Van Racking Ideas & Solutions

Robust, practical storage solutions to meet the needs of any tradesman

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Mobilegeddon Is Upon Us

Are you ready for the infamous Google ‘Mobilegeddon’ shake up? This is an algorithm Google started running on the 21st April which simply put favours mobile friendly sites over sites that don’t provide a good user experience on mobile.

SEO’s trying their best to keep up will remember that the big G has been feeding us little clues about this happening for a while now. In November last year they officially launched the mobile friendly tag for mobile searches after months of testing. This was a very strong signal that they have noticed mobile search, and the influence it has, and that they are starting to take notice. If they’re taking notice then that means that we as webmasters need to take notice.

For many of us as much as 50% of our online traffic comes from smartphones, and if your website isn’t properly optimized for that then you’re effectively missing out on a huge chunk of potential customers. By human nature, we’re quite lazy, especially when we’re looking for something and if you land on a site using your phone and you can’t read it properly because the text is too small, the links aren’t spaced out at all and you need to scroll to see the whole page then you’re going to leave instantly. This is some of the criteria Google will be judging you on from now on and if you don’t tick all the boxes you can kiss your Google rankings goodbye. This is the general feeling webmasters are holding onto currently anyway. It’s been a little over two weeks since the update so keep monitoring your mobile rankings to see if you’ve been severely hit.

Google has confirmed that the update has rolled out fully now but it may take a couple more weeks until everything is indexed again to reflect the new rankings. It’s not all doom and gloom however as this is good news for people who’ve put the work in to make sure their sites are mobile friendly and have been anticipating a change like this for a while as more and more people turn to their smartphones as the main hub of their lives. Additionally the search giant has been kind enough to provide us with a free tool for which we may test our websites against in order to see how well they stack up.

As with all Google algorithm changes, some will prosper and some will lose out.

Here are a few useful tips you can implement to help you survive Mobilegeddon:

1. Don’t panic

I know, I know; it’s easier said than done but in the case of this change, in fact any change to Google’s algorithm it’s entirely true. It’s unlikely that the whole internet will be hit in just one day, usually when Google roll out updates and refreshes to their search formula it can go on for anywhere from a few days, to a few weeks or even months.

Remember Panda and Penguin? When these feared algorithms (geared towards on site content and spam links respectively) received their latest updates in October last year we were originally told it would roll out relatively fast. Then it was still ongoing come December, then claims that they are continuously updated before finally retracting that final statement.

Basically what we can learn from this is it’s important to not take everything Google says regarding search changes as 100%. If they gave us everything we needed to know on a plate, that’s fantastic for honest webmasters wanting to help provide users with relative content (Google’s ultimate aim) but it also makes it much easier for spammers and black hat SEO experts to game the system. If this happened Google would be back to where they started when search was in it’s infancy and results pages would be filled with content that shouldn’t necessarily be there. That’s never going to happen of course and thus the only thing you need to concern yourself with is the fact Google thinks mobile search is very, very important. So all your efforts now should be geared towards making your site as mobile friendly as possible and not focussing too much on the time constraint, as that’s going to impact your ability to get things done quickly anyway. If your site takes a hit you can always recover it by working towards making your site mobile friendly and using all the tools at your disposal such as Webmaster Tools. This brings me to my next point…

2. Use Webmaster Tools in conjunction with the new mobile test tool

This is perhaps the most important step you can take to protect your site against mobile updates now, and for the future. Use your WT account to look at mobile usability issues and Google will kindly provide you with a list of all URLs for which there are issues and they’ll even tell you what they are. This could be something as simple as the text being too small, in which case the solution is simply making it bigger or the viewport not being set correctly. After playing around and making all the relevant changes you can then take the URL and run it through Google’s Mobile Friendly Test to determine if you’ve done enough to receive a pass. You’ll want to check all the pages listed in Webmaster Tools as it may not have updated in a long time, and so running the URL through the test will give you an up to date idea on whether there’s still work left to be done.

3. Use software you are familiar with and could get a mobile version up and running quickly

This is critical because it’s easier to transfer your site to mobile on some platforms than it is on others. WordPress for example is incredibly easy to adjust to and there are many free plugins you can use to get a mobile version of your site quickly and effectively. WPTouch is my personal favourite as it will instantly give you a mobile friendly website as soon as the plugin is installed and activated. The interface is also easy to get used to and you can relax and focus on making the tweaks needed to take your site to the next level.

