ShurVend Vending Sales---Again

[Uncle Sam]

We are making some service calls here in California on our older vending centers to rehab and/or update them. We were recently in Southern California at a wash that installed a ShurVend Visi-Combo (refrigerated) Hi-Security vendor in mid-2002. The owner wanted to have the vendor "tuned-up" and look at some options for a new cage and adding another vending machine to the site. In the process of getting everything operating as the vendor should, we showed the owner how many vends and how much money in sales had been done over the past 8 years. The owner knew he had done well with the money he took to the bank, but never looked at the actual numbers.

Here are the numbers: 192,000+ vends and sales of $154,000+

This wash is a 9 bay self serve with no automatic and the vendor is in the middle of the bays facing the vacuum area. The vendor is easily seen and customers have walk around it to use one of the change machines. An example of the "Sore Thumb" idea with respect to a vending center.

The owner has another wash with a ShurVend Visi-Combo installed in the vacuum area. This site is a 4 bay self serve with an automatic. We looked at the numbers for this vendor also, but, for some reason, did not write them down. In a future post I can get those numbers.

Uncle Sam

 

[Whale of a Wash]

The number of vends is awesome, But the dollar amount is less than the number of vends, If he had put more 1-2$ items he could have averaged
Probably $1.25 per vend and had $240K . Sorry to rain on the parade.
I think it is smart to add a second vendor, it won't double your income but the variety would be awesome.
John

 

[Uncle Sam]

John,

Yes, the owner certainly could had made more money, but he had those 50-cent and 75-cent towels that he was used to vending with drop shelves. It is hard to get those old "drop-shelf" mind-sets changed and adopt the newer higher priced vending items that merchandise so well in the computer controlled glassfronts. There are still operators who think any vending item priced over $2 will not sell. To me the minimum price for a vending item in the modern vending machines should be $1. Then you can work toward that $1.25 average vending price over time.

ShurVend owners know the money that can be made in vending, but changing mind-sets is a very hard job!! You know and I know what can be done; we just have to keep the education going continuously, one operator at a time.

Uncle Sam

 

[Waxman]

One thing I love are the cc sales reports I get via email. Little numbers for me so far but it's fun to try and tweak sales and item selection/price etc. to make gains.

 

[Mr. Clean]

The dollar items move reasonably well at our locations. Every time something is introduced above that it sits until It either gets discounted or pulled. Four quarters is a tough mind set to crack around here.
MC

 

[Uncle Sam]

MC,

Since you don't give any information about your location or situation, it is hard to offer any suggestions. Don't know if you got drop shelves or a newer machine. Armorall has always been a good seller as a vended item and the pumps have always been priced at $1.25 to $1.75 and Tire Foam has been in the $1.50 range. I have seen some vending done with 25-cent and 50 cent towels which is just a waste of time and energy to vend because you can't make any money. Vend everything you have for a dollar and see if people won't begin to buy the higher priced items.

Uncle Sam

 

[Happycarz]

My 3 ShurVends average $1.26, 1.24 and 1.19. I have towels priced at $.75, 1.00, 1.50, & 2.00. Most of the other items are $1.00, with the fragrance pumps, Arm spray pump and Arm foam all at $2.00.