Finding the right locations

I've looked at a lot of lists, and eventually came up with my own. I've used Bing Collections, as described here, to compile a list of 100 businesses in my area that I plan to target this month. The categories I chose to target are:

Auto parts supply stores
Auto repair shops
Barber shops
Bars
Chinese Restaurants
Family restaurants
Gymnastics
Hair salons
Karate
Martial Arts
Mexican Restaurants
Oil change and lube stores
Pizza
Restaurants
Skating
Teriyaki (they are on every block here, like Starbucks. Your results may vary.)
Video stores

I'm building a web page so that my fellow vendors can rate their successes with these categories and add their own that I've missed. You'll find it here.

Intro Script

I'm compiling a script for introducing myself and my vending service to the decision-makers at potential locations. In doing so, I expect to hear a lot of no's and I'm fine with that. I want to find customers who are really interested in hosting those machines. Here's what I've come up with so far:

Telephone intro script:

Hello could I speak to the owner or manager please. I am calling on behalf of Next Step Vending Service. Would you be interested in a small gumball machine placed in your business? We fill and service the machines at absolutely no cost to you!

I expect to modify and improve on this script as I go, but feel I've got a strong script to begin with.

When I receive a no, my plan is to suggest that if they have a change of heart in the future, they should check out my site at http://www.nextstepvending.com/ and consider us. I'm not looking for the hard sell. I want quality locations that are sincerely interested and value our service.

Compiling a List of Local Businesses

I wanted to compile a list of 100 businesses in my area to contact and have not yet been able to find a tool that will do exactly what I want. I may have to create one eventually, but in the meantime, I've found something that will suffice.

You want to start with Bing, Microsoft's new name for their search engine. You'll find it at http://www.bing.com/.

1) Click on Maps and enter your search criteria. For this example, I kept with the default "Espresso in Seattle". For my own purposes, I would want restaurants, bars, groceries, auto repair shops, salons, and such, but you can only enter one type of business at a time. And I chose to narrow my field by entering the zip code of my choice.

2) Once you have your search results, you'll see an "Add to Collection" link (I've circled one in red below.) You can click on this link even if you haven't yet created a collection.

3) A Save dialog will appear. If you have no collections, it will show "Unsaved Collection." Click "Save." Repeat this step with each link you want to add to your collection.

4) Repeat Steps 1 - 3 for each additional business type you select until you have the number of links needed in your collection (Bing will allow up to 200.) When finished, click on "Collections," then "Open Your Collections."

5) You'll see your collection of links. Toward the top, you'll see, "This collection isn't saved yet. Save it now." Click on "Save it now."

6) Give the collection a title. If you plan to share this collection with a spouse, colleague, business partner, make it something clear. I chose "Businesses in 98003" for mine. And to share, you'll need to make sure the boxes below are checked.

7) That's all there is to creating the list. I compiled a list of 100 businesses of the various types I wanted in the area I wanted to concentrate on. To find out why, click here...

UPDATE: I just discovered that you can also export your data into a file to import to your GPS device. So this would be helpful in making face-to-face visits as well.

Staking claim to your machine

You need something attached to your machine that identifies it as belonging to you and also gives contact information in case of a problem or somebody wants to buy your route, sell theirs, whatever. The first machine I bought (used, of course!) had a piece of notebook paper with the owner's name and phone number written on it, scotch taped to the back of the machine. Now that inspires confidence, doesn't it? I'd certainly want that person putting his machines in my place of business and servicing them regularly... NOT!

Even though I'm new to this business, I know what kind of business I'd want to deal with if I were on the other side, and I aim to be that kind of business. So here's a sample of my ID Labels, which are simple return address labels.

I've also heard of vendor disputes over ownership of a machine. Therefore, I recommend that as well as the label on the outside, you place one on the inside of your machine as well. If the outside sticker has been removed and another vendor tries to claim that your machine is his, simply pull out your key, unlock the machine, and show him the label.

P.S. I'm also in the process of ordering a couple of polo shirts with my logo on them. I'll share those too when available.

Tools I use

This section will hold links to tools that I'll be using in my vending business. Check back soon!