Uncle Sam
Member
My second post in the ShurVend Users Group on Sep 3, 2007 of this Forum spelled out my “T L C” (Time, Location, Convenience) theory of high volume vending sales at a wash site. The Library on this forum has that article on the following link: http://autocareforum.com/vending.html
In my V-Blog #30 (2009) I proposed adding the idea that the vendor must “Stick out like a Sore Thumb” to the original theory for achieving high volume sales success in a car wash vending center. Many are not “country boys” like me, so they do not understand the term “Sore Thumb” indicating that the vendor should have “Walk Around” Visibility. Today I want add the obvious; the term “Security” is added to my theory. When we prioritize all these terms in order of importance, we have the “L S V T C” theory for successful high volume vending sales at a wash site. Over the years I think enough sales numbers have been published and/or posted on this forum to validate this theory as a Formula for High Sales Volume.
On my recent road trips to the Northwest & Midwest I visited customer washes and looked at many washes I came across to observe, study, and add information /understanding for the validation of the Formula above. It soon became obvious to me that all 5 factors are necessary or vending at a site could not reach its potential.
“L”—The Location of the machine is a very critical factor when installing a vendor for high sales volume. I think the best vendor location is at the end of a vacuum island near the middle of the vacuum islands. As posted previously the conventional wisdom of installing vendor’s near the bill changer (which is usually on the front wall of the equipment room) is still “set in concrete” by many in the car wash design business even though the new computer-controlled merchandisers do not need change to operate. I saw the placement of our vendors in front of the wash by the bill changer at many wash sites even though the vacuums were in the back of the wash or quite a distance away from the bill changer. This placement would not be too bad if the vacuum islands are located in the front of the wash.
Cont'd
In my V-Blog #30 (2009) I proposed adding the idea that the vendor must “Stick out like a Sore Thumb” to the original theory for achieving high volume sales success in a car wash vending center. Many are not “country boys” like me, so they do not understand the term “Sore Thumb” indicating that the vendor should have “Walk Around” Visibility. Today I want add the obvious; the term “Security” is added to my theory. When we prioritize all these terms in order of importance, we have the “L S V T C” theory for successful high volume vending sales at a wash site. Over the years I think enough sales numbers have been published and/or posted on this forum to validate this theory as a Formula for High Sales Volume.
On my recent road trips to the Northwest & Midwest I visited customer washes and looked at many washes I came across to observe, study, and add information /understanding for the validation of the Formula above. It soon became obvious to me that all 5 factors are necessary or vending at a site could not reach its potential.
“L”—The Location of the machine is a very critical factor when installing a vendor for high sales volume. I think the best vendor location is at the end of a vacuum island near the middle of the vacuum islands. As posted previously the conventional wisdom of installing vendor’s near the bill changer (which is usually on the front wall of the equipment room) is still “set in concrete” by many in the car wash design business even though the new computer-controlled merchandisers do not need change to operate. I saw the placement of our vendors in front of the wash by the bill changer at many wash sites even though the vacuums were in the back of the wash or quite a distance away from the bill changer. This placement would not be too bad if the vacuum islands are located in the front of the wash.
Cont'd
