It’s no secret that owning a boat can be costly. One mistake often made is that people assume they can simply buy the boat and have their fun, then they feel blindsided by all of the extra costs. While some costs can’t really be avoided, it is good to be aware of a few simple tips to help reduce the overall annual cost of owning a boat. Take it from William Gholson, a long-time boat supply salesman, who knows all too well that many repairs come from not taking the initial time to take care of your boat.
First of all, wash it. You wash your car, clean your house, scrub your body, so wash your boat when you pull it out of the water. Getting all that grime off it can do wonders for your boat. Saltwater is especially corrosive, so spray that outboard off each time you get out. Second, make sure lines are securely fastened when docking and storing your boat. If docked, throw a few buoys off the side to prevent damage from the dock. Check lines and covers to be sure there is no excess wear. Lastly, invest in quality products. The upfront cost may be a bit higher, but some things shouldn’t be cheap. Pre-owned boats will always require more maintenance, but when maintained properly, they can be just fine. There is plenty of good advice and great products out there for preventative maintenance. As long as you invest a little time and aren’t afraid to spend a little more up front, you’ll be on the right track. There will always be issues with a boat, but hopefully you can avoid a few trips to William Gholson’s Marine Supply! Boating isn’t really high on the list of what to look for in Texas. For William Gholson, however, it is. This San Antonio native, boat supply salesman, and family man loves to get out on the water!
There are three popular lakes around San Antonio: Canyon Lake, Medina Lake, and Braunig Lake. While these are the closest and most used by the Gholson family of four, they have been known to make the trip south once or twice to Choke Canyon Reservoir and Coleto Creek Reservoir. Canyon Lake, one of the deepest in Texas, is definitely the family favorite. It is small, but it has so much to offer for a family outing! Along with clear water and beautiful scenery, it is a great place for skiing, tubing, and swimming. The Gholson’s aren’t divers, but they know quite a few who frequent this lake because of how clear and deep it is. Medina Lake is great for bass fishing, especially hybrid striped bass. When Gholson gets away with his buddies for a fishing trip, though, they prefer Braunig Lake. It is closer, plus has even better fishing opportunities, including red drum throughout most of the year. William Gholson and his wife are in their mid-fifties and have two fun-loving daughters, 18 and 21. At this point, they prefer their speed boat, but he looks forward to slowing down and cruising with a pontoon in a few years. However, and wherever this family can catch some sun, some fun, and some fish is practically heaven on earth! Source: http://www.texasoutside.com/TexasLakes.html For those that know him, it is no secret that William T. Gholson is extremely passionate about a few specific things: his family, boating, racing, and Halloween. There is something about Halloween that gets him acting like a kid again. It isn’t just the costumes or the tricks and treats; it is the history.
San Antonio has a lot to offer for those with spooky tendencies come fall. There are haunted houses, festivals, themed family events at the botanical gardens and Sea World, shows, and mazes, but a lot of these can be found all over the country. The best area-specific activity is ghost tours. Though it is a modern city in many ways, San Antonio has deep history – the Alamo is only one well-known part. Ghost tours, however, take you through cemeteries, hotels, hanging trees, and various other locations that have a dark and deadly history in one of the most haunted cities in the country. Some locations are the sites of legends, while others are steeped in historical fact…and uneasy spirits. Feeling this unique connection to the history of his city, William Gholson got hooked on Halloween and ghost tours at a young age. He wanted to learn as much about his hometown as possible, and this was a visceral, chilling way to do so. Gholson actually met his wife on one of these tours (she was the guide), and they have raised their two daughters to have a curious appreciation for the past. Who says history can only be learned from books? Source: http://visitsanantonio.com/english/Trip-Ideas/Halloween-Thrills-Chills As a boating enthusiast and experienced boat supply salesman, William Gholson knows what he is talking about when it comes to buying things for your boat. As any boat owner is sure to know – or will soon find out – owning a boat is not cheap. You’ll be investing time and money into that beautiful piece of marine freedom as long as you own it, but you don’t have to just spend that money on upkeep and docking fees. While there are many lists from different boating professionals that include necessary maintenance and safety items, here are five of William Gholson favorite “fun” purchases for boat owners.
