The vending machine business has been big since its inception. One of the nice things about a vending business is that it’s not just for the big guys, but any average Joe with a few bucks and some common sense can get in on it. You can start small or large, depending on your funds and with new or used vending machines. This article isn’t about purchasing vending machines, but rather, the locating of those machines and keeping your vending business successful.
You might choose to hire a vending location company or choose to locate your own machines. That initial choice is up to you. Most folks getting into the business haven’t ever heard of a location company, let alone know how the process works. Choosing a location company can be a good choice for a newbie that really hasn’t got the time to call on businesses. Do make sure that you do your homework on any location company that you are considering. Check with the BBB, the Attorney General’s office of the state they’re based in and do a search on the Federal Trade Commission’s website http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/formal.htm . Search for variations of “vending locator", “Location Company", “vending locations", the company’s name that you’re looking at, or the individual names of persons running the company. Sometimes, a location company from several years back that may have had a judgment against them, is running again with a different name, but the same owner. Look for longevity for the company name. Now, this isn’t to say all location companies are bad – they’re not. But a company is only as good as its owner that backs up the claims of its organization and its vending locators. And make sure you have a contract with them!
Regardless of whether or not you use a location company to set up your vending route or you do it yourself, you WILL need to learn how to get your own vending locations at some point if you plan on having a successful vending business that is as profitable as it can be. Many people start out small, say, a few bulk candy machines, a few drink machines or snack machines and build from there. Do you really want to pay a vending location company hundreds or thousands of dollars every time that you add to your vending route or upgrade your route? Any vending route will have it’s least producers and when you see a new business opening up that could be a potential location, you will want to try to secure it as soon as possible and place one of your least producing machines there. Most location company’s won’t send a locator for one or two machines, unless they’re large machines that garner higher locating fees, such as the large electronic snack machines, soda machines, game machines or such and even at that, they usually won’t travel for just one.
Your best option here is to know how to secure your own locations. Be your own vending locator!
It’s not as difficult or time consuming as you might think. You just need to polish up on how to approach the business owner and what to say without saying too much.
Don’t have a few bulk candy machines and expect to get exclusive, binding contracts on primo locations, it won’t happen. Corporate chain accounts can also be difficult to secure at times, most of them will tell you they are not allowed to have your vending equipment there or they have to wait and bring it up at a board meeting next month, etc. Time is money and often after waiting to get an answer for 2 or 3 months, the answer is no. This isn’t always the case, but it usually is.
Some common sense tips – If you have a snack machine that carries chocolate, don’t settle for an outdoor location or a location without air conditioning… it melts !
Some auto shops and warehouses can be great locations for some machines, but make sure they don’t have any rodent problems…they will get into your machine if it isn’t airtight.
Nice office buildings aren’t always the best place for your snack or combo snack machine, too often, the women that work there are on diets and they will say that they don’t want to vacuum the crumbs up, which amounts to fewer sales.
So, in essence, if you are getting into or considering getting into the vending machine business, learn how to get your own locations and set up your own vending route or at the very least, be able to upgrade your own route if you want to optimize your profits!
Laura Seeber has been in the Vending Location business in one form or another for 20 yrs and offers real, concise, information on learning to secure your own vending locations and what to expect if you hire a location company. You can learn more about securing locations for your vending machines at her website http://www.vending-locations.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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