Self Locating Snack and Soda Machines

[Johnny Ringo]

In order to minimize start up costs and also to really get into the guts of the vending business, I am planning on finding my own locations for soda and snack machines. I have a background in sales and so does a friend of mine that will help me locate.

What advice do you have for finding locations? Should I walk into offices or phone? What types of presentation materials should I have? Contract or No Contract? Should I hit industrial business parks, factories, auto shops, hotels, apartments...? What is the best way to create a list of potential locations to call on?

I would like to appear very professional and be well prepared before approaching potential clients.

Thanks for all your help!

Johnny Ringo

 

 

[West Coast Vend LLC]

Yes, Yes, Yes to all these things

Contract or No Contract? Should I hit industrial business parks, factories, auto shops, hotels, apartments...? What is the best way to create a list of potential locations to call on? THAT'S A GOOD LIST OF POTENTIAL ACCOUNTS RIGHT THERE

I would like to appear very professional and be well prepared before approaching potential clients. HAVE PICTURES OF THE MACHINES YOU ARE TRYING TO PLACE ALONG WITH A CONTRACT IF YOU ARE PLACING MACHINES WITH A COMMISSION PAYOUT.

(Big No) to phone soliciting. If you want to find good, money making locations, you must go out and see the locations and talk to the real decision makers.

Gary

[Johnny Ringo]

Gary,

Thanks for the feedback. When speaking with the decision makers I would discuss topics as:

- free service for you employees

- exceptional customer service

- modern, clean, well stocked machines

- I am easy to contact and will respond quickly to any concerns

What else should I get into if anything? Is the main thing to stress customer service?

Thanks,

Johnny Ringo

[nam]

Johnny,

I thought Johnny Ringo just let his guns do the talking!  :cool:

nam

[Johnny Ringo]

nam,

Hehe...good point.

"You're gonna drink these sodas and eat these Cheese-Its, or else..."

Johnny Ringo

[nam]

You bet, back in Johnny Ringo's time, POS still meant Point of Sale. Point your gun and make a sale! Closing average would have to be good.   :shock:  Why yes Mr. Ringo, you can just place your machine right over there!

nam

[ageevending]

Well I completely disagree w/ WestCoast... I've located over 100+ full sized locations and never did door to door. The best locators in California are based in the midwest... they don't door to door...

You only have so much time in a day... you can call 100 locations a day... and you can only visit 20-30. Its a numbers game, you'll get one appointment for every 200 calls. 2-3 appts a week close one your doing good.

You probably can't fully locate over the phone... but you can get an appointment and close in person.

Price, Machine Types, type of snacks and sodas, service intervals are all the questions you'll get. Referrals are also probably necessary for bigger accounts.

My suggestion is buy a location or two and then build your market around those locations.

If you really want to start from scratch, map out your geography, find the large businesses in that area... and work down. 200+ employees first, 100+ 50+... and so on. Make calls everyday... get your appointments and eventually you start getting appointments... you'll get a placement or too...

Good luck

[coinvestor]

I agree with what agee said, except that starting out I would not even spend the time calling a 200 employee location. Chances of getting it with zero expeirence is slim, and actually being able to handle it is slimer.

 

JD

[Johnny Ringo]

Differing opinions are always welcome. When I get going, I will probably do a mix of in person and over the phone location finding. JD, I can sort of see how getting a big account at the beginning could be pretty overwhelming, so maybe I will start will some smaller businesses.

I'm going to spend the next week getting all my presentation materials, pitch, and answers to all their questions down before I start. I want to be professional and not trying to make things up on the fly.

[West Coast Vend LLC]

Agreevending,

Contrary to your name, you don't always have to agree with other peoples opinions.  I always thought that face-to-face selling was the best. From your stats on calls vs. actual placements, I think we are even. Now that I think about it, full-line would be easier to get appointments for than bulk vending, with just a phone call. I would be afraid to see what I would get if I started calling businesses for bulk machines. That explains why locators can find accounts much faster than I can.

Thanks for disagreeing with me. I see your point now.

Gary