Your customer just loaded their cart with $400 worth of lumber, drywall, and flooring. They're ready to buy. Then they look at their Jeep Wrangler in the parking lot:
"I can't fit all this. I'll have to order delivery."
And suddenly, they pull out their phone to compare prices with Home Depot and Lowe's — both of which offer delivery. You lose the sale.
Here's how providing free trailer access turns "Let me check online" into "I'll take it all today."
The Home Improvement Transportation Problem
According to industry data, 52% of DIY homeowners shopping at independent hardware stores don't own a truck.
Common customer profiles:
- Weekend warrior: Owns an SUV, tackling home renovation
- First-time homeowner: Doesn't own a truck, renting tools
- Contractor with full truck: Already hauling tools, no room for materials
- Apartment/condo owner: Can't store a truck, relies on rentals
When these customers realize they can't fit materials in their vehicle, you have three options (all bad):
- Offer delivery ($75-150): Customer compares to "free shipping" from big-box stores
- "Come back with a truck": They rent from U-Haul, stop at Home Depot on the way back
- "Make multiple trips": Customer loses motivation, project stalls, you lose add-on sales
All three scenarios cost you revenue. And in home improvement, impulse purchases matter — 67% of project materials are bought same-day when customers are "in the zone."
The Solution: Free Trailer for Bulk Purchases
Moovalot partners with home improvement retailers to offer customers free 4-hour trailer rentals for qualifying purchases.
How It Works
- Customer fills cart with lumber, drywall, flooring, etc.
- At checkout, you say: "Purchases over $300 include a free trailer rental — take everything home in one trip"
- Hand customer a promo code card
- Customer drives 5-10 minutes to Moovalot location
- Scans QR code, trailer unlocks
- Returns to your store, you help load materials
- Customer goes home, unloads, returns trailer within 4 hours
Total time added: 30 seconds (handing them the code)
What You Pay
Instead of offering $100 delivery (which customers compare to "free" online shipping), you subsidize a $40-50 trailer rental.
Example: Deck Project Materials
| Purchase: Decking boards, posts, screws, stain | $875 |
| Your margin (35%) | $306 |
| Trailer rental cost | -$45 |
| Add-on tools sold (drill bits, saw blade) | +$85 |
| Net profit | $346 |
ROI: You spend $45 to capture an $875 sale that would otherwise go to Home Depot's online store.
Plus, customers who can haul everything at once buy more — they don't limit purchases to "what fits in my car."
Real Results: Independent Building Supply Store
Retailer: Family-owned building materials supplier in Conroe, TX
Products: Lumber, drywall, roofing, flooring, paint
Partnership start: February 2026
The Problem
- 47% of DIY customers drove sedans or small SUVs
- Delivery fees ($100-200) pushed customers to order from Home Depot online
- Customers made 2-3 trips for single projects (buying incrementally)
- Lost 15-20 large material sales per month to delivery cost objections
The Solution
- Partnered with Moovalot (Tier 2: Co-Marketing)
- Purchases over $300 include free 4-hour trailer
- Lumber packages pre-bundled with "Free Trailer Included" signage
- Staff trained to mention trailer option within first 2 minutes
Results (First 4 Months)
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly bulk material sales | $94,000 | $131,000 | +39% |
| Average transaction size | $218 | $387 | +77% |
| Same-day project completion sales | 41% | 78% | +90% |
| Tool/accessory attachment rate | 28% | 56% | +100% |
| Trailers provided | — | 83 | — |
Owner quote: "We were competing with Home Depot on price and losing. Now we compete on convenience — buy it here, take it home in 30 minutes with a free trailer. Our average sale nearly doubled."
What Materials Fit in a 5x8 Trailer?
