Convenience is now considered a normal aspect of daily life. Particularly during and after COVID-19, businesses have been forced to adapt to the ever-demanding consumer environment by offering mobile services that allow customers to order an Uber with a few taps or have food delivered in a matter of minutes.
Similar to other industries, the tyre fitting sector has experienced rapid expansion in mobile services throughout this time. To provide on-the-go tyre fitting services, garage businesses especially those that specialize in tyre replacement and repair have started implementing mobile tyre fitting vans.
Let us explain how you can get involved in this popular business concept and provide a tyre fitting Shrewsbury van service.
Step 1: Buy a Suitable Van for Mobile Tyre Fitting
The first step in mobile tyre fitting is to purchase a van that is adequate and has enough space for all the equipment and supplies required. When making the purchase, take into account aspects like size, accessibility, fuel efficiency, and dependability.
The following are a few instances of mobile tyre-fitting vans that we have previously assisted in setting up:
- Peugeot Boxer van
- Vauxhall Movano van
- Mercedes sprinter van
- Renault Master Mobile van
- Citroen Relay van
- Ford Transit van
Of course, you may use other vans as well, but these are usually medium- or long-wheelbase panel vans that suit the garage equipment, tyres, and tools. The van’s side and rear doors open to allow you easy access to all of its interior spaces and the installed mobile tyre fitting equipment.
Step 2: Install All the Necessary Mobile Tyre Fitting Equipment
The next stage is to equip your van with all the tools required for tyre fitting once you have it. Although every tyre fitting van setup is different depending on the driver and the type of van being utilized, essential mobile tyre fitting equipment includes:
- Power source: A 12v DC to 230v AC inverter, relay, and sockets can provide a dependable power source that is needed to run all of the equipment. To power the apparatus, a second battery or generator may be needed frequently.
- Hydraulic stands and jacks: are necessary tools for both lifting the car off the ground and safely securing it while repairs are being made. Since you never know where you’ll be working, you need to be ready to work on the car in a variety of situations.
- Mobile Tyre Changer: To quickly remove and install tires onto rims, a mobile tire changer is necessary for a mobile tire fitting van. It should have a bead breaker to expedite the tyre removal process, but the size of the tyre changer as a whole must be taken into account because it will be operating in a small space. Depending on the car you choose to run your business out of, tyre changers with tilt-back features and big 3-point swing arms might not fit.
- Mobile Wheel Balancer: It is necessary to provide uniform weight distribution and the best tyre performance. The best wheel balancers for mobile tyre changers are usually the ones that are small and don’t have a hood to take up the least amount of space for this necessary function.
- Lighting: Having enough lighting inside the truck is crucial, especially for night operations and darker evenings. For sufficient lighting and less shadowing when working on the tyre equipment, we advise installing LED daylight strip lighting inside the tyre fitting van.
- Basic Hand Tools: To handle different parts of tyre fitting, such as removing wheel covers, adjusting tyre pressure sensors, and removing wheel weights, a complete set of hand tools, such as wrenches, sockets, pliers, and screwdrivers, is essential.
- Solutions for Storage: To keep all tools and equipment organized, safe to drive, and readily accessible when working, the van’s storage must be utilized effectively. In addition to keeping a technician’s workspace organized, cabinets, drawers, and racks help make sure they can locate what they need fast.
- Diagnostic Equipment: Fitting the vehicle with additional diagnostic equipment enables specialists to handle problems that go beyond simple tyre replacement, like locating sensor faults or figuring out electrical system concerns. This expands the services that can be provided to clients.
- Safety Equipment: Since everyone’s safety is the first concern, the van needs to be outfitted with all the necessary safety gear, such as fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, personal protective equipment (PPE), and beacons. If you anticipate working on electric vehicles (EVs), you should think about bringing an EV fire safety blanket.
Step 3: Ensuring Legal Compliance and Insurance
Learn about any applicable local laws for your business before you begin offering mobile tyre fitting services. Among the most important legal considerations are registering your firm, getting the required permission, and making sure that environmental and public safety regulations are followed. Furthermore, having the appropriate insurance coverage for your mobile tyre fitting van is essential to shield you from any dangers.
Step 4: Marketing Your Mobile Tyre Fitting Service
When you are prepared, skilled, and in compliance with all applicable regulations, it’s time to announce your existence to potential clients. While traditional techniques like local, newspaper, and pamphlet advertising have their place, don’t discount the power of internet marketing strategies.
Having a strong online presence may do wonders for business exposure, especially on sites like Google My Business, Facebook, Twitter, and others where local customers are probably engaged. As a member of their network of mobile tyre fitters, a franchise may assist you with some of this, or you may want to invest in your own website for your new venture.
Additionally, customer-friendly features like cashless payment, instant response times, online booking, and round-the-clock availability might draw in additional customers to your service.
Step 5: Providing Exceptional Customer Service
Last but not least, the secret to success is to deliver great customer service. Not only does providing clients with a hassle-free and excellent service encourage repeat business, but it also fosters positive word-of-mouth referrals.
Incorporating client suggestions into your after-service reviews and customer feedback collection also enables you to help your tyre fitting Shrewsbury business expand naturally and improve over time.