New Vendor on Way - What Items 2 Stock?

[Red Baron]

New 18 item glass front vendor on the way to replace my 5-column D&S electronic vendor. I'll double down on my big sellers like blue & white towels, Armor All Original and Multi, and Wet Towels, so what other 8 items would you recommend?

If you're thinking Little Trees, won't those compete with my frag vacs?

 

[MEP001]

If you're thinking Little Trees, won't those compete with my frag vacs?

I don't believe so - I think the people who use the spray fragrance do so because they don't like hanging the tree in their car and vice-versa.

The items I stock in order of best to worst sales are towels, Armor All sponges, new-car trees, wet towels, Tire Foam cans, cotton terry towels, Armor All protectant bottles, then lastly is Simoniz cleaning wipes (Very poor seller). Several people have told me that condoms sell well.

 

[MudMoney]

I take a small blue towel and wrap it with a rubber band around the 4oz armor all and glass cleaner. I also vend condoms,wrap 3 together with rubber band also,draw back to condoms is there is an expiration date,so don't order too many at once.My poorest seller is leather conditioner.Trees are new car,cinna-berry,vanilla pride,rainbow rush,coconut,pina colada.This time of year I drop coconut for spiced pumpkin.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Window cleaner packets are good seller. Bug and Tar packets good summer sales. As stated, some like the hanging Air Fresheners, some will use the spray machines. You might consider small spary bottles of air freshener.
Hav you considered custom Air fresheners. Luv to see cars running around with my advertising hanging from their mirror.

 

[Red Baron]

Btw, I would have bought from Sam but I traded a scizzor lift for this vendor.

What do you think about vending packets of tokenotes for IBA washes, maybe in lots of $36, and $90? I figure I could rubberband them to an item that vends dependable, like a Wet Towels. My concern is twofold:

1. Having high value items in the vendor might entice a breakin.
2. If a $90 purchase fails to vend, customer might beat the crap out of the machine.

 

[Eric H]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Black Jack. Mequires protectant wipe was one of my big sellers until they discontinued them
For trees: New Car, Vanilla, cherry, strawberry, and Black Ice. Black Ice and New Car are my top sellers

 

[Jeff_L]

I second Eric's comment about Black Ice and New Car. Black Ice outsells everything in my vendor, including the Dr Pepper!

 

[Earl Weiss]

Btw, I would have bought from Sam but I traded a scizzor lift for this vendor.

What do you think about vending packets of tokenotes for IBA washes, maybe in lots of $36, and $90? I figure I could rubberband them to an item that vends dependable, like a Wet Towels. My concern is twofold:

1. Having high value items in the vendor might entice a breakin.
2. If a $90 purchase fails to vend, customer might beat the crap out of the machine.

I think from a marketing perspective you would have trouble getting people to spend that much $. I would set price points of no more than $20.00. Increments of $5.00 or $10.00. Why not experiment?

 

[chaz]

I can't imagine not have the the tre brand air freshner... black ice and new car for sure. Also, unless you are selling out of an item between visits to your wash, I would not double up any item as there are too many great items to sell. I have two different disposable towels and the microfibre from sams/costco.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I can't imagine not have the the tre brand air freshner... black ice and new car for sure. Also, unless you are selling out of an item between visits to your wash, I would not double up any item as there are too many great items to sell. I have two different disposable towels and the microfibre from sams/costco.

I couldn't either. I think well known brands like Armor All and Rain X maean a lot.

But , I got custom freshenrs with my addresses for giveaways with the wash package and started selling them alongside Little trees in my C store. After a while I noticed people actualy lloking and asking for the custom fresheners. No doubt they became familiarwith them thru the giveaways . I have now converted all my vendors to custom fresheners. They have Black ice and New car scents.

 

[Eric H]

Earl, what is your source and cost for the custom AF?

 

[JMMUSTANG]

I sell a case of the small can of Sprayway glass cleaner from C.W. superstore about every 2 months-retails for $2.
Microfiber towels, Ozium air freshener both retail for $2 from K.R. sell good for me.
Small Armorall spray can retails $2, one case every 2 months.
I've got a case of Meguires Dash cleaner(K.R.) in April to try and had to re-order another case in July retails for $2.
I like to get products in the $2 price range as much as possible.
Bought the Black Ice spray (small can) that my son said I just had to try-not selling to good for $2.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Earl, what is your source and cost for the custom AF?

This is who I use.
http://www.customfresheners.com/custom_products.html
I generaly deal with Ken Flowers. Great name for an air freshener company owner.

 

[Waxman]

what sells for me

Armorall original
Black Jack
lemon wet wipes
Armorall cleaner
rainX original
black ice tree
nucar
vanilla pride
cherry
leather scent tree
seasonal tree (right now is cinnamon apple)


what doesnt sell for me;

t+a / hunks air freshner
steel wool pads
bottles of wheel cleaner
hot wheels cars

 

[jprb]

I buy Black Ice little trees by the case (12 boxes). If you don't have black ice trees, try a box!! They have been a great seller along with new car, pina colada, wild cherry, and vanilla pride. Armor All protectant and cleaner both sell well, too. I do well with the small tire foam cans.

I agree that I wouldn't double up on products. Try some of everything and see what sells. If it doesn't sell, give it away to customers in a personallized car trash bag/goodie bag!

Jprb

 

[pitzerwm]

Earl, why not do a review on Custom Freshners?

 

[Earl Weiss]

Oops forgot to answer the price question. Website says 36 cents a piece. I think he also has "Show Specials" . Met him at the ICA show and I think it may have gone as low as 34 cents a piece, maybe lower in quantity.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Here's another idea. Saw it in an industry mag. "Car Coasters"

http://carcoaster.biz/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CCJACP&Category_Code=TOCC2I1AFM

An air freshenr (customizeable) that fits in nthe cupholder as an alternative to hanging.

They sent me free samples. Put them in my C Store to see what happens.

Downside - not as visible as hanging .

Upside. People may like it.

I think it's a great idea. Will the customers?

 

[JMMUSTANG]

Here's another idea. Saw it in an industry mag. "Car Coasters"

http://carcoaster.biz/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CCJACP&Category_Code=TOCC2I1AFM

An air freshenr (customizeable) that fits in nthe cupholder as an alternative to hanging.

They sent me free samples. Put them in my C Store to see what happens.

Downside - not as visible as hanging .

Upside. People may like it.

I think it's a great idea. Will the customers?

Earl how much are selling them for? Are you vending them?
I have one of Sams venders and was wondering if they would fit.
How tall are they (compared to little trees height)?

 

[Randy]

Red Baron, Which 18 item glass front vender are you installing? The little Half Pint? It’s a good vender, it’ll work a lot better than the D&S vender.