An unlikely online star and his viral videos have helped his family-run trailer company pull in over four million views on social media.
\nAt 76, Tone Skeggs may not be your typical internet influencer \u2013 but there was a serious reason behind the laughs when he first stepped in front of the camera.
\nThe fun-loving grandfather began filming the tongue-in-cheek clips to shout about the fact that SB Trailers had become an official distributor for North Wales maker Ifor Williams Trailers which has factories in Denbighshire and Deeside.
\nWhat started as a light-hearted way to promote the firm\u2019s new partnership quickly snowballed into something far bigger, with Tone\u2019s antics helping introduce customers to the globally renowned brand now available at their base at Reddings Farm in Asheldham near Southminster in Essex.
\nHis popularity is such that the grandfather is now known locally as \u201cTikTok Tone\u201d, and says his unexpected internet fame is \u201cabsolutely bonkers\u201d.
\nA hilarious video showing Tone strutting around the yard, posing provocatively and even sliding down a trailer in a bid to \u201cattract\u201d customers in his own inimitable way, has pulled in a massive 990,000 Facebook views and 368,000 Instagram views.
\nMeanwhile, another one showing Tone playing curling with trailer wheels, while colleagues sweep the way, has attracted over 1.3 million views.
\nAnd an online post showing Tone demonstrating his expertise in reversing a trailer properly has had 222,000 social media views.
\nTone also served up a sketch portraying him as a fast food restaurant worker titled \u201cWelcome to Mc\u2019SB Trailers, can I take your order?\u201d, notching up 149,000 views.
\nIt is not just Tone\u2019s online antics which are generating huge numbers of viewers for the firm, based at Reddings Farm in Asheldham near Southminster in Essex.
\nAn 11-second post showing workshop technician Freddie Joslin explaining why it is important to have your trailer regularly serviced has attracted an incredible 964,000 views on Facebook and 18,000 on Instagram.
\nThe huge social media success is helping to drive business forward at SB Trailers, which recently celebrated becoming an official distributor for world-renowned Ifor Williams Trailers.
\nThe company is a new division of the SB Machinery Group, run by Tone\u2019s son Ben and his wife, Susannah, which already supplies machinery and runs a specialist haulage operation.<\/p>\n
Dave Robinson, Group Head of Commercial Operations at Ifor Williams Trailers, said SB Trailers\u2019 light-hearted approach to social media \u2013 led by the man now affectionately dubbed TikTok Tone \u2013 shows how powerful online platforms can be when used in the right way.
\nHe said: \u201cSuccessful modern businesses understand the influence social media can have and when you get the right mix between humour, entertainment and useful information, the results can be incredible.
\n\u201cThanks to his hilarious social media antics, Tone has played a huge part in bringing the company\u2019s friendly, family-run ethos to life.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re delighted to see SB Trailers taking such a proactive and creative approach to producing engaging content and seeing Tone being hailed as an internet hero.\u201d
\nTone and the team might have taken the internet by storm, but he says he\u2019s actually not a regular social media user, and has been left amazed at the reaction to his videos.
\nHe said: \u201cI don\u2019t actually have any personal social media accounts, so this has been a completely new world for me. It\u2019s absolutely bonkers!
\n\u201cThe response has completely blown us away and the numbers have continued to climb as well, which is just incredible.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see so many people watching, sharing and enjoying what we\u2019ve created.
\n\u201cI absolutely love doing the videos.
\n\u201cFrom brainstorming the ideas to setting up the shots and filming them, the whole process is great fun.
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of laughter involved, sometimes more bloopers than usable footage!
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not just about promoting the business, it\u2019s about enjoying ourselves as a team and doing something a little bit different.
\n\u201cMy family and staff have been incredibly supportive and my wife, in particular, thinks it\u2019s fantastic.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re constantly thinking of new ideas and ways to top the last one.
\n\u201cAs long as people are enjoying them, we\u2019ll keep making them.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re a small team and everyone gets stuck in, so to see our efforts making a real difference to the business means a lot.
\n\u201cIf me dressing up or posing for a few silly videos helps the business grow and keeps everyone smiling, then it\u2019s absolutely worth it. It\u2019s a win-win.
\n\u201cI\u2019m 76 years young and clearly proof that you\u2019re never too old to try something new.\u201d
\nBecoming an official distributor for Ifor Williams Trailers has marked the start of an ambitious new chapter for SB Machinery Group.
\nThe expansion has opened the door to expansion, investment \u00a0and increased services for customers across Essex and surrounding areas.
\nTone\u2019s daughter-in-law Susannah was also delighted the fun videos were attracting massive audiences.
\nSusannah said the videos were filmed by marketing executive Molly King and content creator Frank Taylor of Power Shack.
\nShe said: \u201cWe knew the videos were funny, but the number of views have been really amazing.
\n\u201cConsidering the social media we\u2019re doing is so new to us, it\u2019s surprising it has taken off quite the way it has taken off.
\n\u201cI think Tone\u2019s videos are brilliant, and he is such a good sport to do it.
\n\u201cHe helps us out in the business and he enjoys it – he\u2019s such a lovable character.\u201d
\nThe launch of the new distributorship involved extensive preparation, including creating a new showroom area showcasing a wide range of trailers, establishing a Genuine Parts store, and adding servicing bays within the existing workshop.
\nIfor Williams Trailers (IWT) has global reach with its market-leading products \u2013 made in its six factories in Denbighshire and Flintshire, in North Wales.
\nThey are sold in outlets across Europe and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
\nFirst established in 1958, it is Britain\u2019s largest manufacturer of trailers up to 3500kg gross weight, delivering trailers for a wide variety of purposes.<\/p>\n