Snap-on store has opened

[Justin1776]

One of the local Snap-on dealers has opened a retail store in Sarasota FL. He has four routes/trucks in the area. I was not able to go to the opening on Saturday due to work but my dad went. The store will be open every Saturday 9am-1pm. For anyone familiar with the area, the store is off of Cattleman road right across from the Harley dealer. The owner/dealers name is Juan Soriano.

 

[customh]

I hope it does well! I'd love to see a place that had examples of all the boxes in one place. Tools too with maybe some specialty tool demos and demos of new tech and tools.

 

[atwageman]

Sounds like Jaun is doing alright for himself. With four trucks under is control, it sounds like he knows how to run a business in the particular market he is in. Hopefully his store will be just as successful.

 

[BK13]

Man, that is so cool! Though, honestly, being able to buy Snap on without having to track down a truck would be deadly to my savings account. But WTH, I can't even find the name of my local Snap On guy in the phone book (well, the on-line version...) if I wanted to buy something.

 

[foreverfalcon40]

Store is better, wait once a week for a warranty part. Hope he does more selling then warranting stuff out, BEST OF LUCK FROM NY

 

[Sirdowski]

I hear they also accept payments in the form of your first born son...

 

[ElectroLight]

Will he honor my 25% off Easter Sunday HF coupon?

 

[Justin1776]

Will he honor my 25% off Easter Sunday HF coupon?

Maybe if he has some HF stuff on trade in LOL? (would have to be A LOT of stuff)

 

[Davefr]

I wish him the best but I can't imagine it'll last very long.

You can't have the B&M infrastructure and inventory in place and only do 4 hrs/wk. His store will likely attract the "lookie lou's".

I hope he has a good security system since his store will usually be closed.

 

[chris142]

Wonder how much business he expects in 4 hrs a week? Maybe he's really using the building to store stuff for the trucks?

 

[Justin1776]

From my understanding the store is mainly for big stuff like boxes, shop equipment, welders, diagnostics etc. It will be good for shop owners to check out stuff. You will be able to get stuff warrantied too. The store is in the same building as the trucks so if you come in needing a specific hand tool, I am sure they can get it off the truck or out of a box in the warehouse. I'll be going next Saturday pending work.

 

[Justin1776]

Wonder how much business he expects in 4 hrs a week? Maybe he's really using the building to store stuff for the trucks?

Juan owns the building, rents out part of it too. I figure if you already have stuff in the warehouse, why not put it in a storefront for people to check out? You have to store it either way and he has enough routes to warrant a large volume of equipment.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

must be LOW priced , depressed commercial market
my parents can't sell their condo in long boat key

 

[NC-Fordguy]

My snappy dealer has something similar. He and his brother are both snappy dealers. They have a warehouse where they keep tool boxes, displays, and other items. Just can't fit everything in a truck.

It's not a B&M type thing but they invite their customers over on weekends when they are inventorying stuff, restocking their trucks and boxing things up

 

[jeffmoss26]

That's awesome!

 

[Justin1776]

must be LOW priced , depressed commercial market
my parents can't sell their condo in long boat key

It is. Some friends of mine and I are considering renting out a shop that would serve as a small car/truck club "work on your stuff on the weekend and after work" type place. In this area 1000-1500 sq foot warehouse w/ store fronts can be had for 500 a month. Not bad 3-4 ways.

 

[picshooter]

Good heads up. But I don't think it's across from the Harley Dealer. I thinks it's a mile or so south. I have seen the trucks parked there and was curious as to why there were so many in one place. Makes sense now.
You are right in the amount of empty storefronts in the area. They emptied with the economy. But just try to rent a house or apartment in the same area for less than $1500. Maybe it's just a matter of time before people start moving in the storefronts!

 

[firecracker]

^^^^^^^ sounds a great idea ^^^^^^^^Justin1776

 

[Justin1776]

Good heads up. But I don't think it's across from the Harley Dealer. I thinks it's a mile or so south.

That was his old shop.

Maybe it's just a matter of time before people start moving in the storefronts!

Ive considered it!

 

[TheGrooveking]

I'm going to show this to my dealer as that he runs one of 8 trucks/routes owned by another guy. To his compliment his truck is always very well stocked and neat and orderly.

TheGrooveking

 

[padronanniversary]

I'd love to have access to a shop like that.

 

[ianguilly]

Thank god it is 12 hours away, otherwise I might be there every weekend.

 

[jmm]

My snappy dealer has something similar. He and his brother are both snappy dealers. They have a warehouse where they keep tool boxes, displays, and other items. Just can't fit everything in a truck.

It's not a B&M type thing but they invite their customers over on weekends when they are inventorying stuff, restocking their trucks and boxing things up

Where are you? I'm about 45 minutes west of Charlotte (Shelby). Would they take on a stranger? I'm a regular SO customer, but my purchases have been relegated to the net and once or twice-yearly visits from the industrial rep, since the local SO guy disappeared. Be cool to have a dealer like yours.

 

[Justin1776]

Thank god it is 12 hours away, otherwise I might be there every weekend.