E-commerce sites using X-Cart will find a fantastic extension in the Mobile Skin for Classic which will make your site look brilliant on a smartphone. It’s clear that Google are putting very heavy emphasis on mobile and will probably continue to do so, but the good thing is you can adjust to this algorithm on the fly, you can always get a mobile site and then you’re set, it won’t be nearly as difficult to recover from as a Penguin link penalty for example. Some big names such as Nintendo and even Wikipedia are set to be hit, but if you use all the tools Google have given you you’ll be able to get through Mobilegeddon with no problems.

Our Vantage Systems van racking site uses the mobile skin by X-Cart so you’ll be able to see how that looks on a mobile device.

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Fleet Branding For Vehicles – Really Think About Your Wrap

The vehicle wrap should be thought of as a rolling billboard that’s in constant movement, and covers vast areas as well as places other mediums don’t reach. Whenever potential customers travel during the day a vehicle wrap is sure to be there, driving your message home. Therefore it’s Important when considering mobile advertisements for your business that you’re really thinking about what types of vehicles you have in your fleet and how they are going to benefit. Fleet branding has to have a positive effect on your brand. Vehicle graphics can improve your brands visibility, build your brand’s image and can even increase the resale value of your fleet in the long run.

Keeping it simple can have a large benefit on your campaign; realistically mobile advertisements aren’t seen for very long so you only have a limited amount of time to grab people’s attention. However, a well thought out, attractive ad campaign can leave a lasting impression in someone’s brain long after the vehicle has passed. How many of us know the Coca-Cola Christmas trucks for example? They’ve become global advertising icons since they launched in the mid 90’s. It speaks volumes that there are only three main colours that go into that design, red, white and green so it’s extremely simple but very effective as well. So that’s an example of how vehicle graphics can really keep people’s attention and stick in their mind for a very long time.

You should look at vehicle wrapping as a long term investment, but something which has the added benefit of short term costs, because you only pay once to get the wrap applied. That’s it! This is in stark contrast to billboard adverts for example where you need to keep paying recurring costs if you want to keep them running. It’s usually a lot easier to do vehicle wraps for commercial vehicles such as buses or trucks because they’re generally much straighter as opposed to cars which are more curved. However vehicle wraps can be done for cars as well.

Generally bright colours work extremely well because they’re very effective at catching people’s attention and making an impact very quickly. It’s crucial you work very closely with your vehicle graphics designer to create the original image of the design and text and have an experienced professional look at your van to measure it so you know exactly what to expect from the start.

Naturally we all want to save money whenever we can and a good wrap can go a long way to helping you achieve that. Generally, van wrapping can be done by simply painting a vehicles surface or using vinyl sheets as decals which is the preferred method for most advertisers. The reason being is it’s a much less permanent solution versus painting the surface. In addition the vinyl will help protect the vehicle from damage so it will help preserve the value of the vehicle or maybe even improve it.

Some advertisers may want to have a call to action on their wrap whereas some may prefer to just have a web address and let the graphic do the rest of the job which is make people want to check out the site. Regardless of what’s required it’s extremely important you work as closely as possible with your graphics professional to make sure they’re meeting all the specifications you expect.

There are many local companies that do van wrapping in Doncaster, van wrapping in Sheffield, van wrapping in Barnsley and so on. You’ll be able to find a company to suit your needs no matter where you are

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How Social Media Has Impacted Businesses Online & Offline

Social media is a part of all our lives whether we like it or not, it’s something built deep into the fabric of our day to day activities, and it looks like it’s here to stay. At least for the foreseeable future.

I think the key to social media’s success is that it’s ridiculously easy. We live in a society where we have our faces constantly buried into the screens of our phones and social media is a part of that habit. 95% of people with a smart phone are going to have the Facebook and Twitter apps downloaded onto their phones and that puts them a click or two away. So they’re extremely accessible.

