Vending machines won't make you money!
I know some of you running a vending business are thinking is
this guy off his rocker? Vending machines do make money, they're
a 24-hour employee that never sleeps, eats or asks for a raise.
And to an extent you're all correct but has it ever occurred to
you that the vending machine is only your tool of choice to earn
your living? Construction workers use a hammer, truck drivers
use their truck, and venders use their machines.
So what's the point? The point is the type of machine your using
isn't the be all end all of your business. The first vending
machine sales person I ever encountered was selling a new design
of Bulk candy machines. The kind you'd see in a department store
or mall. He preached about the increase in sales his clients
were seeing, but the cost of the machines was astronomical. I
asked him a simple question about how a machine could increase
sales, and voila I had found the hole in his pitch. It can't, if
a machine has M&M's in it and accepts quarters either an older
style or newer type of machine has the potential to close the
deal.
So what makes you money in the vending business?
The magic ingredient is you! A simple scenario, you have three
snack machines. You pay a locating company to place these
machines, and you run around town collecting money and
re-filling them. After about 6 weeks of doing this you realize
that the amount you collect each week is barely worth it for the
running around you do so you decide to sell the machines and
chalk it up to the vending industry just wasn't for you.
With this example you're involvement in the business is more or
less an employee. You'd be doing the same thing with the same
level of involvement if you worked for the large vending company
in your town. How can you turn this around? Simple, your vending
businesses success depends on you. Your job is to place
machines, and provide the best customer service possible. Are
the machine placement company's interests in you? Nope, they get
paid whether your machines make money or not, the profitable
accounts are dug up from your hard work, networking, and sales
abilities.
So what more can you do to have your best shot at success?
Don't use a placement company to get locations. It's not the
nicest part of the job, but everything is sales. You need to
network, watch new businesses moving in, new developments. Let
everyone know the business your in, you never know who's office
is having difficulty with their current supplier, or who's
brother is moving to a new office down the street.
Take care of the accounts you have. It can be easy to become
complacent with your current accounts, you have them, each week
there's money in the machine you fill it back up and away you
go. Remember your best account is your competitor's number one
prospect. Always interact with employees at your locations, find
out if the location is satisfied with its mix of product in your
machine. Let them know who you are, leave your contact info on
your machine.
Last but not least always look professional. Remember what
you're supplying may not be the most important part of a
companies inputs, but there are also others that can do it. By
handling yourself and appearing professional in dress and
behavior you increase the chances of earning referrals to new
locations, new machines at current locations, and decrease turn
over. It's always less expensive to keep a customer then to gain
a new one!