august2023 - 42

TALES FROM THE ROAD
How Leuschner
saved Christmas
A tumultuous Christmas jumpstarted this distributor's
journey into tool distribution.
By Elli Carder, Assistant Editor
Not only do her customers depend
on her, but Leuschner has come to learn
from them every day. When they come
in with a particularly unique request, she
isn't afraid to admit that she doesn't have
all of the answers.
" My customers, they're wonderful, "
she says. " They help me. They teach me
every day. "
FOLLOWING THROUGH
When trying to strengthen her ties to her
customers, Leuschner has one solid piece
of advice: follow through.
Making a promise only means so
much if that promise isn't being fulfilled.
Leuschner suggests that distributors
should aim to be at each stop along
their route every week. If extenuating
circumstances do arise, make sure you're
there the next week, Leuschner advises.
" Once you fall out of habit, " LeusTina
Leuschner and the crew at Suwell Lexus Certified Collision Center.
Photo Courtesy of Tina Leuschner
B
efore Tina Leuschner started driving
her own route as a Mac Tools
distributor, she worked as a paralegal
for about 10 years and successfully
resisted her husband's attempts to
get her behind the wheel of a tool truck.
Her husband, a Mac Tools distributor
of 27 years, had always wanted Leuschner
to take up a route of her own.
Leuschner, feeling that a job on the road
wasn't in the cards for her, helped out
instead with the ordering, inventory, and
payroll side of her husband's business.
After about 10 years of asking, all it
took was one tumultuous Christmas
to jumpstart Leuschner's own journey
into tool distribution.
What's your story?
Share the ups and downs of life on the road
with us at Editor@VehicleServicePros.com
and you could be featured in our next Tales
from the Road column.
With an employee quitting the week
of Christmas, Leuschner told her husband
they couldn't leave the customers
waiting. The route was still new, and
Leuschner understood that when starting
a new route, consistency is key. Establishing
consistency with her clients has
been a priority for her.
" I kicked myself in the butt for not
doing it five years ago, " Leuschner says
when discussing her first route. Despite
her resistance she fell in love with the
very thing she had resisted for so long.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
In her early days as a tool distributor,
Leuschner struggled with tool knowledge.
Without a background in the tool
industry, she relied on her research skills
to pinpoint the proper tool for whatever
job her clients were shopping for.
" It's been my biggest challenge from
not coming from any kind of mechanical
background, " Leuschner says.
42 Professional Distributor I August 2023 I VehicleServicePros.com
chner says. " They fall out of habit, too.
They're going to want somebody that's
going to be there. "
A LOOK TO THE FUTURE
From putting together truck rides for
prospective Mac Tools distributors to
offering her customers energy drinks
to get them out on her truck - not that
they need much enticing - Leuschner
has finetuned her customer service and
people skills.
" I got in the truck, and I really just
never got out of it, " Leuschner says,
and she doesn't plan to for the foreseeable
future.
FUN FACTS:
Favorite place to travel
The beach or anywhere she
can fish
Never leave without
Yeti water bottle
How do you get
customers on the truck
Selling them energy drinks
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

august2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of august2023

Editor's Note – Stock up!
Sneak Peek
Most Wanted
Exclusive – Innovation Awards
In Focus
Cover Story – Turning up the pressure
Diagnostic Tech – Leveraging shop management and service information systems
Show Me Your Truck – Fresh off the show floor
Go Sell Something – The dangers of prequalifying
Driving Sales – Shop Equipment and Tool Storage
Tales from the Road – How Leuschner saved Christmas
august2023 - 1
august2023 - 2
august2023 - 3
august2023 - Editor's Note – Stock up!
august2023 - 5
august2023 - Sneak Peek
august2023 - 7
august2023 - 8
august2023 - 9
august2023 - Most Wanted
august2023 - 11
august2023 - Exclusive – Innovation Awards
august2023 - 13
august2023 - 14
august2023 - 15
august2023 - 16
august2023 - 17
august2023 - 18
august2023 - 19
august2023 - 20
august2023 - 21
august2023 - In Focus
august2023 - 23
august2023 - Cover Story – Turning up the pressure
august2023 - 25
august2023 - 26
august2023 - 27
august2023 - 28
august2023 - 29
august2023 - 30
august2023 - 31
august2023 - Diagnostic Tech – Leveraging shop management and service information systems
august2023 - 33
august2023 - 34
august2023 - 35
august2023 - Show Me Your Truck – Fresh off the show floor
august2023 - 37
august2023 - Go Sell Something – The dangers of prequalifying
august2023 - 39
august2023 - Driving Sales – Shop Equipment and Tool Storage
august2023 - 41
august2023 - Tales from the Road – How Leuschner saved Christmas
august2023 - 43
august2023 - 44
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