Get Max Dollars Per Square Foot

One of the ways to measure how well your business is doing is to calculate how many sales dollars you get per square foot of your building per year. Big retailers live and die by this number—but it is helpful even to small and medium sized battery shops, automotive supply shops and even ag dealers. If you’re one of those, these thoughts are for you.

Many times, retail floor space in a small shop is at a premium. Everything you put out takes up space and you have to be aware of how much profit you can generate. We were thinking about those things for you when we created three different retail rack displays that only require a 3.9 square foot space.

Each of these displays is based on our basic Rescue Portable Power Pack rack, but the components were designed for three different markets. Our heavy-duty ag display, 990134-001, features some workhorse power packs, booster cables and other components that sell well in that market. Sell the inventory once and you can generate over $2,000 in profits or over $500 per square foot.

Our automotive rack (990136-001) is about half the cost but still would generate over $250 per square foot in just one inventory turn. Our battery retailer rack (990137-001) is a little bit higher and cost and potential. But the point is, most stores would sell the rack components two or even three times in a season.

 The big boys say a good target for any store is $300 per square foot per year. With the right stuff and the right display, you could beat that by two or three times. Want more information? Call your Quick Cable account manager and get the details.

Auto Auction Depends on Rescue Packs

This is the kind of story we love to tell:

At the Metro Auto Auction in Lewisville, Texas, just outside of Dallas, they bring in 1,000 to 1,400 cars every week for the Tuesday morning auctions. It takes quite a crew to move these cars around, clean them up, stage them and get them ready for delivery. When you’re moving that many cars and offloading transporters, a lot of them have trouble starting—and that’s where Quick Cable Rescue Portable Power Packs come in.

According to Ed Bowers, the auction started using Rescue 950’s and 1060’s in the vans they run to move drivers around—four Econoline E-350’s and 1 Chrysler Town and Country. “We use the Rescue 950’s and 1060’s in the vans when we go to the dealerships to pick up cars and trucks coming to the auction. We use them all day and return them to the transportation department for recharging each night,” Ed said.

“Outside the main building, we have the Operations Department where we have the lot equipment for the auction. We previously rented out jump boxes from an outside vendor. After using the Rescue units in the vans, I made a presentation to purchase our own lot units from Quick Cable. We started out with one Rescue 4000 test unit to see how it compared to the rented units. It proved to be a better unit for starting the cars on the lot plus the lighter weight made it easier for the ladies to use it.”

“We now have 9 Rescue 4000 units for use on the auction lot. Hope to get a few Rescue 4050 units in early 2014,” Ed explained.

Four Great Ways Anyone Can Replace a Battery Clamp

Battery clamps can corrode, get loose or crack--and some customers will come looking for a way to put a new clamp on their existing cable. There's the old inexpensive saddle-type clamp, but that isn't a very good solution. There are actually four very good ways anyone can replace a battery clamp without special tools.

Easiest and best: Quick Cable Compression Connectors. These are high quality cast copper heavy duty connectors you install with a wrench and a screwdriver. These are tried and true and actually the first product Quick Cable brought to market as a Quick Connector.

Not quite as easy, but a super connector: Quick Cable Fusion Connectors. These connectors are cast copper, heavy duty, and have solder and flux built in. You need a pair of Vise Grips or something to hold the connector and a torch, but you can make a superior, permanent connection easily. There are safety considerations if you're working under the hood with an open flame--you have to be well away from the battery, fuel lines etc.

Almost as good as the first two: Quick Cable Tie Bolt connectors. These work on cable from 6 to 1 gauge; the patented tie bolt design clamps down around the wire for complete contact so there is a secure electrical connection.



All three of these ideas are great as long as you have enough battery cable available. Sometimes, though, if you cut a bad clamp off, then the cable is too short and if you put a new clamp on, it won't reach. That leads to the last idea: Quick Replacement Ends.

