Nadler, Associate Editor
W
hen independent tool dealer Bridget Lankford
started selling tools 18 years ago in central North
Carolina, technicians didn't know her name.
Instead, someone would yell across the shop, " Hey, the
SK Tool lady is here! "
From then on, the nickname " SK Tool lady " just sort
of stuck.
Before becoming a tool dealer, Lankford worked as a
technician at a dealership and eventually went on to start
her own successful auto repair shop. Although she had no
intentions of selling her business, she was made an offer
that she just couldn't refuse.
Lankford decided to go back to working at a dealership
only to realize that after being self-employed for so long, it
was hard to work for somebody else again. So, she bought
a tool truck and gave her notice.
PIECING TOGETHER THE LAYOUT
Lankford is now onto her third tool truck. Her first was a tilt
cab Isuzu and her second was a 2009 Chevrolet C5500.
Truck number three, her current truck, is a 2010 Freightliner
MT45 with a LDV conversion which she bought from a local
tool distributor who used the truck to deliver toolboxes.
" Most of the shelves, brackets, and lights were on the
floor, " she recalls. " It was like a puzzle for me to figure out
where each bracket, shelf, and light should be placed. It
was a little challenging but totally worth the effort. "
After piecing everything together, Lankford was able to
organize it the way she wanted, which is by tool type. For
example, she has a shelf dedicated to individual sockets
because " a technician will sometimes lose one " , a shelf
for quick service technicians (includes oil change and tire
change tools), and a shelf for engine diagnostics, front end
tools, brake service tools, and so on.
However, she does dedicate three shelves just for
Milwaukee tools. One reason is simply because she loves
Milwaukee Tool, and the other because they are a " must "
with her customers.
To view more photos
of Lankford's truck,
scan here.
For anything that she can attach to the wall, she'll staple
to make more room on the shelves.
She also has an area on the truck that she calls " the
hold and sold section. " It consists of a shelf and a drawer for
customers who have placed orders. She notes that when
a customer orders something, she'll often buy an extra for
inventory in case another technician wants the same item.
FAVORITE FEATURES
Aside from the overall size of the truck, one of Lankford's
favorite features is the diesel furnace in the back when the
weather gets frigid.
" It's quiet, the truck doesn't have to run, and it quickly
knocks the chill out of the air and off the tools, " she notes.
Another favorite feature is the TV she has mounted to
educate customers about new and innovative tools while
they are waiting to check out. Currently, she has videos
from Power Probe playing. Next to the TV, she places the
tools shown in the videos on a display board.
The most rewarding part of her job, Lankford notes, is
getting to know her customers and watching them progress,
such as becoming master technicians or a shop owner.
Many have been with her since day one-18 years ago. And
a few have moved out of state but remain loyal customers.
" I love my job, " she concludes. " In a way, it's not a job
because I enjoy it so much. I'm glad I made the decision
a long time ago. "
Bridget Lankford
Central North Carolina
36 Professional Distributor I April 2023 I VehicleServicePros.com
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/distribution/tool-distributor/article/53027545/show-me-your-truck-bridget-lankford-sk-tools http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
april2023

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