Sealey highlights the importance of planning for winter

Sealey’s Product Category Manager, Neil Kidby, emphasises the importance of planning for the difficulties that the winter months can bring.

Few people could have predicted the difficulties we have faced in 2020. Many motor factors were forced to close in the first lockdown, along with many of their garage customers. For many, reopening saw hugely increased sales compared to pre-lockdown levels due to people being on furlough and needing to catch up with their projects. Stock and supply really was king, as unexpected sales continued to build. Planning is important for any business, particularly with a whole host of difficulties facing them, including trading challenges associated with an ever-changing market, social distancing, a shift to online selling, and deliveries.

The second lockdown and the subsequent tiered measures have brought new challenges, and amongst this, we also have to continue to execute our plans for the winter months. This is when well-prepared motor factors can reap the rewards of their forward planning.

What’s on offer?

A warm garage or workshop is a much more pleasing place to work in, so it’s likely your customers will be looking at ways of keeping the cold winter months a bit more comfortable. A wall mounted heater is always a popular choice, as well as being a good way to save on floor space. The Sealey IWMH1500 Infrared Quartz Heater supplies a dry heat within seconds of being switched on, and is sure to keep the workshop at a comfortable temperature.

On top of this, with daylight hours short, increased lighting sales are a given. The Sealey LED184 Rechargeable Portable Floodlight and Power Bank provides up to 1,900 lumens of light and has a useful power outlet for charging mobile devices. For confined spaces, the innovative LED186 folding inspection lamp provides a choice of lighting for the areas that are harder to access.

What are the odds?

Statistics show that on a typical year, winter breakdowns are more than double the figures recorded during the summer months. Many of these breakdowns can be as simple as a battery failure, with winter months placing high demands on batteries. Cold temperatures reduce battery cranking output, and electrical systems are put under more strain, with heated windscreens and lights being used more. This is great for battery sales but also for starting solutions in the event of a flat battery, or battery failure. Motorists and breakdown services alike will always want a fast and easy way to get a burst of electricity into a stranded vehicle and bring it back to life. A popular choice for customers is the Sealey E/START range. Boasting great benefits for motor factors, there is no internal battery in this range, so there is no need to wait hours for the unit to charge before use. As a result, long-term storage will not be an issue. The E/START800 has a peak output of 800A, and is a compact and lightweight unit. It is no secret that easy handling and storage are great benefits for factors and end users, and the range still delivers the same result as heavy, bulky, lead acid battery equivalents, making it ideal for technicians.

This winter will bring many challenges and demands to us all, but a small amount of planning will pay dividends for the well prepared, and it isn’t too late to get on board. Rest assured, Sealey will be available to provide the same high level of service that you rely on to help you through these difficult times.