Pushing A Location

[WesternVending]

I'm not really sure if anyone here has mentioned this. But some of you who seem to need to relocate a-lot and have poor performing locations, What do you do to actually push and advertise in that location?

I mean from personal experience, when i advertised my machines, i got one of those nice and dandy Signs to put on top of my machines, you know, one of those signs you just can't miss, and you make the focus of the sign charity.

I will tell you, it can do wonders for sales when you make an attempt to advertise a machine and not just place it and let it sit there. May be something to think about for people who are pretty new to the business or people who are having trouble making money from their location and is quick to call there locater up to relocate.

Keith

Sales Representative

WesternVending LLC - Locating Services

586-276-7145

[sbishop]

do you have a pic of the sign

[nam]

Keith,

Welcome to the forum and good idea. I've not seen many out on machines but have been a little curious as to cost, attaching to different machines, etc.. I like the idea. I know some of the suppliers have them but do you have a source for buying large quanities at a lower cost? Or one that you found that worked better than others?

nam

[JPVendCo.]

i would like to see one of these signs> alot of locations might be upset by something too obnoxious

[WesternVending]

Guys.........

Please get in the right mindset, how do you know these things if you haven't tried it out?

I guess ill have to get pictures for you guys.

[WesternVending]

Kelly wrote:

I didnt say it wouldnt work. But I do believe it will not be "accepted" in every location.

Well seeing is believing Kelly, Try it out. It works well if executed properly.

[Jax Snacks]

The problem is that people will trash and rip off most outside labeling of any kind - including advertising. Same problem with people who try offering dixie cups. Also, the location usually does not want to turn the machine into a billboard since it can look a bit tacky.

Personally, I doubt that it will work. I have seen other machines over the years try it and they usually end up removing the advertising (or the machine) or it get removed for them by the customers who use it.

Of course, I may be willing to try it if someone else wants to pay for some sample signs! It's easy to tell people to be open minded when you are not paying for it or if you are profiting from it!

Jax

[dperry]

On a similar note....

I have one location (a mexican restaurant) that had a single gumball in the lobby by the door. I was getting about $65/mo from that location. The lobby is small and they moved the machine out of the way because it got in the way of the crowds during rush hour. So now it sits around the corner in a little vestibule. It still does well, like $20/mo but it's nowhere near as good as it used to be.

So I put in a flashing LED on the inside on the lid to try and attract the customer's eye. I put it in on the last servicing. I'll know how it did in just over a week. I'm concerned that the location owner may not like the new addition and want me to pull the machine. But,we'll see.

[shvend]

I have done some of the same things Darryl, in some of my locations I have added the led flashing display card holders. I have serviced the accounts several times since then, and they are all on the up. It was one of the best purchases I ever made. I am now trying to get them for all my 2" machines. I know Cardinal sales them and the operate on a D cell battery. There was someone on here that made them but I can't remember who. Hopefully somone on here can help referesh my memory.

[dperry]

Simon makes them. And it's easy. Just buy a flasshing led and solder it to a battery holder. The ones I used were prolly from cardinal too. They are just LED's that are on a clip that will connect to a 9volt battery or a battery holder that uses the 9volt connections. But it might be cheaper to just get them from cardinal. They don't advertise them on their website tho.

[WesternVending]

I'm very glad that a couple of people actually are trying this.

Dperry keep us all updated, like said before, this does work if properly executed.

But i will agree some owners are anal about it, but it does attract attention, and ultimately sales.

[Jax Snacks]

Well there is a BIG difference between advertising on the outside of the machine and the inside! I agree that flashing lights on the inside can help a lot. But advertising on the outside will usually get vandalized - which was the premise of the original topic. So I still say that advertising on the OUTSIDE of the machine where customers can actually touch it will utlimately get destroyed in most locations.

Jax

[nam]

How much do these things cost guys? Do they run non stop until the battery goes dead and how long is that on average?

nam

[WesternVending]

Jax Snacks wrote:

Well there is a BIG difference between advertising on the outside of the machine and the inside! I agree that flashing lights on the inside can help a lot. But advertising on the outside will usually get vandalized - which was the premise of the original topic. So I still say that advertising on the OUTSIDE of the machine where customers can actually touch it will utlimately get destroyed in most locations.

Jax

Not necessarily, Heck if it gets destroyed, sure does attract a lot of attention

[MrEen]

Well, there are some forms of attention you do NOT want.

When you started this thread, you mentioned the focus on charity. If the business owner is receiving nothing from the machine (s)he'd be more inclined to ask you to remove it at the first sign of trouble. I could see a commission account letting this go if their cut actually increased but I'll bet even that would be rare.

Most people take pride in their establishment and wouldn't want anything detracting from that. Especially anywhere there is plenty of competition.

I know I wouldn't want to be the vendor that says, "Yeah, they kicked me out, but that last month was killer!"

Scott

[WesternVending]

MrEen wrote:

Well, there are some forms of attention you do NOT want.

When you started this thread, you mentioned the focus on charity. If the business owner is receiving nothing from the machine (s)he'd be more inclined to ask you to remove it at the first sign of trouble. I could see a commission account letting this go if their cut actually increased but I'll bet even that would be rare.

Most people take pride in their establishment and wouldn't want anything detracting from that. Especially anywhere there is plenty of competition.

I know I wouldn't want to be the vendor that says, "Yeah, they kicked me out, but that last month was killer!"

Scott

Yeah you are correct in this regards. Im guess what i meant was a sign that wasn't too much of a problem, but enough for people to say, hey i might try that out.

The LED lights though are more of a better idea i think personally.

[the buzzing]

I've tried this method and in some cases it works and others nada. The owners doesn't mine too much regardless of their cuts or charity only...As long as the relationship is built up; they're cool with it, especially if it's to increase charity awareness.

[Jax Snacks]

Some will ask for permission and others will beg for forgiveness! Both have pros and cons.

Jax