Are you ready for some HAIL?  We are!  

Each Spring comes with anticipation.  For some, it's the hope of warmer days.  For others, it is a time when their world bursts forth with green leaves, flowers and the sounds of bees hovering nearby.  But for me, it's that exciting time of year when my eyes are glued to the weather forecast and my fingers are tapping, sliding and pushing my phone on all forms of social media to see where is the best chance of hail.  Dare I say, I am not alone!  

You are too.  I know you are, you fabulous entrepreneur, you!  You are a Paintless Dent Repair Technician.  A "Hail Chaser".  You have been putting up with winter up to this point, but now, you are right here with me watching the weather.  The time is coming.  There will be hail.  And you and I hope there will be plenty of it!  That is to say, we hope there is plenty to go around for all the Dent Technicians out there. 

At A-1 Tool, we are ready!  We have been working hard to fill up on our inventory of PDR Tools.  We know when you want your tools, you want them TODAY.  We have our storeroom full of  Paintless Dent Removal Tools and accessories.  Big or small, we sell it all!  We will be waiting to ship out your tools right away.  You do not need to wait around for a discount.  It's not coming.  We are affordable every day for every one.  Quality tools you can count on and fair prices you have come to expect.

How about you?  Are you ready? Here are some tips you may want to consider!

1. Join a professional organization like NAPDRT or PDR Nation to give you that polished, professional edge that will set you apart as a Dent Technician that is serious about his career.  
2. Get certified.  Many technicians have gone through rigorous certifications like VALE Certifications.  This will divide the men from the boys.  Prove your worth.  Customers like to know they are dealing with a Pro.  Put them at ease and educate them on the dangers of selecting an unqualified technician.
3. Dress the part.  Customers are looking for someone who is careful about his/her appearance.  If you don't care about yours...you probably aren't going to care about their car's appearance either!  Consider wearing a company shirt and hat.
4.  Market yourself.  Spend some time putting up a website, Facebook Business page and Instagram account.  Here you can put your contact information and a portfolio of your best work.  You can also use these to build a connection with your future clients.  Take time to respond to questions and comments.  You will also need to add your business to the ever helpful Google + if you have a brick and mortar shop.  This will help people find you!
5. Network with other Dent Technicians.  You can learn great tips from some of the best in the business.  You may also find yourself sharing some of your expertise as well.  You can look for groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and follow techs on Periscope.  We can all benefit the PDR industry if we grow together and lift each other up!
6. Finally, develop your own pricing.  You are a professional.  Choose wisely by pricing your work where it needs to be.  Do not be swayed by "Cheaple".  This is known as people who want things done cheaply.  Be proud of your profession and your expertise.  Stand firm.

I hope you are enjoying the calm before the storm.  But if you are like me...you are ready for some HAIL!

2017 Mobile Tech Expo

This year marked the first time A-1 Tool came as an exhibitor of PDR tools to the Mobile Tech Expo.  We were welcomed warmly by Kevin Halewood and crew and enjoyed meeting fellow exhibitors.  The best part, of course, was meeting face-to-face with so many Paintless Dent Repair technicians!  Pictured above is John Kallenbach, owner of A-1 Tool and Danny Espinal of Dee Dents in Danbury, Connecticut.   Danny Espinal is a PDR Nation Certified Dent Technician.


John brought along several tool sets including our Quick Silver Hand Tools.  We wanted to give techs an opportunity to feel these ergonomically designed handles.  Countless hours of research, design and engineering went into developing this product line, and the result is the "absolute best hand tool in the PDR industry."  Our PDR tool manufacturers worked hard to complete two new sets featuring these handles.  We were ecstatic with the positive feedback!  We even met several in the Paintless dent removal industry who had some of our original Quick Silver sets already and absolutely loved them.

We also featured several of our Ratcheting Handle tools as well.  In fact, we were overwhelmed by the great response and came back with great new tool designs featuring these handles. We set our A-1 Crew to work producing 3 new sets that will be featured in our next blog!  This was another perk of meeting so many dent technicians face-to-face.  We were able to listen to what they needed and gathered their feedback to make PDR Tools specifically designed with them in mind.

I must say that going to MTE 2017 was a dream-come-true for me!  Last year, Keith and Shane of PDR College interviewed John and I on PDR College Podcast #108.  We were sharing the story behind how we began manufacturing PDR Tools.  The boys asked if we were ever going to plan to exhibit.  I revealed in this episode how much I wanted to go.  As it turned out, we came and even got the opportunity to have dinner with our PDR College friends.  On the way home, we began making plans for next year.  WE WILL BE BACK!