bhumphrey829 Posted February 24, 2016 Author Share Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) Nice job bhumphrey829! I'm guessing with the name Gator Vending, you are in the Florida area? How long have you been running your Snack Box route? I enjoy reading your updates. Keep up the good work! LOL Actually I am in East Texas, I just really liked the Gator logo and obviously wasn't hard to get a DBA under that name. I have actually been running this route about 7 months full time now. So I am really pretty new at this although i have been messing around in vending for years. Edited February 24, 2016 by bhumphrey829 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chalvo Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks, Gator Vending for the updates. I'm currently doing healthy vending and was thinking of doing snack boxes in the smaller locations that don't qualify for a vending machine. I would just put my logo on the snack box and make it available in waiting rooms and small offices. Do you ever find that businesses are willing to pay or subsidize some of the snacks there? I know some employers seem like they would for their employees. Have you ever found that to be the case? The honor system makes me a little nervous in less crowded areas. Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flintflash Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 Chalvo, be careful with the "subsidized" boxes. While it my be a nice way for an employer to provide snacks for their employees, it is still considered an expense for them. Should they decide to cut expenses, the snack box is sure to be removed. Even if you try to explain that the box is on the honor system and that they don't need to subsidize it, they will only see the box as an expense and have it removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted February 26, 2016 Author Share Posted February 26, 2016 Update for this week. I placed 12 boxes, pulled 5 for a total of 7 new locations. $988.00 gross, 14% theft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bhumphrey829 Posted February 27, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 27, 2016 Update for this week. I placed 12 boxes, pulled 5 for a total of 7 new locations. $988.00 gross, 14% theft. This gives me a total of 149 locations. Update for this week. I placed 12 boxes, pulled 5 for a total of 7 new locations. $988.00 gross, 14% theft. This gives me a total of 149 locations. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluePlate Posted March 1, 2016 Share Posted March 1, 2016 What are you using for actual boxes? where are you getting them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 What are you using for actual boxes? where are you getting them? I start with small boxes that I get from cameron packaging. After that I decide if they need to be upgraded to the wood grain boxes and I get them from Sheridan Systems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted March 4, 2016 Author Share Posted March 4, 2016 Update for the week. 10 new locationns, pulled 7 locations. Now sitting at 152 locations. Grossed $1,037 for the week, 12% theft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zq8 blazer Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Subscribed. I sent you a message btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted March 11, 2016 Author Share Posted March 11, 2016 Weekly snack box update: Placed 20 boxes, pulled 6. Now sitting at 166 locations. Grossed, $1,166 Theft rant at 14% average per box $18.45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sven233 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 (edited) bhumphrey829 Thanks for the updates. I love this thread. I am new to the vending world and have been working in this forum to find some ideas to start with. I am thinking of doing honor boxes myself to get in some doors and create some relationships. I am hoping you don't mind, and if you are willing to help someone new to the field, I have some questions. 1. With the 166 locations you have, how many do you service per week? Do they all get serviced every week or are they in an every other week (or some other form) of rotation? 2. This $1166 gross that you just reported.....how many locations was that for? This pertains to the above question as I am trying to get an estimate of your gross sales per month based on 1 full rotation of locations. Do you have an average gross or net profit per box for a 1 month rotation? 3. You mentioned that you are using breast cancer awareness as your charity. I will be using a charity aspect as well, just not sure what direction I am going to go with it yet. This may be a more in depth question, but would you be kind enough to share the method you are using in placing boxes? Could you give me a basic outline of what you do when you walk into a location for the first time and what you say? I have some ideas of my own, but I want to be sure I am not over-thinking things too much. 4. Finally, how long does it usually take you to place boxes. Out of every 10 attempts you make, is there a rough number that you usually get a "yes" at? I am sorry for asking so many questions, but I am really looking to start with this soon and I love soaking up as much information and suggestions as I can get. Thank you in advance! Edited March 12, 2016 by sven233 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 bhumphrey829 Thanks for the updates. I love this thread. I am new to the vending world and have been working in this forum to find some ideas to start with. I am thinking of doing honor boxes myself to get in some doors and create some relationships. I am hoping you don't mind, and if you are willing to help someone new to the field, I have some questions. 1. With the 166 locations you have, how many do you service per week? Do they all get serviced every week or are they in an every other week (or some other form) of rotation? 2. This $1166 gross that you just reported.....how many locations was that for? This pertains to the above question as I am trying to get an estimate of your gross sales per month based on 1 full rotation of locations. Do you have an average gross or net profit per box for a 1 month rotation? 