Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Anderson.
Hi Tony, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a car appraiser and own the DFW franchise for Auto Appraisal Network. I got started in the car business in 1986 as a service writer for the local Ford dealership. I went on to earn a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology. I have worked for two different automobile manufacturers, worked in many shops and sold electronics to automotive suppliers. I moved to Dallas in 2018 to be with my girlfriend. Here I helped a friend start a Maaco Paint Shop franchise and really fell in love with the franchise idea. I found a franchise of my own to buy and started a Snap-On tool dealership. That wasn’t for me, so I sold that business and lucked into finding this franchise was open. I jumped at the opportunity. That was 4 1/2 years ago.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yeah, actually it’s been fairly smooth. There are always struggles, but the phone keeps ringing and people keep booking appraisals, so I feel very blessed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I decided to venture out from the automotive world and got into a technical sales career. I was hired to sell electronic components, and the idea was that since I had an automotive background and knowledge I would focus on automotive type accounts. That worked out like many jobs do, kind of. I did have some automotive accounts, and also had some industrial accounts. But, that experience really taught me a lot about manufacturing. I even worked for an electronics manufacturer for a short time. But, I really learned that I could sell and I felt a lot of pride in growing my territory year after year. That sales experience gave me a lot of confidence that I could run and grow my own business. Of course helping start and manage a business helped, too!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
No. I lucked into finding a mentor in my electronics sales job. But, other than that I’ve had to figure it out on my own. Well, I guess the franchise situation isn’t figuring it out on my own. So, maybe that’s my mentorship. A franchise really helped me get my arms around a lot of parts of the business model and gave me confidence that they would work. Even if I didn’t feel quite confident in my skills.
Pricing:
- Appraisals are generally $300 to $600
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dfwautoappraisal.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutoAppNorTex/about
