Professional Distributor - 50

A divine tool dealer

Barri Evans operates a Cornwell Tools franchise... and also a church.

B
BY DAVID BRIERLEY,
MANAGING EDITOR

920-563-1622
David@VehicleServicePros.com

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your story?
Have an interesting
experience to
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fellow distributors?
Share it with us!
Contact Managing
Editor David Brierley
at David@
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arri Evans is a Cornwell Tools dealer in
Midland, Texas. Like many tool dealers,
he attended vocational school to become
an automotive technician after high school. But
unlike most tool dealers, Evans heard the calling
and went on to become a pastor instead.
"I was full-time minister for 21 years, until we
decided to start a church here in Midland," he says.
"A guy that I worked with in the church was a Cornwell [dealer], and he wanted to know if I wanted to
run a second truck for him while we were starting the
church. I did that for three or four years, and then ...
he asked if I wanted to buy my route, so I ended up
buying it from him and I became my own franchise."
Evans says selling tools after so many years
away from the secular business world proved a bit
of a challenge. Fortunately, he had guidance from a
trained professional.
"The guy I worked with first used to sell cars at
a Ford dealership, so he had gone through the Ford
sales training," Evans says. "He taught me what he
knew, and it all worked out."
Apparently that training paid off, because three
years into owning his franchise Evans was ranked
the number seven dealer in the nation for Cornwell.
This is his fourth year, and he is currently sitting
at number four.
Part of the success Evans sees is due to his dedication to his customers. He makes it a point to be
reliable, showing up when he says he will every week.
He also goes above and beyond to get warranty work
completed and tools repaired so that the technicians
can get back to work as quickly as possible.
In addition to providing quality service, Evans
stands out by building relationships with his customers. He says he has even performed wedding
ceremonies for his customers, including one that
took place in the technician's workspace.
"I've actually done a wedding for one of my
mechanics in his shop," he says. "He and his wife
showed up at the same time, right there in front
of his Cornwell toolbox, and we did the wedding."
And just as Evans is like family to his customers,
he is also happy to be part of the Cornwell family. He
doesn't have any plans to stop being a mobile dealer,
though he notes, "Maybe one day I'll hire a guy to run

50 Professional Distributor I May 2019 I VehicleServicePros.com

Top: Barri Evans has two jobs: he's a Cornwell Tools dealer,
and a pastor. Above: Evans and his wife.

my truck while I do the church [full-time]."
Evans adds that it's important for tool dealers to work for a company they can trust, as he
trusts Cornwell.
"You don't have to worry about them falling down
or doing something wrong and getting you in a bind,"
he says.
"I just really appreciate Cornwell and how they
support me," he adds. "They're a good solid company
with good solid people, and I appreciate being able
to be with them."

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