If I said that people trust the opinions of their friends and family much more than they do a sales ad in a magazine I’m sure that wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. One of the oldest and most influential social media platforms out there is Facebook and, connecting with family and friends is at the very heart of it’s business model. It’s through this connectivity that product reviews and videos can go viral and spread through word of mouth on the site. Even something as simple as a Facebook ‘like’ is essentially like a little vote for a product or brand, and when people see that their friends like a certain product it’s a very powerful way of making them trust you a lot more. Even if they don’t realise it straight away because it’s just so natural.

Now, one way that social media at least has the potential to impact some businesses in a bad way is if negative reviews or opinions get around, and they can spread at an alarmingly fast rate. However, as with most things there are always ways you can turn something negative into something positive, and social media gives you an opportunity to engage your customers directly. Through doing so you can discuss any ways to improve the product or service and showing that you’ve taken the time to look for ways you can improve will be greatly appreciated by your consumers.

A quick and efficient way you can connect with potential customers is by finding out who the potential influencers in your industry are. Klout is a fantastic website that can help you do that, it gives people on social networks a score out of 100 and allows you to see who’s influential in your niche. By connecting with them it gives you a chance to quickly grow your brand online by attracting likes from the people who are connected to your influencers. The van storage industry isn’t going to have a huge list of customers on Facebook but there could potentially be a lot of positive influencers so it’s worthwhile to try and connect with the right people.

Facebook for example has community groups that you can join and interact with people who share your interests, so you could find plumbers, carpenters etc. sharing pictures and ideas on their van racking or the best van shelving options available. These are the types of people that can make or break you online. Social media is all about building relationships and you want to be building the right ones by adding value to conversations and this will add value and reputation to your brand over time.

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How Van Racking & Van Wrapping Can Help Grow Your Business

For many of us today, business comes out of the back of a van. It doesn’t matter whether you’re an individual tradesman such as a brick layer or a company  with a huge fleet at your disposal if you use vans at work then van racking is fundamental to making you efficient for your customers.

Some of you reading this article might be wondering if it’s something you definitely should be doing and I can say with some confidence that yes, you should. When interacting with customers making a good impression is a key to success and having your van organised in such a way that it not only makes your life easier but it leaves them feeling impressed has huge benefits. Firstly, the fact that you’re more organised means that you’ll be able to find anything and everything you need with as little hassle as possible, saving you a lot of time. This is going to make people very happy because it’s natural to look for the quickest way to get things done. Secondly, imagine if you’re left unable to find something because your work space is in such a shambles you don’t really know where to start. That’s going to leave a terrible impression and rightly so. Good customer service is all about filling your customers with the confidence that you’re the right person for the job and then going above and beyond to prove that. If you work out of the back of a very messy van, that’s not going to fill people with very much confidence. Using the right van storage system will ensure you’re halfway their to delivering a fantastic service for your customers, likewise if you have tools lying all over the place you essentially couldn’t of gotten off much worse to begin with. This links in to professionalism as well and racking and van shelving just makes you look that bit more professional which is obviously very important. Again you don’t want to give people any reason to doubt you because that instantly decreases your chances of positive referrals and repeat business. Van wrapping has the same benefits as well and in addition to making you look great it’s a fantastic way to market your brand. You’ve got to look at van signage as something that really helps you stand out from the crowd. Ideally you’ll be able to make use of bright colours and eye catching designs to really help bring people’s attention to your name. People’s eyes will naturally deviate towards advertisements when driving whether it’s a huge billboard or a vehicle wrap it doesn’t matter. If you’re on the road a lot of the time the potential is really limitless for how many people could see your ad, so it’s a very efficient form of marketing because you’re not just stood around waiting for people to come to you, you’re going mobile. A good van wrapping job can bring in just as much business as your website, if not more. Additionally it’s extremely cost effective because once it’s done it’s done, you can upgrade your wrap as much or as little as you want and it’s going to provide you with benefits all year round. This is in stark contrast to billboard ads for example because you have to keep paying recurring costs for as long as you want to keep advertising. Add this to the fact that these types of ads remain stationary and the benefit for the investment made is really quite small. Vehicle wrapping will also help protect from damage such as scratches and road debris, making sure your vehicle lasts longer and looks fantastic at the same time.