Did you see the Extreme Green parts washer in the back of the picture?

 

[Rezeppa]

I like the idea the closes thing I have ever found are used tool shops with large amounts of truck brands. I was always under the impression that Snap-On was against putting in brick and mortar stores. I would hate to see this store turn into a large warranty department when SO is so great to work with when it comes to warrenty. Now all we need is a Cornwell store.

 

[Justin1776]

I like the idea the closes thing I have ever found are used tool shops with large amounts of truck brands. I was always under the impression that Snap-On was against putting in brick and mortar stores. I would hate to see this store turn into a large warranty department when SO is so great to work with when it comes to warrenty. Now all we need is a Cornwell store.

I seem to remember reading a small clip in a Car Craft or Hot Rod magazine years ago (5-10?) that Snap-on wanted to open retail stores. It obviously didn't happen. Perhaps a dealer can chime in, I'll ask Juan when I see him.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Open only four hours a week? That 164 hours of the week the place is closed. I don't know-if I saw that a store was only open 2% of the time and closed 98% of the rest, I'd not really visit that much. I'd be too used to seeing the place always closed, assuming that it's out of business.

Maybe some huge banner or similar in the window at the top: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAYS. Do that, and you give people target to shoot for.

 

[ed_v]

Open only four hours a week? That 164 hours of the week the place is closed. I don't know-if I saw that a store was only open 2% of the time and closed 98% of the rest, I'd not really visit that much. I'd be too used to seeing the place always closed, assuming that it's out of business.

Maybe some huge banner or similar in the window at the top: OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAYS. Do that, and you give people target to shoot for.

I doubt his target customers is the general public. I'm sure that the purpose of the shop is to showcase some of the larger shop items to his regular customers. My old dealer had three franchise routes and a warehouse. It makes sense to do something like this. Having the place open like a normal business week seems like a losing proposition.

Ed

 

[dsimatt]

I'm interested to see how this goes, probably more warranting stuff than anything but still I'm sure they'll get some weekend warriors in there buying stuff.

 

[Justin1776]

I doubt his target customers is the general public. I'm sure that the purpose of the shop is to showcase some of the larger shop items to his regular customers. My old dealer had three franchise routes and a warehouse. It makes sense to do something like this. Having the place open like a normal business week seems like a losing proposition.

Ed

This. It would not be worth the liability and cost to have someone staff the store. The real customers are already serviced on the routes. This is to showcase big stuff that is hard to haul, have a good time on Saturdays etc. If Joe DIY needs a 12mm semi deep he can come by on Saturday or go through a friend with a Snap-on route (I'm sure most DIY guys that want Snap on can get it through a friend, provided that Snap-on is in the area). This does make warranty faster and easier and will probably lead to more sales from non-route guys. Ill keep this thread updated with the progress of the store.

 

[CWP1616L]

I'm interested to see how this goes, probably more warranting stuff than anything but still I'm sure they'll get some weekend warriors in there buying stuff.

If he asks for the receipt, that'll put a stop to that.

 

[atwageman]

If he asks for the receipt, that'll put a stop to that.

I'd put a sign up. That will keep Joe six pack tool flipper from bringing in his swap meet and flea market finds.

 

[mrjaw14]

I wish a dealer would open a store in Nashville, tn. It'd be great for DIY guys

 

[amlv20]

Man that's cool I hope it works out for him, I always wished they could do something like that around here.

 

[ianguilly]

Did you see the Extreme Green parts washer in the back of the picture?

Again glad its too far away..

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Where are you? I'm about 45 minutes west of Charlotte (Shelby). Would they take on a stranger? I'm a regular SO customer, but my purchases have been relegated to the net and once or twice-yearly visits from the industrial rep, since the local SO guy disappeared. Be cool to have a dealer like yours.

About 5 hours east of you near Greenville

If you ever make it this way I'm sure they wouldn't mind you tagging along with me especially if you have cash

 

[70NOVA]

Juan is a good dude! I hope it works out for him!

 

[RV77]

Glad to see someone doing this.Hope he succeeds and more power to him for having the kahunas to try it.

 

[StupidHippie]

Only open Saturday eh? Maybe he'll post a sign...."Tool Warranties on Mondays only"

 

[Justin1776]

UPDATE:
Went to the Snap-on "store" today. All I can say is AWESOME. I counted 15 tool boxes and carts on display along with welders, tire changers/balancers, promo stuff, shirts, hats, power tools, hand tools etc. If you are in the area, stop by on a Saturday. If you don't know Juan or any of his drivers and don't feel comfortable, PM me, if I am available, I'll meet you down there. The store is eventually going to be open more than just a few hours on Saturday. This is the very early stage of moving in and getting set up. I dropped off my FHF80 to have a green hard handle put on Also when I was looking around it appears that navy blue hard handle screwdrivers are back. Juan had a few sets, price was $130 or so. Juan also had one blue dead blow ball peen 16 oz hammer. It appears blue is now coming back? Anyway, I walked out with this new cool stuff (and a calendar, already on my top box):