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1-800 Radiator & A/C
1-800 Radiator & A/C is a B2B auto parts business supplying local repair shops, parts stores, car dealers, and more. No repair or automotive knowledge is needed. We specialize in offering a comprehensive inventory compared to local competitors who stock only a narrow selection. Success stems from having the right parts available and a proprietary sales and marketing system that creates a competitive edge.
Facts & figures
Mission Statement
1-800-RADIATOR & A/C integrates cutting edge technology, enormous buying power and great vendor relationships with locally owned and operated franchised businesses to provide the best solution for the wholesale auto parts industry.
Franchise Business Overview
The 1-800-Radiator & A/C franchisee has on average 1,000 automotive type businesses as its primary customers, including parts stores, gas stations, repair shops, body/collision shops, new and used car dealers, junk yards, and radiator repair shops. A fully integrated proprietary software system (System) gives franchisees a strong competitive advantage over local competitors in their market.
The System contains algorithms which produce superior breadth and quality of inventory, which allows sourcing from over one hundred major manufacturers by utilizing a robust "stocking mechanism" in its software. The System helps fine tune each and every market to have a unique inventory mix tailored to the specific vehicles in that market. When a customer calls, the exact correct part is almost always on hand at the franchisee’s warehouse.
The System also contains a "Customer Relationship Management" (CRM) feature providing superior marketing formulas. The CRM automatically tracks every phone call, every mailing, every in-person sales visit, every comment, and every sale made to each of the customers in the territory. The system constantly analyzes the data in order to give the franchisee efficient direction on where to focus next with marketing efforts.
The System also provides instant up-to-date information on profitability, sales performance and employee productivity.
Simple Model Aided by Technology
1-800-Radiator & A/C is a simple concept: Franchisees deliver brand-new auto parts within two to three hours to local wholesale customers (automotive repair shops, parts stores, etc). The model hinges on two key components;
- Inventory Availability - The best franchisees always have the correct parts in stock when customers call, which creates long lasting customer relationships. When auto repair shops call for parts they will usually buy from whomever has the part available that same day at the best price. 1-800-Radiator & AC’s technology offers definitive advantages over competitors to execute this effort.
- Sales and Marketing - The System provides data which highlights which local auto repair shops should be targeted for a sales call or a personal visit. These timely customer contacts provide a competitive advantage over competitors who do not have sophisticated systems to track the same customers. Most full time sales personnel log 20 to 25 high potential in-person visits per day using the System’s custom built Customer Relationship Management system. The System compiles the lists based on data accumulated from in-bound phone calls and other recent customer contacts, then hands off those lists to a franchisee’s salesperson to execute contacts with the shops. These visits are then rolled up into the System for tracking purposes, giving the franchisee superior visibility into his market. Franchisees with the most market share visit each of their potential customers an average of than four times per year or more.
Ideal Franchisee
The best franchisees are highly motivated and ambitious people who want to run multiple locations and are focused on rapid market penetration. The candidate should have a minimum net worth greater than $800K with at least $150K liquid (including retirement accounts). Some markets will require higher minimums depending on the size of the market. The most successful franchisees typically have run or owned another business before buying into the 1-800-Radiator & A/C franchise network. This is not to say this is a prerequisite, but most of the top quartile franchisees have similar backgrounds.
Success in this business is highly dependent on the amount of sales and marketing activity conducted by the franchisee, so it comes as little surprise that franchisees with a sales management background really enjoy and do well with this business.
One skill which seems to make little difference is knowledge of automotive parts and vehicles. The System has been designed to take all the “expertise” out of consideration.
Training & Support
A big part of the 1-800-Radiator & A/C marketing effort is the training and ongoing corporate support. All new franchisees spend two weeks learning how the market works and how to foster lasting and profitable relationships with customers. New franchisees also learn about the 1-800-Radiator & A/C lifetime guaranty. In-depth training is provided on how to use the best computer system in the industry to maximize time spent marketing to customers and minimize time spent on bookwork and other non-productive activities. Franchisees are taught how to grow their territories quickly and efficiently.
Franchise Support
A dedicated line is staffed six days a week just for franchisees to call with any and all issues, questions and ideas they have about their businesses. This group answers about one hundred calls daily with questions ranging across all aspects of the business.
FAQs
- Wholesale auto parts franchise supplying local repair shops, parts stores, gas stations, car dealers, etc
- Emphasizes technology and systems to ensure franchisees can deliver their wholesale customers the right parts every time, on demand, in under 3 hours
- Sales of brand new automotive parts to wholesale customers
- No knowledge of vehicles or automotive parts is required
- This franchise is a strong fit for ambitious individuals with a desire to own multiple locations
- Most successful 1-800 Radiator & A/C franchisees have previously run or owned another business
- Sales or management experience is a major plus
- Work with the proprietary sales and marketing systems to maximize your location's revenue
- Cultivate and maintain business relationships with local customers
- Travel to business clients to ascertain automotive parts needs and conduct in-person sales