Moovalot's 5x8 trailers (3,500 lb capacity) handle most home improvement materials:
Lumber (All Lengths Fit)
- 2x4s, 2x6s, 2x8s: Up to 8-foot lengths fit perfectly
- 4x4 posts: 8-foot lengths
- Plywood sheets: 4x8 sheets lay flat (stack 10-15 sheets)
- OSB sheathing: 4x8 sheets
- Decking boards: 8-12 foot boards (angle longer boards diagonally)
Drywall & Sheathing
- 4x8 drywall sheets (stack 10-12 sheets)
- 4x8 cement board
- Insulation rolls
Flooring
- Laminate flooring boxes (20-30 boxes)
- Vinyl plank flooring
- Hardwood flooring bundles
- Tile boxes (600-800 lbs worth)
Roofing Materials
- Shingle bundles (25-30 bundles = 2,500 lbs)
- Metal roofing panels
- Underlayment rolls
Bulk Materials
- Concrete bags (40-50 bags = 2,000 lbs)
- Gravel/sand (1.5 cubic yards max)
- Mulch (2-3 cubic yards)
Large Equipment
- Water heaters (40-50 gallon)
- Doors (interior and exterior)
- Windows (multiple units)
- Vanities and cabinets
How to Present Free Trailer to Customers
Proactive Approach (Best)
Customer: "I'm building a deck. I need 20 boards of pressure-treated lumber."
You: "Great! Just so you know, purchases over $300 include a free trailer rental. You can haul everything home in one trip — no need to make multiple runs or pay delivery fees."
Customer: "Oh perfect, I was worried about that."
During Checkout
You (scanning items): "Looks like you're over $300, so you qualify for our free trailer rental. Have you ever towed a trailer before?"
Customer: "No, but I have an SUV."
You: "You're all set then. I'll give you a code card. Drive 5 minutes to grab the trailer, come back, we'll load everything, and you're done. Way easier than making 3 trips in your SUV."
Competitive Advantage Over Big-Box Stores
Here's how free trailer access beats Home Depot and Lowe's:
Your store:
- Customer shops for materials
- You provide expert advice (what size screws, how many boards)
- Customer buys everything for the project
- Free trailer included
- Materials loaded and home within 1 hour
Home Depot online:
- Customer orders online, guesses quantities
- Pays "free shipping" (built into price)
- Waits 3-5 days for delivery
- Delivery window: "8 AM - 6 PM" (takes day off work)
- Materials arrive damaged or wrong quantity
- Return process takes 2+ weeks
You win on speed, expertise, and convenience.
Seasonal Promotions
Spring (March-May) — Deck Building Season
Promotion: "Spring Deck Package + Free Trailer Rental"
Bundle: Decking boards + posts + screws + stain (all materials for 12x12 deck)
Messaging: "Everything you need, one trip, free trailer"
Summer (June-August) — Outdoor Projects
Promotion: "Beat the Heat — Free Trailer for Fence Materials"
Target: Fence building, shed construction, outdoor improvements
Fall (September-November) — Interior Renovations
Promotion: "Fall Flooring Sale + Free Trailer"
Target: Flooring, drywall, paint projects before holidays
Marketing Materials Provided
Moovalot provides all assets:
- ✅ Window decals: "Purchases Over $300 Include Free Trailer"
- ✅ Aisle signage: Lumber section, flooring section
- ✅ Checkout counter cards: Hand to every customer
- ✅ Staff training: How to load materials safely
- ✅ Digital ads: Facebook/Google ads highlighting free trailer
Partnership Tiers
Tier 1: Pay-Per-Use
Cost: $40 per 4-hour rental
Best for: Small hardware stores (20-30 bulk sales/month)
Tier 2: Co-Marketing
Cost: $30 per rental
Best for: Building supply stores (50+ bulk sales/month)
Tier 3: On-Site Parking
Cost: $20 per rental
Best for: Large lumberyards (100+ bulk sales/month)
Benefit: Trailers parked on your property for instant loading
Common Questions
Q: What if customers buy materials over multiple visits?
A: Set threshold per transaction ($300+). Or offer punch card: "Buy $1,000 cumulative, get free trailer."
Q: Do we need to help load materials?
A: Most stores already help load lumber/drywall into customers' trucks. Same process.
Q: Can contractors use the free trailer?
A: Yes! Contractors love it for overflow materials when their truck is full.
Q: What about long materials (10-12 foot boards)?
A: Angle them diagonally in the 5x8 bed. Boards up to 12 feet fit safely.
Ready to Compete with the Big Boxes?
If you're a home improvement store in Houston competing with online giants, free trailer access is your secret weapon.
Contact us today:
📧 Email: partners@moovalot.com
📞 Phone: 1-800-MOOVALOT
💬 Subject: "Home Improvement Store Partnership"
Include:
- Store name and location
- Products sold (lumber, flooring, etc.)
- Monthly sales volume
We'll respond within 2 business days.
Stop losing sales to "free shipping." Offer same-day hauling with free trailer instead.