Growing your business - birddogs

[mission vending]

I've been reading with interest some of the ongoing threads about locators and everyones experiences both good and bad. I don't mean to knock locators as a whole, but most of my experiences with locators have not been overwhelmingly positive. (FWIW I have not used anyone that advertises here or is on this website)

Anyway I thought I'd mention another way to grow that I have not seen mentioned is the use of bird dogs. In this case a "bird dog" is someone who works for someone else in a B2B environment and "points" out potential locations to you.

In my case I have several bird dogs, one works for a bottled water service and another works for a copier service. I have spent some time with them to show and explain what I am looking for in a vending account, made sure they have an ample supply of business cards and let them look for locations for me while performing their regular job. They get $25.00 for a referral that leads to a QUALIFIED appointment and another $75.00 if I set machines. Using this method I have not needed the services of a locator for nearly 5 years and have been able to get as much business as I have been willing to take on.

Anyone else use or try this idea before?

How many of you guys out there have a location that has outside sales reps that you could talk to and get them to do this for you? Some will, some won't, so what, who's next?

The way I have them work for me is to simply take an extra minute when at a location(if they have time) and check out the vending. If the machines are old, out of order, etc.  they can let me know and I will follow up from there. They can also(their option) find the point of contact and tell them they have a friend in the vending business that can improve their vending situation, hand them my card and tell them he will get me to call them to come and talk to them about their vending. Simple as that.

[soco]

Thank you for a really interesting piece of advice.  I propped open the door for the Poland Springs delivery guy just this morning and now I'm thinking "I just missed a great opportunity!"  As my daughter would say, "Duh Mom..."!

[soco]

Thank you for a really interesting piece of advice.  I propped open the door for the Poland Springs delivery guy just this morning and now I'm thinking "I just missed a great opportunity!"  As my daughter would say, "Duh Mom..."!