“If you’re in the trailer business and you don’t go every year, even
if you go for a day, you’re not truly in the trailer business.”
Those employees, which include his son,
Ryan, and another gentleman, Drew, that’s
been with Hanger for over 25 years, are
people Hanger has worked hard to keep.
“The workforce in Florida is challenging and
we’ve had turnover, but, all in all, I’ve got a
good family of friends here.”
“Family of friends” is the best way to describe
Hanger’s community. He went to school right
across the street from where his dealership
now stands. On that very property used to
be a car wash where Hanger would clean out
vacuums as a 12-year-old so that he could
buy a soda.
“It was a pleasant day in my life when I was
able to buy the property I used to hang out
at,” Hanger recollects. “My little community
of Holly Hill is friendly. I wouldn’t change this
little 4-square-mile city for nothing.”
While Hanger is grateful for his community,
he also knows that if it weren’t for branching
outside of it, his business would’ve closed a
long time ago.
“If I hadn’t found my webmaster, we’d have
been out of business. He was able to let
us be seen nationwide. I just shipped two
trailers to Dubai. I’ve sent trailers to Russia.
We’ve sent multiple trailers to Africa. If we
relied just on local business, we’d be half the
size we are.”
www.natda.org
That webmaster that he found was the
byproduct of attending the very first NATDA
Trade Show & Convention. That was his sole
intention in attending that year, but Hanger
has found himself going back every year since.
“I’m shocked at some of the comments I
hear. Dealers say they don’t have the time,
or they don’t need to go every year. I’m not
always looking for manufacturers. I see it as a
chance to not only see what’s new out there,
but to see what I’m selling against. I go there
to get thoughts and be around trailer people.
If you’re in the trailer business and you don’t
go every year, even if you go for a day, you’re
not truly in the trailer business.”
Obviously, it takes a special person and
special circumstances to make someone as
successful as Robin Hanger. A trade show
isn’t a fix-all, even if you’ve attended all of
them like Hanger. Ultimately, it comes down
to motivation. Shortly after opening his
trailer dealership, Hanger’s mother passed. It
was her last words, spoken to her caretaker,
that still motivates Hanger to this day: “Tell
my son, Robin, to keep doing what he does.”
“I went to work the next day and never
looked back. I love what I do.”
NATDA Magazine
67