Driving profit with commercial vehicles

With commercial vehicles offering retailers a valuable additional income stream, it is often only a fear of the unknown preventing many more from benefiting, according to David Fildes, Commercial Vehicle Specialist at grs.

“Demand for good quality commercial vehicles has been consistently strong over the past year and we believe this trend is set to continue,” says David, adding that a corresponding shortage of stock is helping to keep margins high.
“It’s still a tough and challenging environment for most retailers at the moment, so good news is always welcome. The high demand for commercial vehicles and the price they’re commanding is one such positive area, though there is definitely an emphasis on quality, particularly good condition, low mileage and late plates,” he continues.
“We talk to retailers every day of the week, and many are telling us that potential customers are regularly asking them if they can supply commercial vehicles, ranging from small car-derived vans to the mid-sized vehicles – such as the Ford Transit and Vauxhall Vivaro – and even pick-up trucks.”
And with summer already a distant memory, many traders will be thinking about upgrading their vehicle to get them through the coming winter months and beyond.
So with demand high and good margins to be had, what’s stopping more retailers from putting a tentative toe into the commercial water? “Like anything, it’s likely to be a fear of the unknown,” says David. “Retailers who haven’t previously stocked commercial vehicles will be unsure about their prospects, especially in today’s uncertain economic climate.
“However, the demand is there and we know from experience that any retailer can sell a commercial vehicle. What’s more, when buying from grs they can be assured of the same quality and service as they receive when buying cars – so that’s another reason to be confident,” he continues.
Indeed, grs has extended its market-leading photography to commercial vehicles and has recently started including images of both domestic and commercial vehicles within its weekly stock lists, as the company maintains its focus on making life as easy as possible for retailers to sell more vehicles.
Says David Fildes: “The ability to click and see is proving popular, especially when coupled with the high quality images available online and the fact that retailers can effectively use our stock as their own, which is completely risk-free for them.”
Yet the grs offer goes further still, and in addition to convenience and consistency, retailers of any size can also benefit from the expertise of the grs team.
Concludes David: “We can advise retailers on what’s selling well. We don’t charge for this advice – it’s all part of the service we provide. We want to work in partnership with retailers to help them maximise every opportunity. After all, if they’re successful then so are we!”