Site Rapport and Tips to Maintain Vending Sites

[Siting Services]

Hi all

I thought we should help those new comers to vending by giving them a few tips of how to keep a site and how to get additional sites to increase business. I'll start with a few pointers, please add giving your experience of how to get it right as well as how to get it wrong!

Getting it Right!

Smile - works wonders, just don't eat Black Jacks before smiling, black teeth don't look good!
Keep vendors clean - who would buy from a dusty, dirty vendor?
Don't overstick labels - looks tatty and dirty and not to mention VERY unprofessional.
Politeness and respect to the site.
If they have a problem or issue, don't argue, they are the customer! Bite your tongue, smile (don't eat Black Jacks) and use the complaint as an opportunity to get it right. They will love you for it in the long run.
When changing products, ask them what they prefer, advise on new products - it's called MARKETING.
If a charity vendor, show them updated results on how much has been raised.
If a commission site, beef up their presence compared to your other customers, makes them feel very special.
Check BBE dates.
Place your vendor out of direct sunlight - the summer heat kills chocolate and chocolates love to be eaten, not thrown.
Acknowledge the site and thank them.
REACT to service calls, don't leave the site hanging on for days/weeks before they see you. If you can't get to them, RING them and advise.
Make sure the site can contact you - otherwise it's an opportunity for someone else to poach the site!

Getting it Wrong

All the opposite to the list above! (saves me writing the whole lot out again but in the negative)

Let's see how long we can get this list ...... challenge is to get to 100! I've put up 12, just another 88 to go!

King regards,

Barbara Fellowes

[Style]

13, If they have children, give them a freebie!
14, Give them a freebie.
15, If its selling lots of sweets, ask them if they would like a Pringles tower the same.

[Mark@YorVend]

16. Finish the day at a different pub site everytime, buy a drink and chat to the landlord! (easy for me as I don't drive)

17. If a site is selling well, mention (casually) that some customers take commission. This will make it a lot harder for other operators to poach by offering commission.

18. If you have several barbershop sites, get your haircut at a different one everytime you need it cutting. It will be a lot harder to dump you if your their customer aswel.

[dorsetvending]

16. Learn the site owners name. Use it regularly rather than "mate" to build rapour.
17. If they have a charitable event ask to support it with a free bag of jelly beans for a prize. They usually advertise donors names so this spreads your business name.
18. Ask the site owners if they want to double the money they make. Install toy machine if suitable site.
19. Place posters next to your machine, asking if anyone would like a free money making machine for their business.
20. Try using For Sale / For Free site on Facebook, offering your vending machines.
21. Use stickers on pots offering financial reward for any sites found.
22. Ask site owners if they have anyone within their business network that might like a machine.

[OscarHarris]

23) Remember their favourites when offering freebies, people are often very flattered when you know their usual. Makes them feel special. Small detail, big difference!

24) If the site owner has a child present, they will usually stand as close a humanly possible while you re-fill the machine. Disperse the comfortableness and get the little sods working..."do you want to help me refill the machine little man?" They love helping, the site owners love you making a fuss of their pride a joy and you get a helping hand for the price of a pot of sweets:) (who said child labour is a bad thing!)

25) If you have a problem with the machine causing it to go out of order. Always explain to the site owner what caused the issue and how you resolved it and the measures you have taken to stop it happening again (and what you will do if by some miracle the problem does reoccur). No one wants a problem machine on site and keeping them up to speed stops them thinking it's always going to be a headache and asking you to remove it.

26) If possible always engage in casual conversation with site owner, take an interest in what they are saying and make an effort to ask about it next time. This builds a stronger relationship over time. They are far less likely to turf you out to make a few pence on a pot if they know you a little. Just don't over do it, "how was your holiday?" = OK "we should rent a caravan in Devon together next year" may be going over stepping the line a little;)

[PGBrew]

27) Don't be daft....no freebies! I always counter with two for a £1. I sell loads doing this.
28) Ask them to call you if they are going bust.......Gives you a chance to haul your machines out!

Pete

[Siting Services]

29) Be organised and plan your week a week in advance.
30) Keep your servicing vehicle clean.
31) If planning on going on holiday and you don't want to be disturbed, transfer your calls to a professional answering company who will take a message and advise your customer that they will be visited on your return.