Priusjames Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Now I've gone and done it...I delivered my first blind proposal on my way home from the office today. That's the short version, read on for the details (if you care to). I noticed a business Grand Opening sign a couple of weeks ago and thought it'd be ballsy to stop by as I drove by. Near the end of last week I stopped in to look around, and was suitably impressed with the possibilities...didn't see a machine of any kind in the place. I asked for the manager, the counter people all shrugged their shoulders and said "there are lots of managers...". I left, feeling emboldened at not having been blocked or turned away and decided to go for my first ever blind proposal attempt. I put together a proposal that used some T&C ideas from the one in the download section, a custom title page showing different vendors from soda/snack to claw to racks of bulk, and a personalized cover letter specifIc enough to pique interest without committing any real numbers...telling them I'll include them in the decision making process, when we can discuss specific equipment and numbers. I printed it on gloss paper and bound it with protective covers and it looked pretty slick, a $5 shot in the dark. I stopped on my way home tonight and asked the counter person if the General Manager was in, this time I was in luck. He couldn't leave the counter, so he had to give me directions to walk through the back to the manager's office...bummer (not). I walked back and saw the manager walking down the hallway toward me...Aaaahhhhhhhhhh...I'm in deep. I walked right up and introduced myself and put out my hand, which was met with a just-firm-enough shake and a smile! I said that I didn't want to interrupt, that I'd leave this proposal at their office...and I waited for the push-back that I knew must be coming. Well, I didn't really wait...but I did expect it. I went on. "We are a local vending company and we'd love to become your vending partner, if you don't already have somebody...and even if you do (I was going to say something about filling in)..." I was surprised to hear "no, we don't...". I reiterated that I didn't want to be an interruption, that I'd follow up later this week. I saw an answer forming...here comes the turn-down...a big smile and "Great!" It was music to my ears. I'm not delusional, but if it happens I'll be stoked. In the meantime, I'm planning to make an appointment to return and to show up with a basket of goodies for the staff. What did I forget? Anybody want to guess what I'll do to screw it up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will.vend Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 It's a great feeling I know exactly what you are talking about, when you land the acct I bet you will feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! keep us posted What did I forget? Anybody want to guess what I'll do to screw it up? the only thing I would have done different is push harder to close the deal right then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priusjames Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 the only thing I would have done different is push harder to close the deal right then. For sure, but I could tell I really was interrupting a person on a mission and it was a chance meeting. I got a positive response when I said I'd follow up later this week, I'll make an appointment Thursday or Friday. If I get the appointment, I'll put on pressure to close the deal. If I had even one box of product, I might have gone for it! Oops. I believe this has the potential to be a great account, bulk and even amusement-wise...and I have to be careful about being able to produce what I promise. I've been around the block enough times that closing a deal doesn't phase me much, I just need to be able to walk the walk once a deal is struck. If I'd heard "bring me a rack tomorrow", I'd have been out of luck...I'm readying my first rack this week! Thanks for the feedback... James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indiana Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 For sure, but I could tell I really was interrupting a person on a mission and it was a chance meeting. I got a positive response when I said I'd follow up later this week, I'll make an appointment Thursday or Friday. If I get the appointment, I'll put on pressure to close the deal. If I had even one box of product, I might have gone for it! Oops. I believe this has the potential to be a great account, bulk and even amusement-wise...and I have to be careful about being able to produce what I promise. I've been around the block enough times that closing a deal doesn't phase me much, I just need to be able to walk the walk once a deal is struck. If I'd heard "bring me a rack tomorrow", I'd have been out of luck...I'm readying my first rack this week! Thanks for the feedback... James This is great news, congrats! This certainly provides a more satisfying feeling than buying the established locations or using a locator. You did it in your own, you and the business you own got the location! Nice work. I just contacted a local grocery store with similarly no vending machines to be found, and what I believe to be a great opportunity just waiting to be had. After scoping out this store for weeks, and never managing to find the right person in the store to contact, I finally sent them an email through their website. This morning (less than 24 hours later) they replied, asking for a more detailed proposal from me in another email. Working on that today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Priusjames Posted March 5, 2013 Author Share Posted March 5, 2013 This is great news, congrats! This certainly provides a more satisfying feeling than buying the established locations or using a locator. You did it in your own, you and the business you own got the location! Nice work. I just contacted a local grocery store with similarly no vending machines to be found, and what I believe to be a great opportunity just waiting to be had. After scoping out this store for weeks, and never managing to find the right person in the store to contact, I finally sent them an email through their website. This morning (less than 24 hours later) they replied, asking for a more detailed proposal from me in another email. Working on that today. Thanks...good luck on your proposal, too! I'm scrambling to find machines to place...it's looking like the only thing that'll keep me from this deal is some kind of District Manager snafu, but it looks to me (after a Google search) like they aren't part of a chain. A guy can hope... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainor5251 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Congrats to both of you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Action Vending Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 James Im not sure where you are in CA but oak mfg is in LA and they had some like new 5 head racks for 265 so that would be a good place to check. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.