Jump to content

Considering venturing into toys/stickers


QuikVend

Recommended Posts

I'm currently vending bulk candy along with 10 full-line accounts. Recently I've been considering offering toys and flat products. I guess just looking for tips for beginning. Anybody else start out as candy only and transition to toys as well?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started dabbling in toys/racks about 3 months ago. I have 3 racks on location and counting. My only advice would be consider staying with 1" toys to start. I started with 1" and 2" and the 1" moves faster. Not a big deal, and eventually I probably would've ended up with 2" also, but to start, at least for a while I would've started only 1" ...less inventory, easier to find used super 60's and oak vistas than big oaks or super 80's (at least around here) etc.

 

It's funny I was considering the opposite, getting a full line account or two. I'm certified HVAC universal tech (though that's not my job) I figured I'd be ahead since I could fix my own soda machines. Is It worth having only a couple full line soda machines? I don't want to be tied down to servicing every week..which is why I do bulk..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Years ago i had several candy machines. I  wanted to be generous in the amount of candy given. between the commissions that everybody wanted '40 percent" the spoilage and the high cost of shipping especially when you are ordering a small quantity , the profit just wasn't enough. Toys are a mch larger profit margain

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I started dabbling in toys/racks about 3 months ago. I have 3 racks on location and counting. My only advice would be consider staying with 1" toys to start. I started with 1" and 2" and the 1" moves faster. Not a big deal, and eventually I probably would've ended up with 2" also, but to start, at least for a while I would've started only 1" ...less inventory, easier to find used super 60's and oak vistas than big oaks or super 80's (at least around here) etc.

It's funny I was considering the opposite, getting a full line account or two. I'm certified HVAC universal tech (though that's not my job) I figured I'd be ahead since I could fix my own soda machines. Is It worth having only a couple full line soda machines? I don't want to be tied down to servicing every week..which is why I do bulk..

I say go for it, but with a few conditions. If you're only looking for a few, try to avoid snack machines as much as possible. I have the 10 locations and 6 have snack machines and I still have issues with stales. It's a much bigger headache (read:lost $) with fewer machines.

If you can, go with just drinks,and aim for cans only. Much easier to deal with, easier to find and handle, they last longer and have a great Martin, especially if you can ebay then at a great price. I typically get them around 25 cents a can and sell them for 75. Sometimes I can even get then at around 20 cents of the right sake is going on.

Overall I like both equally. I service most of my full-line every 2 weeks, but I have 1 that needs weekly and I have a few drinks only that I do monthly. Unfortunately, if I'm in a busy week, I can't really put off service with them like I can with bulk, but I do like gettingb the paper money in addition to the quarters.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Me bro, I tried to stay away from toys at first lol.

Me too lol. But I like the higher margins and I feel like I have enough experience to make it work. I'm mostly looking for info on racks and how people find locations and secure them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Toys are great. I'd echo the sentiments here- start small and work your way up when and where you feel comfortable. The easiest way to get started is with 27mm (1") bouncy balls, then work into acorn caps, then go up to 2". For me, I love my 2" machines, but 1" does make more money.

 

Stickers and tattoos are an outlier for me. I've tried them a few different places with a couple Northwestern sticker machines, and sales were poor at best. From what I understand they are a somewhat seasonal and regional thing- but it's a puzzle I haven't figured out myself yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...