'YOUR MARS VEHICLE IS YOUR OFFICE'
John tells us that he made sure to have his MARS vehicle
set up and ready to go before Webster came in to assist
him during his first week of starting his business.
"In deciding what to do with my trailer,
I spent a lot of time on the MARS International Website,"
says John.
"MARS was having a MARS Vehicle Contest
at that time, so there were all types of vehicles pictured
in the MARTIAN MESSENGER for about three months. I looked
at all those pages of pictures to get ideas of what I
wanted to do with my trailer.
 FUTURE
MARS OPERATORS? Melissa Clarke with sons Austin (5) and
Evan (3).
"MARS also had some instructional handouts
on how to put a trailer together, and David Jones gave
me advice. I searched out what was available.
"So much of our type of business is appearance.
We go to change the appearance of vehicles, so we need
to show up in a great looking vehicle.
"Your vehicle is your office. You need
to make a good impression with your dealers."
FIRSTWEEK OF BUSINESS
John's first week of starting his business
was unusual; Webster had commitments which caused him
to split the week into two weeks, with three days the
first week and two days during the second week. John says
this worked out well, as they stayed in communication
by telephone at all times.
"When Ron first arrived, we did spend
some time reorganizing my trailer. He gave me some good
advice about how to set things up.
"After that, we visited customers and
started doing work."
WORK THE SMALL LOTS
After his first week with Webster, Clarke
decided to follow the MARS advice of starting with small
dealerships.
"I decided to work with B-Lots until
I became really comfortable with all my Systems. I felt
comfortable in the small shops and spent about five months
with them.
"Some of them were fairly decent accounts.
There was a wholesaler where I could count on working
on thirty to forty cars a week.
"Overall, those months were a great experience.
I got a wide variety of vehicles to work with, and I had
the chance to use a large number of the MARS Systems.
SEVEN ACCOUNTS
Today, John has seven established accounts
that he sees on a regular basis and a handful of other
that call as needed.
In the process of building his business, he
says, "I still have enough off time to seek new accounts.
I'm still out prospecting weekly. |
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"My prospects are impressed by the fact
that I have and can do so many Systems. I'm going to the
larger dealerships now, (THE BIG FISH) and when I hand
them a MARS brochure outlining all of the services that
I can do for them, they'll ask me questions abut that.
It helps me get my foot in the door.
"I'll walk a lot when it is closed, and
then I'll target some vehicles that need repair. I'll
keep a list of how I can help them before I talk with
them, that way I don't go in blindly."
JOHN BECOMES A MENTOR
After almost a year in the business, John
was asked by Corporate MARS to be the Mentor/Field Trainer
for Lowell Lane (Kansas). "This was fun," states
John. "Lowell was using most of the Systems
I was taught, and with him I had the opportunity to try
out the Miracle Paint Repair System. I was very interesting.
With Lowell, we found jobs where we could use it and it
works great.
"Among other things, MPR makes a great
impact with the customers. Lowell and I would take car
that was not a 'front line car', and in a short time,
with MPR, it would look front line ready.
"This impressed the dealerships. Also,
they were impressed with all that work we were doing with
the buffer. Anytime you use your buffer, it seems to impress
them!
"I enjoyed being a Mentor so much. It
was interesting to be in the role of trainer. Also, it
was good for me-going out, redoing all my Systems with
another person. It re-energized me! Looking back, I see
it from this perspective: I had the opportunity to see
how much I've learned and accomplished in a short time.
Would I do it again? Without a doubt!
HOW DOES HE FEEL ABOUT THE MARS
EXPERIENCE?
John told us the positive feelings he has
about being a MARS Operator, now that his first year has
passed.
"First," he says, "Everyone
at the Corporate Office is a pleasure to work with. They
care about us out here in the field. They do a very good
job. They do it right for us Operators.
"The thing I like most about being in
this business is that I feel I'm in charge of my own destiny.
I have the freedom to do it my way. I can do what I want
when I want.
"In the process of entering MARS, we
were also relocating to Kansas City area from St. Louis.
Now we're settled here and my business is established.
It's great to know that I have the freedom to end each
day early, if I want. I keep a responsible schedule of
course, but if I want to arrange my day to see my sons'
football game, I can.
"The freedom
is there. I love what I do! Owning your own business is
awesome!"
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