Having van racking solutions in place will also help protect from damage. If you’ve ever damaged or even completely lost tools in your work van then you’ll know how frustrating it is. Racking can eliminate this problem because everything is stored safely and securely. If you store your equipment properly and then brake you’re decreasing the risk of damage. Social media plays a huge part in all of our lives these days, and so it’s never been more important to provide the best customer service experience possible. These social platforms are literally at people’s fingertips so it’s never been easier to get an opinion, critique or compliment out to a large audience. This can work very much in your favour if you have an organised vehicle, which hold’s everything you need and enables you to work efficiently. However, it can also work against you if you don’t.

Think about this, if it’s taken you far too long to get the job done because you spent most of your time looking around for tools then that’s not going to go unnoticed. Sometimes people enjoy a good vent, and it’s very easy to do a quick Facebook update or tweet to let people know the work was unsatisfactory.

Finally both van racking and wrapping are very cost effective. Racking saves you money because you’re not losing or damaging tools. However the main benefit here is that you’ll be able to provide your customers with a quality service in a very timely fashion. That’s going to impact your business positively so it’s a long term investment with long term benefits, for very little cost. Well worth it!

Wrapping your vehicle will save you money because of how effective a marketing strategy it is. We’ve already looked at mobile advertising vs. billboard advertising and the fact that you can reach a larger amount of potential customers makes it a worthy investment. Depending how frequently you’re on the road you could be visible to tens of thousands of people over a relatively short time.

So in conclusion if you have a mobile business then you should be racking out your vehicles as a standard practice because it’s going to make you much more efficient. Van wrapping is definitely worth the investment and will go a long way to making you stand out from the crowd.

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Vehicle Wrapping & Why It’s The Perfect Way To Spread Your Message

If you’re in the marketing game then you know how important it is to make a terrific first impression, people determine whether or not they are interested in something quite quickly. If they are they’ll take notice and it will stick in their head, if not they they’ll just ignore it completely. I don’t mean people always make up their minds on whether to buy something or not, that’s a strong claim to make because, some people do and some people don’t. It depends on the person. But that doesn’t even come into play if you don’t manage to capture their attention in the first place. That’s step one of the process and vehicle wrapping is a brilliant way to capture your audience’s attention. How many times have you remembered a product or service purely because the advert was well put together? A perfect example of this is the John Lewis Christmas advert which has now become one of the most popular festive line ups alongside the infamous Coca-Cola and Toys R Us campaign. I’m going to touch on some benefits of using a vehicle wrap to advertise your business and hopefully this article will help you make an informed choice on whether or not it’s for you. With vehicle wrapping you’ll reach a much wider audience

The great thing about wrapping your van is it’s exactly what you’d expect. It’s advertising on the go, making it absolutely crucial for mobile businesses. Depending how many vehicles you own and how often you use them you can reach thousands upon thousands of visitors every month. When you’re driving or even a passenger in a vehicle it’s natural to take notice of large advertisements that jump out at you and really catch your attention. Ideally you want to make as much use of bright colours as you can as they are just that much more likely to draw people’s eyes to your advert. Used the right way your vehicle wraps can quickly become your most effective form of advertising trumping even your website. It’s non aggressive

This is probably the perk I love most about vehicle wrapping, is that it’s not aggressive. We all hate aggressive marketing and adverts, nothing turns somebody off quicker. You could have the best product in the world, with the potential to be the most desirable item since the iPhone, and if it’s pushed under people’s noses aggressively you won’t get very far. By wrapping your vehicle you’re putting the information out there for people to take it or leave it. You’re saying “here we are and this is what we do, if you’re interested then let us know.”   People respond much better to that type of approach as it makes people feel far more comfortable because they are making their own informed decision and feel no pressure, as they haven’t even spoken to anyone.

