This month’s AMSOIL Dealer story comes from Kenny George. This is our second in a series of stories and was featured in the AMSOIL Dealer magazine for January 2018. We like stories to inspire us to new levels as well as to know that our struggles for success are not alone or in vein.
Ken George of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania started his AMSOIL Dealership in 2008.
“I was parting out quads and dirt bikes on eBay to make money,” George said. “I didn’t have a full-time job and saw that my parts sales were dropping from the crash in the economy. I needed something else to do to make money.” George was in competition with local motorcycle shops, who were also selling parts online. “We were competing for customers online, but I started selling AMSOIL to them, therefore turning my competition into my partners,” he said.
He secured a full-time job shortly after he began building his AMSOIL business. “That started the snowball to keep it growing,” George said. George is motivated by his family and his love of cars. “I am 100 percent a car guy,” George said. “I love to see the one-off customs and amazing rebuilds, even the creations that don’t look that great but have some new function to them. I set some crazy goals and try to go after them. I think that keeps me going on the right path daily.”
George is motivated by his family and his love of cars. “I am 100 percent a car guy.
What are those goals? “I set a bring home goal of $5,000 a month from my commission check,” George said. “Right now I am between $1,000-$2,000 most of the time. My two-year goal is to be at $5,000 bring-home and hope to be at $10,000 a month in 5-10 years. I then want to get a nice new car of some sort, but I love so many I can’t pick which one.”
His job evaporated last December, which meant he started working his AMSOIL business full time a year ahead of his plan. George and his wife, Carmina, have visions of lots of travel when their two sons leave home and they’re making their goal of $10,000 a month selling AMSOIL products, George said.
“I set a bring home goal of $5,000 a month from my commission check,”
George works to his strengths in the types of accounts he approaches. “I like to focus on retail accounts,” George said. “I wanted to have my own garage as a kid. I built Legos* of my town, and I owned the towing, collision and automotive repair business. One day I might go that route, but for now AMSOIL is taking great care of me. (Retail) customers resonate with me and I really want to know everything about them and the business. It definitely helps being 100 percent focused on the customer.”
He’s growing his Dealer network and spends extra time supporting those Dealers. “My phone is on all the time,” George said. “If any of my Dealers or customers need me, they know I am a phone call or text away.”
George stays in touch with his customers with monthly visits. “Some of them I can’t make it to, but I try to call or send a card,” he said. “I send a Thanksgiving card to all my customers. It is different than a Christmas card, and they don’t expect it. I try to send emails or make videos for my customers and accounts. That way I stay in touch with them when they want to see or read from me about AMSOIL products, events that I am at or something they would find interesting.”
George has some registered accounts that have not become buying customers. “I don’t want to give away products, but I want to help them see that I will bring them customers and/or provide them with the best products and service to win them over as loyal customers. I focus on just doing those two things, and it seems to be working great for me.”
George limits his advertising because he thinks it’s not the best return for his money. “I do advertise
some on Facebook, but nothing too crazy,” he said. “My business has been built mostly on face-to-face interactions. I let AMSOIL do the large advertising and just go after the customers in those markets.
“I hit the road for a lot of accounts to prove to them over time that we offer quality and I offer service like no one else can. I like to go for the long game, building relationships and customers that only use AMSOIL with no questions asked about other brands. It is more work, but worth it. I have one motorcycle shop that only sells AMSOIL. If you want anything else you have to bring it in. Those customers are the best.” When he’s not working on his AMSOIL business, George is an active person
with a lot on his plate. “I have some rental properties and just completely rehabbed our new home for my family on two acres in the sticks of Pennsylvania,” he said. “I am pretty hands-on so I am always working on something.”
In addition to putting up fence, gutting a kitchen in a rental property, registering new accounts and planning for his next trade show, George spends time increasing his knowledge through reading and watching TED talks and YouTube videos on business, selling or any other life tips he finds interesting. His advice for other Dealers comes from entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn. “Jim Rohn was a great master at talking to people,” George said. “He (Rohn) said three things that changed my idea on anything we do that matters to us. So if you are going to build a successful AMSOIL business, or any business, just do three things: study, practice, teach.
“Study” all about AMSOIL, the market, the competition, all sales tactics, your elevator pitch, how to talk to people, to groups and to learn more about what you do and why.
“Practice” asking for the sale or talking to a large buyer in the mirror or while you drive. Say what you want to say out loud, hear yourself saying it and make sure it fits what actually answers the customer’s question and nothing extra. You can lose by saying too much. Practice listening and handling your temper when you hit rejection.
“Teach” your Dealers, accounts and customers about the products, your history, why they should work with you and how to order or get in touch with you. Teach them with video or face-to-face. Just make sure you know what you are talking about, can guarantee what you say and move the needle toward your growth.”
George said he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which increases the challenges he faces in building his business. “I talked about it in Duluth a few years ago and in Lancaster a few months ago. The AMSOIL Dealers there all walked up to me and said keep up the good work, or don’t worry about it; you’re doing great.
“The thing is my ADHD is killing my mojo; I don’t want to do the scary or hard things like walking into a business and asking for a sale. I often forget about what I talked about to customers and find myself looking for answers if this will ever work out for me to reach my income goals. The truth is AMSOIL is a brand that I love. Facing my fears always brings out more sales, and being honest with my customers always makes for a better relationship. So no matter what comes up, and things always do, keep on trucking. The business is designed for growth. If you keep working hard it will always keep growing. You guys are the best set of folks and I am thankful to know a few of you.”
You maybe reading this article and wondering if the AMSOIL Business Opportunity is right for me? With a 45 year track record of constant innovation, growth and home business success, many new dealers have taken the opportunity and run with it.
An AMSOIL Dealership offers unlimited income potential! There are many paths to success; online sales, face to face sales and the tried and true Commercial and Retailer programs. There are as many ways to build an AMSOIL Business as there are dealers. Each dealer must determine their own path to success.
The key, find a good sponsor to help you, guide you and understand your goals. Alecia and I would love to help you get started with the AMSOIL Dealership Business Opportunity. Give us a call or send us a message Contact Michael Sparks, AMSOIL Direct Jobber
Or if you are ready to get started follow the Join AMSOIL Link today!