According to the list of top purchases from West Marine stores across the U.S., America already agrees with Gholson that to maximize a day full of fun with family and friends, you need two things: Airhead Viper Tube – this thing has a set of two recessed seats and it flies across that water Magma Cabo Gas Grill – portable, durable, and the stainless steel won’t corrode For the fishermen on the water, these next two items are a must: Canyon Cooler’s Ultimate Fishing Station – complete with four rod holders, a drink holder, and an accessory pouch outside; a separate basket and a light inside Aqua-Vu Underwater Camera Adapter System – go beyond sonar fish finders with this camera to scope out your fishing options And with so much fun on the water, you may come back a little late and find a use for an LED trailer kit that mounts to the trailer for easier extraction in the dark. So, if you’re tired of buying PFDs and boat covers, take it from William Gholson and just buy something fun. Source:http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/worlds-top-ten-marine-accessories, https://canyoncoolers.com/news/ultimate-fishing-station-from-canyon-coolers-comes-completely-hooked-up/ William Gholson is a huge boating enthusiast who likes to go out and enjoy the open waters, whenever he can get away from his work as an auto parts and boat salesman.
“Trailering” a Boat First experiences can be problematic even before you reach the water. Putting a boat on a trailer is not always a straightforward process, but when it goes well, it should follow this pattern: 1) match it up with the hitch, 2) lower the trailer, then the latch before locking it up, 3) attach the harness along with the chains, and before your departure, 4) make sure that the lights are working properly. Putting the Boat Into the Water This process is somewhat easier, but there are some elements to it that should not be forgotten. - The plug of the boat must be pushed in - The buoys have to be attached The next step is actually backing the boat up, all the way to the water, before finally removing the safety chain so it can be wrenched into the waves, preferably within the confines of a slow and concentrated effort. The Boat Is Finally in the Dock Once the boat is in its natural environment, you have to think about tying it to the dock. After you do that, you can start the fans so the fuel vapor disappears. Finally, untie the boat, start the engine, and enjoy the experience. William Gholson is an avid boating enthusiast who often frequents local rivers and lakes. Sources: http://www.boatersforlife.com/beginners-boating-tips.html William Gholson is an expert salesman who deals with auto parts, including used ones. If anybody knows what it takes to develop and run a successful business, it is him.
Market Research Like any business idea, the creation process of a used auto parts business should start with market research. You want to know how many similar businesses operate locally, and you want to know how well they are doing. Today, you can find lots of relevant data on the Internet. Develop Your Basic Business and Marketing Plan How will you run your business? Are you prepared to market it? In order to run a business like that, you will have to rely on a line of supply. Finding the people who will supply the shop is one of the most important tasks. Paperwork Paperwork can be a drag, we all know this, but it’s required if you want to run a legitimate business that has no legal holes in its operations. In most states, you are only allowed to buy and sell parts with a license. Location, Location, Location As you probably heard, the location of a business is crucial. Without the right location, earning a significant profit cannot be a realistic goal. Once It Is Up and Running You have the location, you have the right design, and you have the supply. The rest comes down to your ability to effectively run a business. This includes connecting with other businesses and buying vehicles which you can take apart for their parts. William Gholson is a popular mechanic and auto parts salesman in the San Antonio area. Sources: http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Used-Auto-Parts-Business When asked about providing guidance to a new salesperson, William Gholson mentions focus, being disciplined, resourceful, and being able to see themselves through the eyes of the customers.
Build Focus A salesperson has to be able to grind, otherwise they have no chance to stay in the business. That requires the ability to focus, allowing them to push through painful experiences. The pressure can get to anyone, and when that happens, they usually feel overwhelmed. Having proper focus can help with that too, as it keeps these thoughts in the backseat. Be Disciplined Being disciplined often makes the difference between a successful sale and another failed attempt. Most of the time, becoming a better salesman comes down to this singular factor, and if you focus on it, you can build a work ethic that will make you successful. Period. Practice Critical Thinking A seller should be able to make sound decisions, supported by logic, rather than desperation or even motivation. It has to make sense, and if it makes sense for them, it will likely make sense for the customer, too. Be Resourceful and See Yourself Through Other People’s Eyes A quality salesperson is resourceful. This quality is very important for finding and targeting likely customers. At the same time, it is important for a seller to see him- or herself through the eyes of these potential buyers, because this allows them to make changes whenever necessary. As someone who worked in the sales industry in all kinds of roles, William Gholson loves to help out newcomers. Sources: http://www.insightsquared.com/2013/07/15-steps-to-becoming-a-better-salesperson/ http://www.jillkonrath.com/sales-blog/bid/110811/Top-5-Sales-Tips-for-New-Sellers They say that working in the sales industry is almost like practicing an art form, requiring an innate ability that makes a positive outcome possible. It also needs to be mentioned that many people have disdain for the industry and the people working in it, and sometimes for good reasons. Sales folks can be unethical on occasions, resorting to trickeries that should not be tolerated, under any circumstances. The problem is that the pressure often gets to them, and they forget the very fundamentals of sales and what it means to be a good salesman. Is it hard? Sure, but it is absolutely possible to be successful, yet remain ethical all the way.
