If you’ve been in the trailer industry a while, it’s hard not to know the
name “Best Price Trailer Sales.” Robin Hanger’s dealership has been
a staple since 2000. In a span of twenty years, a small span of time to
many trailer dealers, Hanger has become a wanted man not only to
consumers looking for the latest cargo hauler, but to manufacturers
looking for feedback.
Originally the owner of a successful automotive business in the little
city of Holly Hill, Hanger came upon the decision to sell trailers in
an interesting way. His service department, at the time, would repair
the trailers it could, but when the trailer reached the end of its limit
Hanger would have to recommend his customers buy a new trailer.
They found that to be nearly impossible, though, due to a severe lack
of response by dealers. To help, Hanger, started calling, but came to
the exact same conclusion.
So, he bought the property next door to his automotive business in
2000 and purchased four trailers. He sold them, ordered more and
gradually grew.
“They were a company called Trans Haul,” Hanger remembers. “One
of my first Reps was Jimmy Monk. He’s still a good friend of mine.”
66
The lack of response from manufacturers is something he doesn’t
accept anymore. His manufacturers must be good, reliable, notable
companies, but a lot has to do with his relationship with the
representative. To him, those representatives need to be a dealers’
best friend.
“I’ve had Reps that never call you back. You feel like they’re too busy
for you. So, I’m no longer their dealer. I don’t have time to play
phone tag. People get too big and their egos grow,” Hanger explains.
Over the past two to three years, he’s narrowed down his
manufacturers to eliminate most hassles. He’s been an ATC dealer
since 2000 and is quite fond of Sure-Trac, too. There’s one Georgian
manufacturer, Anvil Trailers, that he’s grown to love after three years
of working with through manufacturing procedures, quality-control
issues and the creation of a new stacker that debuted at the Daytona
Beach Street Rod Run.
“They’re coming on strong and they’re good people,” he says. “We’ve
worked well together.”
Finding good manufacturing partners has allowed Hanger to focus
on the important tasks of everyday business, such as his employees.
NATDA Magazine www.natda.org