Repco’s tool shop hits the road with IVECO Daily

An 18-month program to introduce IVECO Daily mobile tool stores to the group has paid dividends, helping time-poor customers by bringing the tools they need to their workplace.

According to IVECO, Repco national mobile tool store manager David Forsyth played an important role in bringing the initiative to life, drawing on over 10 years of experience in the industry.

“Our prospective customers can work long hours and have extremely busy schedules, so getting to a retail outlet, particularly during business hours can become a challenge for them,” Forsyth said.

“Mobile tool stores are not a new concept, but having worked in this field for many years including as a franchisee for another company, I was able to see what worked and identify areas where the service could be improved.

“One of the major benefits of Repco’s mobile tool stores is that we’re faster to service customers. In most cases if buyers want equipment that’s not on board, we can have it to them either the same day or the next working day; it won’t take days or weeks,” he said.

Repco’s mobile tool store fleet consists of four Daily 50C vans that operate throughout Melbourne, with a fifth van to soon service Geelong. The vans are ideal for the role, featuring an 18-square-metre interior volume, Hi-Comfort packs that add automatic air-conditioning, leather-covered steering wheel, a tyre pressure monitoring system, and automatic wipers and headlights, the 180hp/430Nm 3.0-litre engine option, and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

“The Daily range gave us a generous carrying capacity while still being able to be driven on a car licence, meaning it was easier to allocate drivers to each van,” Forsyth said.

“We also wanted vans that were rear-wheel drive to provide better balance on the road, and that had strong structural underpinnings (the Daily range features a full-length steel C-Section chassis), to accommodate the interior fit-out we wanted.

“Safety features were also important – there aren’t too many vans out there that could give us what the Daily offered.”

The vans’ cargo bays are lined with shelving, bench space and display areas, with tools neatly secured overhead on the roof. 

The cargo space has room for up to four people with a 2100mm ceiling height providing plenty of headroom.

Other touches on the Repco vans include interior LED strip lighting and transaction facilities allowing customers to buy directly from the van. 

Outside, a drop-down electric step provides easy ingress and egress. The four vans currently in the program use a red wrap, but future vans will be delivered from the factory to Repco already painted red.

Repco aims to expand the mobile shop program into other states and territories later this year.

Forsyth said the IVECO Dailys had performed exceptionally well since entering service.

“The vans are so comfortable and easy to drive especially compared to some of the light trucks I’ve used,” he said.

“Our team really enjoys using the Dailys and is pleased with the very pleasant work environment they give us; they handle the job with ease as well. It doesn’t even feel like they’re loaded.”