Your customer just decided on a $2,800 zero-turn mower. They're ready to buy. Then they look at their Honda CR-V in the parking lot:
"How am I supposed to get this home?"
This happens daily at lawn and garden centers. Customers want the mower, but they don't own a truck or trailer. The sale stalls, they leave to "figure it out," and you lose $2,800 in revenue.
Here's how providing free trailer access through Moovalot turns "Let me think about it" into "I'll take it today."
The Lawn & Garden Transportation Problem
According to industry data, 41% of riding mower buyers don't own a truck when they visit your garden center.
Common customer scenarios:
- Suburban homeowner: Drives an SUV, no trailer
- First-time buyer: Upgrading from push mower, doesn't realize hauling is an issue
- Impulse buyer: Came for mulch, fell in love with a mower on sale
- Urban gardener: Maintains rental property, doesn't own a truck
When these customers hit the transportation wall, you have three bad options:
- Offer delivery ($150-300): Customers balk, especially on sale-priced mowers
- "Come back with a truck": They rent a U-Haul, stop at Home Depot, buy there instead
- "Let me think about it": They order online where "free shipping" is included
All three options lose you the sale today. And in lawn equipment, impulse matters — 54% of riding mower sales happen same-day when grass cutting season starts.
The Solution: Free Trailer with Mower Purchase
Moovalot partners with lawn and garden centers to offer customers free 4-hour trailer rentals with qualifying purchases.
How It Works
- Customer selects riding mower, zero-turn, or tractor
- During checkout, you say: "We include a free trailer rental so you can take this home today"
- Hand customer a promo code card
- Customer drives 5-10 minutes to nearest Moovalot location
- Scans QR code on trailer, unlocks via app
- Returns to your garden center
- Your team uses ramps to load mower onto trailer
- Customer drives home, unloads, returns trailer within 4 hours
Total time added to sale: 30 seconds (handing them the code card)
What You Pay
Instead of offering $200 delivery (which kills impulse sales), you subsidize a $40-50 trailer rental.
Example: Zero-Turn Mower Sale
| Sale: 42" zero-turn mower | $2,799 |
| Your margin (28%) | $784 |
| Trailer rental cost | -$45 |
| Add-ons sold (mulch kit, cover, oil) | +$180 |
| Net profit | $919 |
ROI: You spend $45 to close a $2,799 sale that otherwise walks out the door.
Plus, customers who take the mower home today are far more likely to buy add-ons (mulch kits, covers, maintenance supplies) while they're there.
Real Results: Houston Garden Center
Retailer: Family-owned garden center in Cypress, TX
Products: Riding mowers, zero-turns, lawn tractors, bulk materials
Partnership start: March 2026 (peak season)
The Problem
- 38% of mower shoppers didn't own a truck
- Delivery fees ($175-250) caused sticker shock on sale items
- Customers left to "rent a trailer" and bought from big-box competitors
- Lost 12-15 mower sales per month to transportation issues
The Solution
- Partnered with Moovalot (Tier 2: Co-Marketing)
- All mower purchases over $1,500 include free 4-hour trailer
- Bulk material purchases (3+ cubic yards) get 50% off trailer rental
- Window signage: "Buy a Mower, Get Free Trailer Rental"
Results (First 90 Days - Spring Season)
| Metric | Before | After | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riding mower sales | 41 | 58 | +41% |
| Bulk material sales (mulch, soil) | $18,400 | $27,600 | +50% |
| Add-on attachment rate | 34% | 62% | +82% |
| Same-day mower purchases | 48% | 86% | +79% |
| Trailers provided | — | 71 | — |
Owner quote: "Spring is our Super Bowl. We used to lose mower sales because people couldn't haul. Now we close every sale on the spot. Plus, customers load up on mulch and accessories since they have the trailer anyway."
What Fits in a 5x8 Trailer?
Moovalot's 5x8 utility trailers (3,500 lb capacity) handle most lawn equipment and materials:
Riding Mowers (All Fit)
- Zero-turn mowers: 42-54 inch decks (under 7 feet long)
- Lawn tractors: John Deere X300, Cub Cadet XT1, Husqvarna YTH
- Riding mowers: All residential models
- Garden tractors: Most models under 8 feet
Note: Commercial zero-turns with 60"+ decks may be too long. Measure before promising.