Endless lead generation possibilities with mobile advertising Another great benefit is that you have more control over your ad campaign. You’re essentially putting it in your own hands by not waiting for your customers to come to you. You’re travelling to them, in full view of potential customers whenever you’re on the road, I mean how irresistible an opportunity. With television you’re waiting on people seeing your advert, with a newspaper you’re still waiting and even online or with billboards you’re counting on being seen. Vinyl van wrapping will protect your vehicle In addition to the obvious marketing benefit, vehicle wraps will help protect the body of your vehicle from scratches and damage from road debris. If for whatever reason you need the wrap removing then you’ll be able to find a specialist to do this for you no problem, and you’ll find your vehicle to be in fantastic condition afterwards. If you’ve invested in van wrapping for your business and being mobile is a large part of it then you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your fleet. Wrapping adds the longevity you desire and vehicle signs help give you that professional look to make you stand out heads above your competition. You get the benefit of local, targeted traffic People just love buying from local businesses, it comes as almost a natural instinct. Therefore it’s no surprise that a fantastic plus to mobile advertising is that it’s going to be seen by local people in your area. They just look professional Vehicle wraps just look great, and having the right design is going to add confidence to your customers because they are seeing quality and someone who takes pride in their work. At the end of the day if you’re confident enough to put your brand message on your own vehicles then it says a lot about your service. It’s a fantastic way to help establish your brand, especially if you’re a new business because a striking advert is going to stick in someone’s head and they may even type you into a search engine when they get home. Vehicle Wraps will save you money in the long run

Billboards have recurring costs for however long you want to keep advertising, and they don’t have the added benefit of being on wheels either. So really you’re just putting money into a limited campaign whereas we’ve already concluded vehicle ads have almost limitless potential. So in conclusion it’s definitely worth your time to wrap out your vehicles effectively as doing so will really increase your brands visibility both locally, and on a larger scale.

Also if you have a work van be sure to invest in suitable van racking and van shelving options to make your work space more organised. Having the right van storage system in place can go a long way to making you more efficient at work. You’ll be able to change your vehicle wrap as often or as little as you like and it’s going to cost you significantly less than the consistent costs of running a billboard advert for example. With this cost effective marketing strategy in place I don’t think it would be overly optimistic to say that you’ll easy make back your costs. Add that to the amount of exposure you’ll be giving yourself to potentially new customers then it makes the investment well worth it in the long run.

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Why You Need To Rack Out Your Vans

Plumbers, carpenters and electricians, what’s one thing they all have in common? True I guess all three work in the home improvement sector in one way or another but I’m thinking beyond that. They will all have a work van of course and they’ll all use it five days a week, or perhaps even more depending how busy they are.

So it’s vital that they all use a van racking system which enables them to get the most out of their day for their customers as well as themselves. Today we live in an ever expanding digital age and it’s never been more important to give the highest standard of customer service possible. Why? Well do you have a Facebook or Twitter account? If not then I’m pretty sure you’ll know someone that does, and if you’ve ever browsed around on Facebook for example then you’ll soon realise it’s full of people that like a good moan. It’s human nature, we can’t help it. Sometimes you just feel better after a good vent. Even so if you’re a business online or offline, no matter what it is you do you definitely don’t want to be the person they’re complaining about. Especially if you recently provided a service.

Van racking can help you minimise the chances you will get a complaint by making you look professional and organised. Nothing’s going to make somebody roll their eyes quicker than if you look like you can’t even find your way around your own work space properly.

They’ll be left wondering why they didn’t go with the guy down the street, and you’ve set yourself up for a complaint effectively before you’ve even lifted a finger.

Having your van well organised is extremely important because it’s the only way you’re going to be able to find the tools you need in the most efficient manner. If you have your van looking great with a top class racking job in place then you can systematically organise your van however you need.

This in turn will make things far more convenient for you at work and you won’t be left pulling your hair out every fifteen minutes because you can’t find that one tool you need. Nobody wants to be stressed at work and your customers will surely pick up on this if you are. It’s going to make them feel uncomfortable and will leave a bad taste in their mouth. With the right van racking system you’ll be able to relax at work and you’ll put your customers at ease too.

Safety is of paramount importance when you’re on the road as well and you might be wondering if there are any safety benefits in van shelving or using the right storage solution.

There are two main benefits here, because everything’s secured properly both inside the van and out you’re not going to cause potentially fatal accidents. This is why roof racks are so important, they ensure your load is secured safely and efficiently. Also have you ever opened up the back of your van and found that items are damaged or you can no longer find them? This is a fairly common problem that’s usually caused by braking and by kitting out your van the right way this will be something you no longer have to deal with.

Ultimately you’re going to be far more effective when you’re making the most of your available space and efficiency goes a long way to providing a fantastic experience for your customers. We all want things to be done as quickly as possible, and van racking can help you do that. The reason being because you’ve organised your van effectively. You know your way around and you know where to find the tools you need without wasting anybody’s time. You’ll be sure to impress when you not only get the job done to a very high standard but you finish it in a very timely manner too.