3. You mentioned that you are using breast cancer awareness as your charity. I will be using a charity aspect as well, just not sure what direction I am going to go with it yet. This may be a more in depth question, but would you be kind enough to share the method you are using in placing boxes? Could you give me a basic outline of what you do when you walk into a location for the first time and what you say? I have some ideas of my own, but I want to be sure I am not over-thinking things too much. 4. Finally, how long does it usually take you to place boxes. Out of every 10 attempts you make, is there a rough number that you usually get a "yes" at? I am sorry for asking so many questions, but I am really looking to start with this soon and I love soaking up as much information and suggestions as I can get. Thank you in advance!T Thanks for responding to my post. First of all, I have my boxes set up on a either a weekly, bi-weekly, or 3 week rotation. I would say 90 percent of them are on a two-week location. The $1,166 was for 60 boxes this week. How many boxes I do per week varies from week to week. For instance next week I have 74 boxes to do. As far as how i approach is pretty simple. I go in, ask for to speak to the decision maker. When I get to the decision maker, I simply say "Hello, my name is Bryan Humphrey. I am with Gator snacks but I also represent women's breast cancer. What we do is we go around and put these snack boxes in small businesses like this one and a portion of the money I collect on these boxes goes to women's breast cancer research. It's based on the honor system, but what we like to stress to you is that you are not responsible for the box, if it comes up short, or if someone takes something without paying for it, that's not your responsibility. All we as from you is a place to put it and see if it works, if it does, great, if you decide you don't want, just call us and we will come pick it up. " That's my spill. Out of 10 stops i average getting into 6 at least. Friday I put out 10 new ones and only got turned down 3 times. So it's really not that hard. However, that doesn't mean every location will be a producer or wont' be high in theft so you have to keep placing and pulling but it's really simple to do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sven233 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thanks for responding to my post. First of all, I have my boxes set up on a either a weekly, bi-weekly, or 3 week rotation. I would say 90 percent of them are on a two-week location. The $1,166 was for 60 boxes this week. How many boxes I do per week varies from week to week. For instance next week I have 74 boxes to do. As far as how i approach is pretty simple. I go in, ask for to speak to the decision maker. When I get to the decision maker, I simply say "Hello, my name is Bryan Humphrey. I am with Gator snacks but I also represent women's breast cancer. What we do is we go around and put these snack boxes in small businesses like this one and a portion of the money I collect on these boxes goes to women's breast cancer research. It's based on the honor system, but what we like to stress to you is that you are not responsible for the box, if it comes up short, or if someone takes something without paying for it, that's not your responsibility. All we as from you is a place to put it and see if it works, if it does, great, if you decide you don't want, just call us and we will come pick it up. " That's my spill. Out of 10 stops i average getting into 6 at least. Friday I put out 10 new ones and only got turned down 3 times. So it's really not that hard. However, that doesn't mean every location will be a producer or wont' be high in theft so you have to keep placing and pulling but it's really simple to do. Thank you for your response. The information is fantastic. If you don't mind me asking, what types or products are you selling? Are you doing large bars? 3 for $1, etc? Does a certain combination work better than others? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Thank you for your response. The information is fantastic. If you don't mind me asking, what types or products are you selling? Are you doing large bars? 3 for $1, etc? Does a certain combination work better than others? Thanks! I sell chips, (LSS) large single serve bags, pastries, cookies, crackers, cookies and candy bars (regular size candy bars). Every location is different, what sells in some locations don't sell in others, i just keep track of each locations and what they are buying and what's being left in the box I sell chips, (LSS) large single serve bags, pastries, cookies, crackers, cookies and candy bars (regular size candy bars). Every location is different, what sells in some locations don't sell in others, i just keep track of each locations and what they are buying and what's being left in the box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryChris Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 The way you have grown is great. I really admire you for that. I started with about 50 boxes on location when I purchased an existing route. To date, I am currently down to only one location but that's primarily because my full-line vending route has grown to the point that something had to give. Unfortunately, I never replaced the locations that I lost. At first, it was no problem because I simply condensed my routes down and worked 1 day each week instead of 2. Eventually, I figured that I was only making about $120/week after fuel and COGS, which was making me about $10/hour. I pulled a few locations to cut down on my drive time and fuel costs, but the same thing happened. I wasn't making much. I eventually cancelled all but one location. I have considered going back at it, but I have made big gains in the vending business with the free time and I have actually increased the profits enough to pretty much make up for the lost profits from the honor boxes without having to spend the time to actually service the boxes. I might try to build a bi-weekly route in the future for additional income but I simply cannot decide. If I were to start over though, I would definitely do things your way and go 100% honor boxes. I think it can be more work than people realize, especially when it rains, but there is virtually no overhead with honor boxes, no repair costs, etc... The best part about honor boxes is that a hatch-back car can easily handle things assuming you are in close proximity with a wholesaler such as Sam's Club. Keep up the good work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bhumphrey829 