Expanding your business can be exciting and profitable, especially when you add a service that fits naturally into your current offerings. One service business idea that is rapidly growing in popularity is bedlining, the application of a protective coating to truck beds. This type of service is essential for truck owners who want to protect their vehicles from wear and tear, rust, and damage caused by heavy loads.
In this article, we’ll explore five types of service businesses that could benefit greatly from offering bedlining. We’ll discuss how these businesses can integrate the service, explain the advantages, and offer tips on making it a successful addition to your business plan.
Why Add Bedlining to Your Service Business?
Before diving into the specific business ideas, let’s look at why bedlining is a smart choice for many businesses. Bedlining has grown in demand because truck owners are looking for ways to protect their vehicles, especially if they use them for work or outdoor activities. Bedliners add durability, preventing scratches, dents, and rust, making them essential for truck owners who want to preserve their vehicles long-term.
If you run a service business that already focuses on vehicles or customers who value durability and protection, bedlining can be a profitable and relatively easy addition to your lineup. The overhead costs are manageable, and the demand is consistent, making it the right business move for service providers looking to expand their offerings and attract new customers.
1. Automotive Repair Shops
Why Bedlining Fits in Automotive Repair
Automotive repair shops are always looking for ways to start new services that fit seamlessly into their existing business model. Adding bedlining is a natural extension for these businesses. If you already service trucks for things like brake repairs, oil changes, or general maintenance, offering a bedlining service is a great way to give your customers more value in one stop.
Benefits for Automotive Repair Shops
- Increased Customer Retention: Truck owners trust your customer service for vehicle repairs, so adding a service like bedlining gives them another reason to return.
- Diversified Revenue Streams: Bedlining can be an excellent way to boost your profits, especially since it’s an add-on to your core services.
- Low Overhead Costs: Since you already have most of the equipment needed for automotive repair, the overhead costs of adding bedlining are relatively low.
How to Make It Work
Start by offering bedlining to your existing customers as an optional service. Create a marketing plan that includes social media promotions and in-store displays to showcase the benefits of bedlining. If you have a website, feature before-and-after photos of bedlining applications to attract new customers and highlight the quality of your work.
2. Car Wash and Detailing Services
Why Bedlining Fits in Car Wash Services
For car wash and detailing services, offering bedlining is a logical next step. People who invest in regular washes and detailing often care about protecting their vehicle long-term. For truck owners, this doesn’t just mean keeping the exterior clean—it also means ensuring their truck beds are protected from rust, scratches, and dents.
Benefits for Car Wash and Detailing Services
- Upselling Opportunities: Bedlining is a perfect upsell for your detailing packages. After cleaning and detailing the truck, offer a bedliner to protect the vehicle.
- Repeat Business: Truck owners who get their vehicles regularly detailed are likely to return for periodic bedliner maintenance.
- Simple Integration: Adding bedlining requires minimal changes to your existing setup, especially if you already work with vehicle protective coatings.
How to Make It Work
Create social media campaigns that show the long-term value of bedlining, emphasizing how it complements detailing services. Encourage customers to book a bedliner application right after getting their vehicle cleaned, and offer a discount for bundling services. Use customer testimonials to showcase how bedlining keeps their trucks looking new longer.
3. Custom Vehicle Shops
Why Bedlining Fits in Custom Shops
Custom vehicle shops specialize in giving customers unique modifications, from lift kits to custom paint jobs. Adding bedlining is a natural fit because it provides both protection and an aesthetic upgrade, aligning perfectly with the type of customer who seeks out custom modifications.
Benefits for Custom Vehicle Shops
- High-Value Service: Bedlining is a premium service that customers are willing to pay for, especially when paired with other custom modifications.
- Increased Customer Loyalty: Truck owners who invest in custom modifications are likely to also want bedlining to protect their investments, leading to repeat business.
- All-in-One Service: By offering bedlining alongside your other services, you position your shop as a one-stop-shop for truck modifications and protection.
How to Make It Work
Start offering bedliners as part of your custom package deals. For example, if a customer is getting a custom paint job or a lift kit, suggest adding a bedliner to protect their truck bed. Showcase these packages on your website and promote them through social media and email campaigns. Use targeted ads to reach people who are specifically searching for vehicle modification and protection services.
4. Tire and Auto Body Shops
Why Bedlining Fits in Tire and Auto Body Shops
Tire and auto body shops are in the perfect position to add bedlining to their services. Truck owners who come to you for new tires or body repairs often want to protect their vehicles from further damage. Bedliners can help prevent rust, dents, and scratches, which is especially important after bodywork.
Benefits for Tire and Auto Body Shops
- Complete Protection Services: Offering bedlining alongside body repairs and tire services positions your shop as a small business that can handle all aspects of truck protection.
- High Demand: Truck owners, especially those who use their vehicles for work, are often looking for ways to protect their vehicles from further damage, making bedlining a service they need.
- Long-Term Relationships: By offering both repair services and preventive measures like bedlining, you build long-term relationships with customers who will return for future maintenance.
How to Make It Work
Educate your customers on the benefits of bedlining as a preventive measure. After completing a body repair, suggest adding a bedliner to protect the vehicle from future damage. Use social media and in-store signage to promote the service as a way to maintain the appearance and durability of their truck.
5. RV and Trailer Repair Services
Why Bedlining Fits in RV and Trailer Services
RV and trailer repair services cater to vehicles that face harsh conditions, from outdoor adventures to heavy hauling. Adding bedlining can provide protection not only for truck beds but also for trailer interiors. It’s an excellent way to expand your services and offer more value to customers who depend on their vehicles for outdoor or commercial use.
Benefits for RV and Trailer Repair Services
- New Revenue Stream: Offering bedliners for both RVs and trailers opens up new revenue opportunities by appealing to customers who need extra protection for their vehicles.
- Appeal to Outdoor Enthusiasts: Many of your customers use their RVs and trailers for outdoor activities, making them likely candidates for wanting the durability that bedliners provide.
- Customization Opportunities: Bedliners can be tailored to the specific needs of RV and trailer owners, whether for heavy-duty protection or a customized look.
How to Make It Work
Promote bedliners as part of your repair packages for RVs and trailers. Show examples of how bedliners can protect trailer floors from cargo damage or prevent rust in RV storage areas. Leverage your website and social media platforms to show how bedlining fits into the rugged, outdoor lifestyle of many of your customers.
Final Thoughts: Is Bedlining Right for Your Service Business?
Adding bedlining to your service business can be a smart and profitable decision, especially if you already cater to truck owners or customers who use their vehicles for heavy-duty work. Whether you run an automotive repair shop, a car wash, or a custom vehicle shop, offering bedliners gives you a new way to attract new customers and keep your existing customers coming back.
When expanding your business plan, think about how bedlining aligns with your current services and how you can market it to the right audience. By offering this high-demand service, you’ll be able to boost your revenue, attract new customers, and solidify your business as a one-stop shop for vehicle protection and maintenance.
If you’re ready to add bedlining to your service business, make sure to start with market research to understand the demand in your area. Use your social media platforms to promote this new service, and provide excellent customer service to turn first-time customers into loyal, repeat clients. Adding bedlining is a great way to future-proof your business and offer a valuable service that customers will appreciate for years to come.