Red Barn Trailers
quarterly , I can check the boxes and make sure everything ’ s done correctly . Through this , we ’ ve been trying to empower our staff members so they can make decisions on their own .”
Additionally , the Heides established a set of company values : Integrity , Excellence and Friendliness . “ We really worked hard on instilling our values , and I feel like that has helped our staff make better decisions ,” Heidi notes . “ Our staff doesn ’ t even have to come to us when faced with questions or decisions that aren ’ t everyday occurrences .”
more you know how everything is run , the better off you are . Because if you ’ re down one person , you may have to step in to make a sale or find a part . You must be ready for anything .” Most importantly , Heidi recommends choosing something you enjoy . “ We love the industry and our dealership . We enjoy our jobs . It ’ s fun ,” she says . “ I believe everybody should have fun at their job . We spend a third of our life working , so if you ’ re going to put the work in , it should be enjoyable .”
To reinforce Red Barn ’ s values , signs are hung around the shop and the office in prominent places . Weekly meetings are held where the staff share examples of how they have practiced one of the values during the week .
As a result , Red Barn team members are taking their values to heart . “ My husband always says , if you ’ re walking in the yard and you see trash , pick it up . That ’ s an example of ‘ Excellence ’,” Heidi explains . “ One of our mechanics has been walking through his yard and picking up trash as a habit . He says his family asks what ’ s wrong with him and he blames Red Barn ! If we can impact their personal life in the smallest ways that ’ s what we want , right ?”
Red Barn has been a member of NATDA since 2012 , and Wall noted that NATDA ’ s resources and the NATDA Trailer Show were helpful in Heidi and John ’ s introduction into the trailer industry and new connections with manufacturers , suppliers and services to help grow the business .
Heidi deepened her relationship with NATDA when she joined the Women in the Trailer Industry Committee last year . “ It ’ s great to see that there are more women in the industry who are not just there for a job but want to empower other women and grow their influence ,” she notes .
“ We need to stand together , and I think things have really shifted in the last few years . Women used to be competitive and didn ’ t work well together , and I think that ’ s changing . A group like this certainly brings value and helps to create a collaborative environment . I would like for other women to be able to reach out to the committee and at any point in their career for support .”
When asked if she had any advice for those looking to start a dealership , she said , “ Don ’ t be afraid to take some calculated risks .”
As an example , Heidi told a story about her father ’ s choice to go into trailers versus opening another store . “ My dad didn ’ t want to do anything related to groceries again because once they went bad , he lost money ,” she explained . “ When going into the trailer industry , he was sure to calculate an acceptable loss if he didn ’ t sell .”
Heidi recommends starting small . “ It doesn ’ t have to be glamorous , and you might have to put in some elbow grease , but the
26 NATDA Magazine www . natda . org