Quick replacement ends put together a replacement battery connector, a length of cable, and either a tie bolt or a compression cable connector. Now, you can replace a connector without special tools and without worrying about whether you can reach the battery.

You don't have to have all the specialty tools that a cable making shop has to fix a battery cable. You just have to have the right connectors. With the right solutions you can help your customers out of a bind and help them do a DIY repair that works.

Is That a Jump Pack in Your Trunk?

If it is, it's the start of a good idea. No matter what the calendar says, winter is here and it's starting out with some serious cold and bad weather.



So a lot of people keep a jump starter--like one of our Rescue Portable Power Packs in their trunk for emergencies. That's great but you have to remember one thing: Keep it charged!

The same cold weather that is challenging the battery under your hood is working on the battery in your jump starter, and over time it loses its charge. You don't want to be counting on your back-up system, only to find it is unable to do the job.

Quick Cable recommends charging your Rescue Portable Pack every 30 days or after every use. If you live in a really cold climate, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try to remember to bring it in the house and charge it up once a week overnight--say every Friday, or whatever makes sense.

It's a great idea to carry that jump starter. Make sure it's ready to do its job when you need it.

Get a Clean Start

It’s that time of year again. The first major cold wave has hit, driving temperatures down even in the south. Atlanta had the coldest Thanksgiving in 100 years. Ice and snow are crippling Tennessee and Kentucky; it’s cold even in Texas.

If you’re in the battery industry like many of our customers are, business should be picking up. And if you’re in the mobile vehicle service business, demand might be outstripping supply.

It’s a good time to remind your customers: Good clean battery connections can make a big difference when it gets cold and you want to start your car.

You can help your customers to help themselves by selling the 120145 Battery Terminal Protection kit. In one convenient package you have battery terminal washers, spray cleaner, spray protectant and a terminal brush.

The package is perfect for setting up near your checkout area, and it only takes a couple of minutes to show people how to use the products. And they can make a big difference.

Helping your customers to help themselves avoid trouble is good business. Who wants to be out cleaning battery terminals when it’s 17 degrees and the wind is howling? 

Getting That OEM Look On Replacement Cables

Original equipment cable look like original equipment, and sometimes replacements don’t quite measure up. Depending on how they are made, they could look like replacements.

So how do you get that OEM (original equipment manufacturer) look—without buying the OEM part? You get the right tool, that’s how. Nowadays, there are tools being created which make it easy to get a connection that looks just like, if not identical to, the OEM style.

Take Quick Cable’s new B-Crimping Tool, for example. The tool offers a fresh, sturdy crimp connection for widely used lead free terminals. You get the OEM look, without having to have actual OEM cables. Your replacement cables look new, they have a strong connection, and it is easy to make them like that.

Using the B-Crimping Tool is simple. You just have to choose the correct gauge sized anvil for your cable (the wrong size could break the tool or not produce a full crimp), insert it, center the crimp area of the terminal, insert the cable, and press down on the handle. When you take it out, you have a beautiful, OEM looking B-crimp.

Who says you can’t get that OEM look on your replacement cables? Give the B-Crimping tool a try…imagine proving those naysayers wrong!

August's End

It is hot.

Out west, it’s hot and on fire. Across the Midwest it’s a sauna.

Yet, the big retailers already have the Halloween stuff out. The back-to-school sales started in July. And you can be sure that somewhere, someone is getting ready to roll out the Christmas trees.

What does that mean to you? Wherever your customers go, they are seeing signs of fall and winter. Are you thinking about merchandising for the upcoming seasons?

It’s not too early to think about booster cables and power packs.

We’re here to help you with your fall merchandising ideas. Our new retail rack for our Rescue Power Packs is a great merchandising tool and doesn’t take a lot of floor space.

If you’re looking for ideas, give your Account Manager a call. Let’s see what we can put together to make your fall season a success.

It may still be hot. But the kids are going back to school, and it’s already getting dark noticeably earlier. We can help with your seasonal specials. So, don’t wait too long.