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 14, 2016 The way you have grown is great. I really admire you for that. I started with about 50 boxes on location when I purchased an existing route. To date, I am currently down to only one location but that's primarily because my full-line vending route has grown to the point that something had to give. Unfortunately, I never replaced the locations that I lost. At first, it was no problem because I simply condensed my routes down and worked 1 day each week instead of 2. Eventually, I figured that I was only making about $120/week after fuel and COGS, which was making me about $10/hour. I pulled a few locations to cut down on my drive time and fuel costs, but the same thing happened. I wasn't making much. I eventually cancelled all but one location. I have considered going back at it, but I have made big gains in the vending business with the free time and I have actually increased the profits enough to pretty much make up for the lost profits from the honor boxes without having to spend the time to actually service the boxes. I might try to build a bi-weekly route in the future for additional income but I simply cannot decide. If I were to start over though, I would definitely do things your way and go 100% honor boxes. I think it can be more work than people realize, especially when it rains, but there is virtually no overhead with honor boxes, no repair costs, etc... The best part about honor boxes is that a hatch-back car can easily handle things assuming you are in close proximity with a wholesaler such as Sam's Club. Keep up the good work! Thanks for the post Angry. I also have much respect for you full line vending guys. I had a few full line machines, and I actually enjoyed them, however, but mine were older machines, and i was constently worried about something going wrong with them, and I am definitely not a mechanically inclined person so there was no i could fix them if something ever did happen. I enjoy honor boxes a lot and you're right, there is not much overhead and I run it out of a hyundai tucson lol. I also live about 5 miles from a Sam's club where i get all my products, so far there has been nothing but upside to doing this, although i know it's going to take a lot more locations before i start seeing some real money, and you are also right if people think it's just a matter of placing boxes and running them they are dead wrong, it is constant work weeding out bad locations and things like that but I love what i do and that's the most important thing 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bhumphrey829 Posted March 19, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 19, 2016 Before I give my update for the week, I want to correct my previous week. I actually greossed $1,001, not $1,166. I got 11 new locations, pulled 11 accounts, so still at 166. Grossed $1,284, serviced 79 locations, average per box, $16.25. Theft 13% 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share Posted March 25, 2016 Weekly snack box update: placed 6 new boxes, pulled 3. 169 total locations. Grossed $1,211.00; theft ran 18% average per box: $15.70 serviced 77 boxes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 Weekly update. 4 new locations, pulled 0 for a total of 173. Grossed $1,348, theft ran 18% average per box $16.75 serviced 89 boxes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stengel Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 How much time did you spend working on your honor boxes in total this week? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 How much time did you spend working on your honor boxes in total this week? From the time at the warehouse, putting the boxes together until the time i enter the last entry into the computer, it takes about 5.5 hours a day. So a little over 30 hours for the week. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryChris Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 From the time at the warehouse, putting the boxes together until the time i enter the last entry into the computer, it takes about 5.5 hours a day. So a little over 30 hours for the week. It's a great feeling to know that you get to work at your own pace. I've already going over it but there were many days where I would stop and take a lunch break 1-hour long just because I could. Now, I like to work 2-3 days at a time and take days off to do other things. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted April 3, 2016 Author Share Posted April 3, 2016 It's a great feeling to know that you get to work at your own pace. I've already going over it but there were many days where I would stop and take a lunch break 1-hour long just because I could. Now, I like to work 2-3 days at a time and take days off to do other things. It is a great feeling and you're right, if you want you can combine more boxes on fewer days and have 2 or 3 days off a week if I want to. Very flexible hours right now. I love it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treadmill Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 It is a great feeling and you're right, if you want you can combine more boxes on fewer days and have 2 or 3 days off a week if I want to. Very flexible hours right now. I love it How big do you plan to get? I think Dennis got to around 500 or so locations if I remember correctly. I don't know if he is still doing it or not. He hasn't been in here in quite a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhumphrey829 Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 How big do you plan to get? I think Dennis got to around 500 or so locations if I remember correctly. I don't know if he is still doing it or not. He hasn't been in here in quite a while. How big do you plan to get? I think Dennis got to around 500 or so locations if I remember correctly. I don't know if he is still doing it or not. He hasn't been in here in quite a while. My goal right now is 400 boxes. The only thing that worries me about getting that many locations is running out of places to hit. I keep hearing that won't happen, but I guess we will see. By the Dennis is who I was getting all of my advice from in the beginning. He had over 1,500 locations throughout the state of Iowa. He sold it and is now enjoying retirement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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