Human Connection Sales is as much about human connection as it is about the actual product. If you take an aggressive stance and try to woo the customer in an aggressive fashion, there is very little chance that they will be interested in what you have to say. They may listen to you, or pretend they do, but the interaction will have a low chance to end with a successful sale. If it does, the customer probably really wanted the product and wasn’t going to leave without it. The key is engaging the customer at the right time. Connect with them and allow them to open up to you. You can hit up the conversation, but don’t start with a sales pitch. Allow them to connect to you on a human level. Then, when the actual conversation has started, you can ask them what it is that they want, whether they had heard about certain products, etc. Carefully guide them, and allow them to say no, because if you do, they will feel less inclined to do so. You Have to Know How This Movie Ends Improvisation can work. If you are a quick thinker with good interpersonal skills, you don’t necessarily have to stick to a script. But even in those instances, you have to have a game plan for crunch time. That’s the moment when you close the sale. You can take the scenic route to get there, but the destination has to remain the same. Know the exact details of your product, including advantages, disadvantages (which you can mention, modestly), and warranties. Those are the areas where improvisation has no place. Throw Out Your Book of Tricks No matter how many experts want you to believe otherwise, resorting to trickeries doesn’t work. Trying to dominate someone by making them question their knowledge, hassling them, manipulating them, etc. will not work. These tricks – or however you want to call them – cannot substitute for valuable interpersonal skills, and the ability to resolve conflicts. As someone who worked in the sales industry for the last couple of decades, William Gholson always sticks to ethical solutions. Sources: http://www.sellingpower.com/content/article/?a=8387/the-essence-of-selling http://thesaleshunter.com/5-of-the-best-sales-tips-ever/ When you’re trying to sell items or services, it’s easy to fall into the “sales mode” trap. “Sales mode” implies that there is a different way of interacting with individuals when you’re trying to get them to buy something than when you’re interacting with them in a friendly, fun setting.
Speak to your customers as if they are your friends and family. Don’t try to use a different tone or a different set of vocabulary based on the fact that they’re in your store trying to buy something from you. Customers can smell a sales pitche and “sales mode” a mile away. They become resistant when they feel they are being sold to. Talk to them in a normal, appropriate manner so that they feel comfortable and understand that you are really trying to help them solve their problem, not sell them products to boost your numbers. As in any normal interaction outside the shop, you want to pay attention to what the customer isn’t saying and how they’re speaking to you. Many sales people focus solely on their next line in their sales pitch that they forget there’s another person on the other side of the interaction. William Gholson is an experienced salesman working for an auto parts store in San Antonio, Texas. He has worked with many people who need help fixing or maintaining their cars. An experienced mechanic in his own right, Gholson has the knowledge to help people in his community find the right part for their needs. Salesmen and women take pride in their ability to sell products and services to people who need them. It’s their job to find their customers the right product or service for their specific needs every time. Some people go into sales jobs thinking that they have to develop some system of tricking people into buying things, but the truth is, the best sales people don’t have to trick anyone, they simply have to respond to customers and give them what they need.
If you’re a sales person working in a retail store or in an office that sells services directly to customers, you don’t have to pursue customers because they come to you. When a customer comes into your store, they are there to buy a specific product or service they need to solve a specific problem. Sometimes they have an issue that they want to solve, but they’re unsure how. This is where you come in. You don’t need to convince them to buy anything. Customers have usually made up their minds about whether they will buy an item or service already. You only have to present them with options that they may find useful to solve their problem. Listen first, and determine why the customer came to your store specifically to get what they need, and go from there. William Gholson has helped his community get the auto parts and services they need for twenty years. Gholson is an automotive expert who has worked on cars his entire adult life. He has helped friends and neighbors find what they are looking for while selling valuable parts and services to people in the San Antonio area. |