Professional Distributor - 4

EDITOR'S NOTE

Published by Endeavor Business Media, LLC

2020 and beyond

Reflecting on changes of the past decade
and what to expect in the new one.

A
BY DAVID BRIERLEY,
MANAGING EDITOR

920-563-1622
David@VehicleServicePros.com
One change that came with the
new decade is an addition to
Professional Distributor Editor
Sara Scullin's family. So, don't get
too used to seeing my smiling face
on this page - I'm just filling in until
she returns after spending some
quality time with her little one.

s we ease into the new
decade, it can be helpful
to reflect on the one we're
leaving behind. Some major
shifts in the automotive landscape found their roots between
2010 and 2019, and that means
some shifts for you, the mobile
tool dealer.
The most obvious change
was in vehicle technology: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and
advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are here and they're
on the rise, becoming more common every day. Whether you
service light duty or heavy duty
shops, these technologies are virtually everywhere - or they will
be soon.
With changes in technology
come changes in maintenance
and repair, and that means new
and different types of tools are
required. That also means you
need to know what to stock on
your truck, whether it be tools
as simple as insulated hand tools
rated for working on BEVs or
tools as complex as the scan tools
and apparatus used to calibrate
ADAS sensors.
The new decade is sure to
bring additional changes, and the
pages of Professional Distributor
are no exception. You may notice a
slight change in our format, and it
starts with the issue in your hands.
We poll our readers every
year, and every year we receive the
same feedback: you want to know
more about new tools and equipment, and how to sell them. We
hear you loud and clear, and we're
giving you more of what you want.
Our new cover story each

month will focus on one category
of tools or equipment - similar
to the Product Training column
you've seen in the past. This
expanded section will provide
an in-depth look at the product
category, options available, market
trends, and - importantly - essential sales advice from mobile tool
dealers who have found success
selling in that category.
Don't worry - we know you
also enjoy the distributor profiles,
and those are not going anywhere.
You'll still find Show Me Your
Truck and Tales from the Road
in their usual spots.
One other change coming
to Professional Distributor is the
addition of a new contributing editor, Scott Brown, an ASE
Master Certified L1 Technician.
With over 37 years of industry
experience, he has the knowledge
to teach us a thing or two about
vehicle repair. He'll be writing the
new diagnostic column, Diagnostic Tech. Check out his first article
on ADAS sensor calibration (p.
38) and find out what products
to stock for this type of service.
Brown is also hosting a
new podcast series, Torque
Factor, which you can find at
VehicleServicePros.com/podcasts,
or on your favorite podcast app.
As the new year - and the
new decade - ramps up, there are
sure to be more changes to come
to the tool selling landscape. We'll
see new technologies, new items to
repair, and new products to sell.
What changes are you expecting
in automotive tools in the new
decade, and what is your plan to
keep up?

4 Professional Distributor I February 2020 I VehicleServicePros.com

1233 Janesville Ave
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
920-563-6388 * 800-547-7377

Printed in the U.S. Volume 28, Number 1; February 2020
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT - TRANSPORTATION 

Larry M. Greenberger
LMG@VehicleServicePros.com
PUBLISHER  Kylie Hirko

630-253-4034 Kylie@VehicleServicePros.com
EDITOR  Sara Scullin

920-568-8394 Sara@VehicleServicePros.com
MANAGING EDITOR  David Brierley

920-563-1622 David@VehicleServicePros.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR  Tyler Fussner

920-234-6232 Tyler@VehicleServicePros.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR  Emily Markham

920-234-6359 Emily@VehicleServicePros.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR  Kayla Oschmann

920-563-1764 Kayla@VehicleServicePros.com
MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE  Cortni Jones

920-568-8391 CJones@EndeavorB2B.com

MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE  Diane Braden

920-568-8364 DBraden@EndeavorB2B.com

MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE  Mattie Gorman

920-563-1636 MGorman@EndeavorB2B.com
PRODUCTION MANAGER  Connie Wolf

920-563-1679 CWolf@EndeavorB2B.com
ART DIRECTOR  Eric Van Egeren
LIST RENTAL REP  Michael Costantino

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402-836-6265 Kevin.Collopy@infogroup.com
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