Airport vending risks

[CanvasVending]

hello new vendor here.

Just bought my first machine and I'm setting up a meeting in a high volume, high foot traffic international airport.

Since this is my first machine and first location, I'm curious if anyone has any tips, advice or warnings about setting up in the airport.

I think it's a great location but maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.

Your wise experience is greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

[AngryChris]

It depends.  It sounds like you have some kind of niche thing going on because a newbie has 0.00000001% chance at securing any legitimate high traffic airport.  They usually require big contracts, lots and lots of equipment, high commission, special instructions, etc..  It tends to be a big undertaking that usually only large or very experienced well-established vendors acquire.  So unless you have some sort of a niche that no one else has OR some kind of inside contact, I don't see how you're even getting your foot in the door.  The reason I bring this up is because there is actually a lot you need to know abour airports for regular full-line vending.  If it's some kind of niche, then it depends on what that niche is.  The other possibility is that it's not actually high volume.  I'm just confused as to how you're setting up a meeting with an airport when you're a newbie.

[CanvasVending]

Hey Chris thanks for your reply! Yes selling specialized souvenirs in Vegas. (not food/drink items) Already have my specialized souvenirs in another vendors machines across the city doing VERY well. She's only able to rent me out one slot in 3 different machines but still selling a few hundred a month with just one slot. The airport machine(s) will have more product and higher quality items. I do have network connections as well. Right now vendors are taking 50% commission on my $25 items. High profit for them and me. I expect the airport to take a large percentage as well. Meeting isn't for a few weeks so right now just getting all my ducks in a row, loading up on product and online presence and proof of sales. Thank you so much for your feedback I appreciate it!

[AngryChris]

On 6/11/2023 at 2:24 PM, CanvasVending said:

Hey Chris thanks for your reply! Yes selling specialized souvenirs in Vegas. (not food/drink items) Already have my specialized souvenirs in another vendors machines across the city doing VERY well. She's only able to rent me out one slot in 3 different machines but still selling a few hundred a month with just one slot. The airport machine(s) will have more product and higher quality items. I do have network connections as well. Right now vendors are taking 50% commission on my $25 items. High profit for them and me. I expect the airport to take a large percentage as well. Meeting isn't for a few weeks so right now just getting all my ducks in a row, loading up on product and online presence and proof of sales. Thank you so much for your feedback I appreciate it!

If it's something like that, you are largely on your own because most of us here deal with our own niches.  Airports usually want a pretty big commission so I am guessing that is going to be your biggest hurdle.  Plan on something as high as 50%.  As long as you know how to price things when commission is involved, you should be okay.  The next hurdle I would say is dealing with airport security. You may need to ask how you deal with restocking.  I have limited experience related to airports and it always involved going through a separate gate (basically cargo/delivery/freight gate) and usually end up somewhere in the back of the airport near the runways.  That's all I remember about that.

[CanvasVending]

Ok perfect. Yeah wasn't expecting anything less than 50% so that's good. Also my dozens of years loading and unloading thousands of heavy dollies in high volume casinos and the empire state building should help since I'm used to all that fun headache! Pushing heavy carts and going through crowds of people on the 2 busiest foot-traffic streets in America. Guess all that's left is all the contract stuff which being a business owner in Vegas already is always the hardest part. Thanks again for your knowledge my friend.