Chris B Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Hopefully i'm posting this in the right place. I'm a new vendor, less than a year in with 5 locations currently. I run the route myself normally but I'm planning on going on a week long vacation next month (M-F). I was planning on filling up the machines at my locations the Friday afternoon before I leave but past history has shown that most locations run out of drinks before the week is out, about 5-6 days after last restock, so there will probably be several empty rows by Wednesday or Thurs while I'm out of town. I'm trying to figure out what to do about finding some temporary, short term help for that week so my customers don't have empty machines. I've thought about family but most have full time jobs already and the ones that don't I don't really trust to let them drive my truck and have full access to my machines, cash and storage space. I'm curious to know if any other small, one man show operators have had similar challenges and what did you do about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngryChris Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Those sound like good accounts. If the problem is that some selections run out too quickly in the soda machines, you could temporarily change selections with slower-selling flavors with the higher selling flavors. Say the mountain dew is out in 5 days but everything else can go longer. Just switch something slower with an additional row of mountain dew and leave a note saying the switch is temporary. That would theoretically buy you enough time. If EVERYTHING is sold out in 5-6 days, then the account warrants another soda machine (if it's possible to add one). My best account does about 12k/year and the soda machine could probably go two weeks before it's almost 90% sold-out (it's mostly cans) but the snack machine would probably only go 10 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYCandyMaN Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 To train anyone to do what you do would be terrible for you and your account, start training 6 months ago for work today! Filling a soda machine anyone can do, but can they do it right? Trust is important! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corvus Corax Posted March 21, 2018 Share Posted March 21, 2018 Are these combos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southeast Treats Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 That is a familiar problem for small operations. Not just for vacations, what happens if there is an illness or accident that sidelines you? My first few years I was lucky because I had no real backup. Eventually got busy enough to add a part timer, and lucky that I did because that was the year I ended up in the hospital.... I would not plan on your spouse, since that rules out vacations together (of course, some might like that!). It's tough to rely on family and like you said, trust is a thing. Is there a friend you can trust who can learn for fill-ins? Maybe a co-worker from another job that you have a good idea of their work ethic. Someone who might like an extra dollar once in a while but isn't relying on it. It's a tough spot to fill, since I imagine your accounts are like most and need to be serviced during normal hours (when everyone you know is already at work). Maybe an older friend who is retired. Whoever, pay them for a day every month or so to ride along and stay current (and interested). Accounts with a 5 day service cycle is a nice problem to have if the machines are full size. If you are servicing combos it might be time to think about upgrading to full size machines for the long term. Short term you may have to cut your trip a day short to get back and TCOB. Such is the life of a small business owner sometimes.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZVendor Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 In the 16 years I ran my company I only took one "vacation" which was to the NAMA show in Anaheim when we went to Disneyland for one day. One 3 day weekend was it in 16 years because I never trusted my employees enough to leave them any longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southeast Treats Posted March 22, 2018 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Not just trust, but no one runs your business quite like you do. It's your baby and you want to be there. But taking family time and personal time is critical too, however you are able to make it. 3 day weekends, cutting back in slow seasons, whatever. Nice thing about modern tech is the ability to do so much management from where ever you have an internet connection - but you can't stock machines that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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