6 replies to this topic

[mjackson#5]

How do you approach an investment company who owns many businesses to place a gum vending machine?

[dloiselle]

I would do it the exact same way you would for anyone else. Remember, regardless of how many properties they own, they still put their pants on the same as we do. For example, I have a holiday lighting service, which I also deal with one of my areas premier Jewelers, and also have a very sizable project I do for a development company. They own about 20% of the commercial business in the city they are in.

The Jewelers I am on a first name basis with, and I also am on a first name basis with the owner of the development company. I provide them with exemplary service and that is how it all came about. I am no salesman, I believe in what I do, and know the quality of the service I provide. Part of the sales pitch for the lighting, increase customer base, employee moral etc.

Best of luck!!

[markvend]

Try to get to know their business well and offer it to them on the basis of a "free snack service" for their businesses. You could also offer them a commission if need be. I would possibly go in with a triple or double machine to get both gum and candy. If some business are large enough and they don't want the machines in public, go for the breakrooms. Also check here for Power tips on locating and my experience in locating hundreds and hundreds of machines for my company. It's good you're not afraid to approach large companies - go for it!

[Dennis-23]

I rarely know what I am going to say until I walk in the door. Most people fear the unknown and just walking in is the start to good things happening.

[RJT]

I rarely know what I am going to say until I walk in the door. Most people fear the unknown and just walking in is the start to good things happening.

Seriously??? I know this pretains to bulk vending but.....

I have seen many good opportunity blown by not knowing what to say or what questions to ask.

I see people all the time actually get a chance to talk to someone and either ask the wrong questions or not ask the right questions to put themselves in the best position to win a proposal but also put themselves in the best position to do a proposal that makes sense to their own vending company.

By asking the right questions you find out their pains and if doing business with them make sense to your own company.

Here is the example and their are many. You walk in and the person says "yes we would be interested in you looking at out vending and listening to what you have to offer."
You walk back to the break room and notice about average to cheap prices. One question I ask right off is if they are having any service issues out of their existing company. If they say, yes we are not happy at all with their service then I know their is a possibility I could go up on price and still win their proposal. I have gone up on pricing with many proposals and won them.

If they say yes we are somewhat happy but willing to listen to what I have, I ask about selection, healthy items, etc they might not be getting. Many times it is not just about price. If it is about price and they are already cheap then I just walk away. I got an account the other month that had $1.25 pastries and I went down to $1.00. so yes I do go down on occasion but only when it still makes business sense to me and my company.

So yes have a game plan and know what to ask and say be for you just willy nilly walking into an account. These accounts can be to hard to get into most times so you don’t want to blow it....

[Dennis-23]

Exactly my point once I'm in and can see expressions on faces and machines I know exactly what I'm going to say. Walking in for many is the hard part.

[Mijsons]

Dennis-23 you are absolutely right , I am agree with you....