Remember, be sure to quote your website, this is a very important step and if you don’t have one get a little one set up, even if it’s just an information site on the types of services you provide with a gallery to some finished jobs.

This is making your business more social media friendly and there’s a fairly good chance you’ll receive a nice positive new referral on Facebook or Twitter if you’ve made the right impression.

If you aren’t using a system that makes your van look like a professional work area then the last thing you’d want is someone telling all their friends about how messy it was online. With van racking installed it shows you take pride in your work and are committed to getting the best results for your clients.

Then there’s the cash benefits to racking out your van, truth be told it could potentially save you a lot of money in the long run because, no longer are you having to replace lost of damaged items.

A quality van kit is going to last for a long, long time so you’re definitely going to get your money’s worth and you’ll be able to enjoy your van for years more.

If you have a mobile business then van racking should be installed as standard but too many people fail to recognise the impact it will make in terms of appearance, and what it could do for your business in the long term. There are many companies out there that provide racking for a wide range of makes and models. These include:

*Ford *Citroen *Fiat *Iveco *Mercedes *Nissan *Peugeot *Renault *Vauxhall *Volkswagen

So no matter what your vehicle, you’ll be sure to find something to suit your requirements and bring you closer to that dream work van you’ve always wanted. If you hate the idea of standard designs then you can have a custom design made to really help you stand out from the crowd. This will go a long way to leaving a strong impression on your clients, long after the work is done, and make you the go to guy in the future.

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Van Racking Vs Truck Ladder Racks – Is There A Difference?

Some business owners might find themselves a little confused concerning racking options and how to go about setting up their work van, it doesn’t make things any less complicated that there’s quite a lot of choice out there. With so many options available it’s very important you go for a design that’s going to be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.

When you think of van storage systems two things that will instantly come to your mind are van racking and truck ladder racks. If you don’t know much about either you just know that they’re things you use to make your van better organised then one of the main questions you’ll be asking yourself is “Is there any difference between the two?”

The short answer is no, in the sense that they both serve the same purpose. Both are there to free up space in your work area and make you more efficient as well as organised. The only real difference is that van racking is made with personal vans and cargo vans in mind, whereas truck ladder racks are designed for pickup trucks predominately.

There are many different types of van racking options, such as top mounted racks and side mounted racks, and most manufacturers can make specifications to the design for a custom approach tailored to your needs.

The weight the loads can take is an extremely important safety factor to consider as well and top mounted racks can generally handle a little more than their side mounted counterparts. So naturally this should factor into your planning. For example if you’re a contractor who uses ladders for work 5 days a week then you’d probably be better off  getting a permanent side mount fixture. Some people look at racking options for holidays as well so in that case there's little to no need for permanent changes. A temporary fit would work better in this scenario.

There is a legal limit to how much you can load onto a vehicle rack as well so it’s important to consider your own safety as well as the safety of others on the road. Ignoring these requirements can result in dire consequences such as injury or even death so make sure you’re not overloading your rack no matter what type it is.

Van accessories are available in abundance and there’s plenty you can buy if you’re already using a system you’re happy with, such as protective rubber shelf liner and towel roll holders and all can make a big difference in helping you look more professional. No matter how small they all work towards the bigger picture of making your van more organised and reducing the time it takes for you to finish a single job. If you’re totally new to the game it’s probably a lot less stressful and much easier to just get yourself a full van kit so you know you’ve got everything you need right off the bat. Van racking and truck ladder racks will ultimately make your work area more organised. This in turn will lead to an increase in work efficiency because you’ll be spending less time trying to navigate through your messy van and more time with customers. Think about it, if it’s taking you forever to finish a job because you can’t find that one specific tool you need then you’d have to be very optimistic to think that will go unnoticed. It won’t and you’ll be hoping that your customers choose to say nothing at all about the job because if they are saying something, it’s not going to be positive. We live in a digital age now and it only seems to be growing more and more everyday. Most of us use some social networking site whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Therefore it’s never been more critical that you’re making your customers exceptionally happy, otherwise they’ll be more than happy to share their bad experience with their friends online.

