How many machines can you locate in a year???

[Rustinm]

Hello,

I was wondering how many machines people have located within a year. I am personally planning on adding at least 50 machines to my route in the next 6 months and i was just wondering if this is a realistic number. I just started using Midwest locators, which i have a thread describing my ongoing experience with them, but im not sure if they can work fast enough to hit 50 machines in 6 months. Let me know how many you placed and how you did so many so fast, i think i among other vendors would appreciate the advice.

[nam]

Rustinm,

Locating is sales. Only you can really answer your own question as one person might be able to locate 50 machines in one month and someone else might never be able to locate 50 machines. I've spent my entire life in straight commission sales only having had a "real" job once for 3 wks. It's been my experience in various sales jobs that 80% of the sales are done by 20% of the salesman. The vast majority of people that try sales are not able to do it successfully so they quit and work at regular jobs. If sales were easy and everyone could do it no one would be working on a assembly line in a factory. It sounds like you have done some locating yourself so you have a better idea than anyone else what you can do. If you have a "real" job you may not have the time to place all those machines in which case a locator like Midwest might be your best choice. I've not used them but from the posts I've read here in the forum they sound backed up and wouldn't hold your breath on them doing it either.

nam

[dapreachaman]

i placed 57 machines in about a 4 month period. I hired a locator for 20, but did the other 37 myself.

I dedicated one day a week to locating spending 4 to 5 hours businesses before the owners or managers pleading my case. Not every location has proven to be a good location, so I am out now attempting to relocate. This time around it is slower. Must have been the desperation to have machines out of office that got me so quick to locate before.

The thing I have found that works for me. Local charity, food banks feeding over 2200 families a month hard to say no to that, persistence, friendliness, i always ask them questions about their business and how they are doing, sometimes if it seems like they are searching for a no i offer a short term placement to try it out, so far no one has requested i move from those locations. I am always back in talking and befriending the owner or manager.

Biggest thing for getting lots of locations, Time and effort. You will have to put in the time to get 50 in 6 months. You can do it though.

[nepavend]

As the reigning lord of the cheesy location contest, I can tell you that it is always possible to do 50 machines in 6 months.  I have done 43 new locations in 10 days!

This year we are aiming for 400 new locations and 1,000 new heads into service by August 31.  Since my partner will not be a snowbird anymore this is extremely doable and we can also continue pushing into the fall!

Nam is correct, there is a big sales point in the business and locating is just that, you need to sell yourself and your product/service to the business in question.  You also need to visit a lot of businesses.

Another thing to keep in mind is that 50 new locations are great, but 50 new GOOD locations is much more difficult to accomplish, and you have to be more systematic and a bit more picky about your targets for new locations.  The temptation will be there to get the machines out on location but be careful not to place too many in bad locations, this is almost as bad sometimes because of closing businesses, stolen machines, and other issues may become a bigger problem than they have to be. 

[nam]

Hey Joe,

My right leg has been has been a little sore lately and the heat kinda gets to me. Have you ever wanted to visit Arizona? My wife is a good cook if you locate for food? Oh, and soon the weather will be over 100 most everyday so just think, free food and a tan while doing the locating!  

nam

[nepavend]

Nam, you have a PM.

[nepavend]

I am sorry for not completely answering your post.  I and my partner do all of our own locating.  I am lucky to have a partner who has 25 years experience but is just getting too old to do it all himself so he has been teaching me the business for the past year plus.

[Faith Vending]

My goal is 2 locations a week, I have gotten VERY picky from experience. I want enough employees or kids or traffic or all 3 or I will not do it. I know 1 or 2 people can support a machine but they will get tired of the candy over time or might leave the location.

I have used a locator with mixed results. I am always looking for opportunities; will ask my existing accounts for leads and try to hit at least one new location per day while in the collection cycle. Make a plan and follow it regardless of how many no's you get. Been many a day I have come home empty handed, but many days I have exceeded my weekly goal in one day. Don't get discouraged and every day promises new opportunities. All the info on this forum is a great help also.

Something that has worked for me lately is to break down the type of location you want to target and hit those, then move to the next type of business (restaurant; big box stores; car dealers etc). Of course while your driving to these spots you'll drive past 3 places you should go into to:D. Stay focused and write down the ones you pass for later.

Jim

[nepavend]

My 500th Post! 

Jim you make excellent points.  I try to follow something similar in where I always look for new or grand opening signs when I am servicing, I try to be the first one to ask new businesses for a location, especially restaurants and chinese places.  Sometimes being the first one is a big advantage since they are not burnt out with endless soliciting and telemarketing yet.

[sterling]

50 locations in 24 weeks is only a little more than 2 a week. If you plan on locating for just an hour or two every day. 10 hrs or so a week will land you 2. 50 is really doable yourself and save the locating fees!

[dkochan]

I was able to get over 100 locations in a year. I used a locator to find about eight locations because he is inexpensive.

[nam]

dkochan,

Fantastic job of locating! Using a locator for 8 locations and you placing the rest yourself is very commendable by anyones standards. I hope to do as well myself during the coming year or my wife may kick me out to go live in the storage areas with all my machines. lol

nam