Meet Erika Colón Dávila, Owner of C&C Tools Corp.
Meet Erika Colón Dávila, owner of C&C Tools Corporation. She is a franchisee with a route in Bayamon, Toa Alta, and Corozal in Puerto Rico. She just finished her rookie year having started in May/June 2022. Within only 7 months, she was awarded rookie of the year in 2022. As far as diagnostics sales, she has sold 29 platforms in the last 12 months. That is very impressive, especially for a rookie year, but add to that the fact that 13 of those were ZEUS™/ZEUS+™ and that statistic becomes amazing!
Erika was quick to tell us that she did not accomplish this level of success on her own. In fact, she asked us to thank both regional and local management as well as her fellow franchisees in Puerto Rico for all their help and support.
Ian Carlos Colón is the assistant store manager and Erika really attributes much of the business’ success to him. He brings a lot to the business and loves what he does. And, he also happens to be Erika’s nephew! Ian’s goal is to someday own his own Snap-on® franchise. Together, Erika and Ian are really growing all aspects of the business.
César Colón (left) and Erika Colón Dávila (right)
We spoke with Diagnostic Sales Developer (DSD), Axel Cuebas Tacoronte, in Puerto Rico. Erika had told us that Axel had been a big help with their diagnostics sales. He’s a master at helping them identify the best prospects and work up quotes that offer a Reason To Buy Now (RTBN) for the customer and at the same time bring in a healthy profit for the business.
When we asked Axel why Erika and Ian had been so successful overall and especially with diagnostic sales, he stated that their skill sets complemented one another perfectly, and that they made a powerful team working together. Axel, explained, “Ian has a high level of product knowledge and is a very good salesman. He is well versed within the day-to-day duties of running a successful tool business after previously working with his father, Juan (owner of JCS Tools Inc.), who also owns and operates two Snap-on® franchises on the island.” He went on to say that while Erika is also a very good salesperson, her forté is managing the business overall. What a beautiful balance between their combined skillsets.
This business is very personal for Erika. In 2003, her soon-to-be husband, César Colón, opened for business as a Snap-on® franchisee in the very same route Erika runs today. César and Erika got married and soon after, Erika left her job working in the court system in Puerto Rico to help César grow their business. Erika learned the trade inside and out over the years and began to handle much of the “behind the scenes” of the business. As the business grew, customer relationships and loyalties strengthened.
Sadly, César became ill and after battling sickness for 7 months, succumbed to the illness.
Erika was faced with a big decision: What to do with the business?
Obviously, Erika decided to become the primary franchisee and continue the legacy that was started almost 20 years earlier.
When asked what her goals were for the future, she said to continue to grow the business until César Jr. is old enough to decide to take it over. After all, he already knows all the customers having been on the route helping his father every chance he got. The legacy will continue!
César David Colón and Daniella Colón with their mother, Erika
Erika maintains the same loyalty toward her customers that César always did. For that reason, her customers are loyal to her to the point that the competition has no hope of penetrating that market. Erika says they are “loyal to the legacy that César built.”
Her Sales Developer, Hector Colon, added that the customers have the utmost respect for Erika. He went on to say that they embrace doing business with Erika because of her commitment to them, the service that her and Ian offer, and the solutions they bring every week.
We ask the Regional Diagnostic Manager, Jeff Camarena, to describe Erika and her business. He simply stated that “sheer determination is the key to her success.”
When asked to describe Erika and this business with one word, the SE Regional Manager, Shane Rhodes said, “resilience.” He had to add, “she is quickly finding her way to HERO status.”
Erika,César, Jeff, and Axel at a Snap-on® Event
We would like to congratulate Erika and her family. Thank you for sharing your story.