'No-problem package' sends DIY enthusiasts safely on their way

GAMMA has 84 DIY stores in Belgium, operated on a franchise basis. Customers can make free use of a large van at every store to take bulky goods like garden fences or insulation material home.

No problem

Stefan Silverans at GAMMA explains: “We have been providing this service for seven years. At the beginning of this year, our vans were due for replacement. We went looking for a new partner that could offer an all-in service package, preferably for a better price. Athlon came up with a comprehensive ‘no-problem package’ for us.”

Car wash

Isabelle Hertoge, the new business account manager at Athlon, tells us how this works: “GAMMA entrusted us with the entire management of their vans: maintenance, technical inspections, two technical check-ups per year and washing the vans. If a vehicle breaks down, we provide a replacement. The store managers can report any damage or defects to a permanent contact person at Athlon. That person will make every effort to sort out the problem as quickly as possible and get the vehicle back on the road.”

Travelling advertisement

The vans are travelling advertisements for GAMMA. “They are painted in our colours and bear our logo,” says Stefan Silverans. “That means they are mobile ambassadors for GAMMA. This is why it is so important to us that they look immaculate.”

Loading space

The new vans need ample load capacity and they have to be able to carry a sufficient weight. “The vehicle could not be too big, though, because a lot of customers are wary of driving really big vans,” Stefan Silverans adds. “Athlon recommended a few different models based on its years of experience. We ended up going for the Nissan NV400.”

Première

The complete operational leasing of a fleet of vans is a first for Athlon. As account manager Guus De Geyndt explains: “We are excited about providing GAMMA with an all-in service, so that DIY enthusiasts can travel safely in a well-maintained vehicle at all times.”