Bulk Materials
- Mulch: 2-3 cubic yards (don't exceed weight limit)
- Topsoil: 2 cubic yards max (soil is heavy)
- Gravel/stone: 1.5 cubic yards max (very heavy)
- Compost: 2-3 cubic yards
Weight tip: 3 cubic yards of dry mulch ≈ 1,800 lbs (safe). 3 cubic yards of wet dirt ≈ 4,500 lbs (too heavy!).
Large Plants & Planters
- Trees up to 8 feet tall (on their side)
- Large ceramic planters
- Pallet loads of plants
Other Garden Equipment
- Tillers and cultivators
- Log splitters
- Pressure washers
- Generator sets
Bonus Use Case: Bulk Material Sales
Beyond mowers, free trailer access drives bulk material sales:
The Problem
Customer needs 3 cubic yards of mulch. You charge:
- Mulch: $120
- Delivery: $75
- Total: $195
Customer thinks: "I'll just get 10 bags from Home Depot for $60 and skip the delivery fee."
The Solution
Offer discounted trailer for bulk purchases:
"Buy 3+ cubic yards, get 50% off a trailer rental. You'll pay $25 for the trailer, haul it yourself, and save $50 on delivery. Total cost: $145 vs. $195."
Result: Customer saves money, you sell bulk materials instead of bagged products (higher margin).
How to Present Free Trailer to Customers
For Mower Sales
Customer: "I love this zero-turn, but I drove my Explorer today."
You: "No problem! We include a free trailer rental with mower purchases. You'll drive 5 minutes to grab a trailer, come back, we'll load it with our ramps, and you're home in 30 minutes. Takes the hassle out of hauling."
Customer: "Really? That's perfect. Let's do it."
For Bulk Materials
Customer: "How much is delivery for 3 yards of mulch?"
You: "$75. Or you can take it yourself with a discounted trailer rental for $25. Saves you $50, and you can pick it up today instead of waiting for our delivery schedule."
Customer: "I'll take the trailer option."
Seasonal Opportunities
Spring (March-May)
Peak demand: Riding mowers, mulch, soil, fertilizer
Promotion: "Spring Mower Sale + Free Trailer Rental"
Typical usage: 20-30 trailers/month
Summer (June-August)
Peak demand: Replacement mowers (after breakdowns), bulk mulch
Promotion: "Beat the Heat — Free Trailer with Mower Purchase"
Typical usage: 10-15 trailers/month
Fall (September-November)
Peak demand: Leaf blowers, clearance mowers, fall mulch
Promotion: "Fall Clearance + Free Trailer for Bulk Purchases"
Typical usage: 8-12 trailers/month
Marketing Materials Provided
Moovalot provides all marketing assets:
- ✅ Outdoor banners: "Buy a Mower, Get Free Trailer Rental"
- ✅ Lawn signs: Weatherproof signs for parking lot
- ✅ Promo cards: Hand to customers at checkout
- ✅ Staff training: 10-minute video on how to load mowers safely
- ✅ Social media graphics: Promote free trailer in Facebook/Instagram ads
Partnership Tiers for Garden Centers
Tier 1: Pay-Per-Use
Cost: $40 per 4-hour rental
Best for: Small garden centers (5-10 mowers/month)
Commitment: None
Tier 2: Co-Marketing
Cost: $30 per rental
Best for: Mid-size centers (15-25 mowers/month)
Commitment: Display Moovalot signage
Tier 3: On-Site Parking
Cost: $25 per rental
Best for: Large garden centers (30+ mowers/month)
Commitment: Moovalot parks 2-3 trailers on your property
Common Questions from Garden Centers
Q: Do we need ramps to load mowers?
A: Most garden centers already have ramps for loading customers' trucks. Same process — use your existing ramps.
Q: What if a customer doesn't return the trailer on time?
A: Moovalot handles late fees and tracking. Not your problem.
Q: Can we offer trailers for other products (tillers, generators)?
A: Yes! Any large item qualifies. Set your own minimum purchase threshold.
Q: Do customers need to clean the trailer after hauling mulch?
A: Light sweeping is expected. Moovalot doesn't charge cleaning fees for normal dirt/mulch residue.
Ready to Stop Losing Mower Sales?
If you're a lawn and garden center in Houston losing sales because customers can't haul, free trailer access is the fix.
Contact us today:
📧 Email: partners@moovalot.com
📞 Phone: 1-800-MOOVALOT
💬 Subject: "Garden Center Partnership"
Include:
- Store name and location
- Riding mower brands you carry
- Monthly mower sales volume
We'll respond within 2 business days with a custom proposal.
Don't lose another $3,000 mower sale because a customer drove an SUV.