So whether you decide to go for a van racking system, or you’re looking at finally kitting out your pickup then both systems will help you to be more efficient as well as saving you money in the long run. Just make sure you ask as many questions as you can before you buy and you can’t go wrong.

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Why Is Van Racking So Important To Mobile Businesses Today?

Do you run a mobile business? No matter what your niche is, whether it’s plumbing or catering, if you have a business on wheels then you’ll understand how much first impressions count. This article is going to discuss five simple, yet sometimes overlooked benefits of van racking solutions and why if you don’t have your work van organised as best you can then not only is it going to make your job  that much harder but you could potentially be losing custom as well.

Listed in no particular order we’ll start with:

It makes you look more professional

Van racking and shelving will make you look more professional to your customers and will show that you take pride in your work space and you’re capable of getting the job done to a high standard, a standard that they’ll be extremely happy with. If you don’t have any van racking ideas set in stone, or you’re just feeling completely lost as to where you can start then there are plenty of companies out there that offer everything you’ll ever need to make that positive impression. You don’t have to settle for standard designs; some will offer custom full van kits so you can get a complete design around your specific needs.

If you look disorganised to your customers then they’ll lose confidence in you as soon as they see your workspace and you can wave goodbye to any repeat business or positive referrals.

  You’re more organised

If you do a lot of work out the back of your van then organisation really is key, you need to be able to access anything you need as quickly and safely as possible. If you start every Monday morning trying to navigate your way through trip hazards on your messy van floor then you need to look at van racking as the permanent solution to this problems.

Being organised at work is always something you should take into account because it links directly to your productivity. Just think of the hours lost since before you incorporated a storage solution to your van and you might start to feel nauseous

Additionally you don’t want to come across as not being able to find your way around your own work van because it’s not going to make you look very efficient to whoever’s paid you to be there in the first place. This brings me to my next point.

Efficiency

Having your van kitted out correctly is the key to becoming more efficient at work; you’ll be able to work in a very timely manner. Because you’ve used van racking and your van’s finally starting to look like that dream work area you’ve always wanted you can spend more time on the actual tasks at hand.

Being able to complete the job asked of you in a timely fashion is always going to be something that customers compliment you on when discussing the service to friends and colleagues. Likewise if it’s taken you a lot longer than it should of done then you better believe that’s going to be the first thing that’s criticised. It’s human nature to want to get things done as quickly and easily as possible so it’s important to go that extra mile for your clients in order to meet that expectation.

Finally, unfortunately it’s a lot easier to make somebody want to complain then actually say something really nice about a product or service. If you haven’t racked out your van properly then you’ve opened up the flood gates of criticism long before you’ve even started the work.

Make it as easy as possible for your customers to say something nice about you; van racking systems are a small but important step in ensuring that you do.

  Van racking keeps you and your loads safe

Your safety is extremely important at work and if you’re running a business out of the back of a death trap, with potentially dangerous tools lying around everywhere then it’s definitely time to make a change. If your equipment isn’t properly stored then there’s also an increased risk of loss and damage to tools while on the road and in particular when braking. Using the right system to rack out your van will keep your tools safe making damaged equipment a thing of the past.

It’s not going to look very reassuring when you go to get something out of your van and a customer sees that it’s been broken or damaged, it doesn’t make them feel safe. Convincing them through actions, not words that they’ve chosen the right people for the job is paramount to repeat business

Saves you money in the long run

Van racking will save you money because you’re saving time by being as organised and efficient as possible and you’re not constantly breaking or losing tools because you don’t have the right storage system in place.

The amount of money you could be losing by not having a van racking system in place might send you going grey before your time. You’ll be able to go to work every day with a smile on your face because you know you’re getting the most out of your space, and you’ll be able to transfer this to your projects and make your customers happy.

Closing thoughts

This should be looked at as an investment in your business and yourself in the long run. If you don’t have racking installed in your van as standard then you’re never going to be able to make that strong first impression when it really counts. All in all you’ll feel a lot less stressed when you’re able to put more time into your customers because your van is organised properly.

These benefits are often overlooked or sometimes not even noticed because they’re so simple, but don’t underestimate their effectiveness. Choosing the right solution for your van storage needs can have such a positive impact on your work and your customers that you’ll be wondering why you didn’t make the investment sooner.