Uncle Sam
Member
To an old engineer like me, who is trained to be very logical and a critical thinker, merchandizing is an inexact science that sometimes appears to me as a lot of ?baloney wrapped inside an enigma?. Over the years I have seen and observed ShurVend vending systems (and many other vending systems) whose sales volume numbers vary considerably from wash to wash. I wrote in August, 2007 about the ?T L C? (Time, Location, & Convenience) model for high vending sales volume. The article was published in the PC&D magazine later that year and posted in the Library section of the AutoCareForum: http://autocareforum.com/vending.html When I wrote it, I thought that the ?Location? of the vending center was the most important of the three. I still think it is, but a recent flash of ?inspiration? came to my mind and indicated that I hadn?t gone quite far enough. I would now like to correct my ?T L C? model to read the ?T L S C? model. The ?S? stands for the ?Sore Thumb Merchandizing Theory? reflected in the title of this blog.
The high volume vending sales installations that I know about are out in the vacuum island area and stick out like ?Sore Thumbs?. Customers have to walk around the vendor & security system when moving around in the vacuum area, so they can?t miss it. To reinforce and add credence to this theory, I cite the following. No one hates to go to a grocery or retail store any more than I do to pick up something for the ?lovely? at home. What action do these stores take to ?get my attention? on a new product or to move a product that is ?on sale?. They build a large ?end-isle display, a large in-aisle display, or an island display as big as a mountain? that you literally have to walk around to get through the store. You are forced to see it! To me this is a prime example of ?Sore Thumb Merchandizing?. Whether you like it or not, it works!
Cont'd
The high volume vending sales installations that I know about are out in the vacuum island area and stick out like ?Sore Thumbs?. Customers have to walk around the vendor & security system when moving around in the vacuum area, so they can?t miss it. To reinforce and add credence to this theory, I cite the following. No one hates to go to a grocery or retail store any more than I do to pick up something for the ?lovely? at home. What action do these stores take to ?get my attention? on a new product or to move a product that is ?on sale?. They build a large ?end-isle display, a large in-aisle display, or an island display as big as a mountain? that you literally have to walk around to get through the store. You are forced to see it! To me this is a prime example of ?Sore Thumb Merchandizing?. Whether you like it or not, it works!
Cont'd