one thousand sites +

[monte]

Hi there,
Is there anyone out there among you who is willing and able to discuss the implications of running a thousand or more sites?

I have had a long experience of running a Double Glazing business employing 50+ staff with all of the extreme nightmares that go with that so am now looking to invest into a different type of business altogether (with different nightmares, I am sure, but hopefully not so extreme).

All the best and good fortune for the New Year.

Monte..

[Coin Operated Group]

There was another operator that ran a 1000 sites employing staff however it didnt work out for him too well, maybe worth sending him a PM his username on here is bigvend.

[Rossi fan]

Hi,
I think it didn't work out for Bigvend because of the poor performance of the franchise model and staffing issues. However, I have reservations about anyone having 1000 towers. You will need quite a few reliable and honest staff, a very tight stock control system and a good site finding team. Some Ppl on here with 300 towers have stated that as you increase in size, you have to accept less profitable sites, so this needs to be considered. Also, how many other operators are ther in the area you are in. Just out of interest, where are you based?

1000 towers would have to be sited over a vast area, so I also see many issues with broken machines, call outs and wasted fuel. The other thing to consider is the vat. As tower vending is fixed price, you claim your input tax back, but you pay the output tax from your £1 before commission, so this lessens your profit.

I hope I have helped.

Regards,

Paul

[Vendingwarehouse]

Ring me on 07955252529 and I will go thru the pro's and cons with you on it.

[monte]

Matt, Paul and Noel........Thanks for your replies. I am sorry its taken a while to respond but I,ve been out of the country for a few days.
I am based in the midlands [South Staffs] and being used to operating a Mid-size Conservatory Installation Company, which I disposed of a couple of years ago, I thought maybe a thousand or so towers "will be a doddle"...
Seriously though....I have spent the last couple of years mainly writing and messing about with long term investements and now, I feel, the time is right to begin a new project.
The machine/vending industry appeals for a few notable reasons: (please feel free to pass comment).

LEVERAGE....(in growth).
Engaged within my old industry when a person wished to expand it went something like this:
increase advertising by another Two Grand a week,new salesmen,new builders,new fitters, new
vans,another manager in the office, a girl to follow him around,a new showroom,rent,rates,bills...
etc.etc.etc....you get the idea!
After the initial few years building the business up from just being me,my van and a toolbox I then went on and did the above described expansion not once but 4 times within the following Ten years.
This meant that apart from the initial few golden years with me and one or two others most of my life in the Conservatory game was, albeit financially rewarding, a very very painful experience with me chained to a desk ranting at some idiot through phone against my left ear and being ranted at by some poor sod via the phone in my other ear.
I sold up and swore never again...
So here I am.
Can Vending or similar really be that painfull?...........
That was one notable reason. I thought I had better leave the other reasons till later for fear of boring you to death.....
Regards Monte..

[Coin Operated Group]

With 1000 sites I would expect a similar ear bashin on a regualr basis albeit for a different complaint!!!

Your main problem with the towers is as you say yes you can expand constantly, however as soon as you expand and the larger you get your quality of sites tend to drop and you lose an awful lot of sites through customers changing their minds, pus closing or machines being stolen.

My initial thought for you would be test the water with maybe 50 towers? and then you will understand the task on hand a LOT clearer!!! Im not saying you cant make it work, just it is a lot more work and a lot harder work than most operators are led to believe or maybe think themselves.

[PGBrew]

Monte,

Before vending I was selling DG for Everest. Being self employed I was my own boss. This was perfect for me whilst setting up my vending business. I now have a largish diversified fleet which has been a full time business since 2008. I keep on top of my business & get about three service phone calls a day. For me this is the ultimate way to earn a good living relatively stress free.

If you are starting with towers, build up slowly, add pringles where required. before you get too large make sure that you diversify into other areas toys, blue pills, pinball kiddy rides. The worst thing you can do is go for 1000 machines all of the same type, you'll be chasing around from site to site picking up £40-50 a time working flat out 6 days a week not earning a great deal. If you diversify you could be picking up £400-500 from key sites as many people on this forun do.

Give me a call on 07920 260 960

Pete

[monte]

Thanks for that information chaps it all sounds very reasonable and unbiased.
With regard to creating diversity does anyone have any knowledge or experience of SWP machines,
in-particular the ones that Phil..."Bontempi" supplies.
I have noticed some old postings within this forum relating to this subject matter but they date back 3 years ago. I haven,t noticed any recent chat on the subject lately.

Regards.. Monte..

[monte]

Sorry folks....I just realised I,ve got that last statement regarding an earlier topic, "Phil", totally wrong.

Being a Newbie I read the date on the left of the screen (joining date) as the posted date.
Therefore the subject that I thought was being talked about 3 years ago was in fact a topic from last week......(what a wally)...

[Coin Operated Group]

Sorry folks....I just realised I,ve got that last statement regarding an earlier topic, "Phil", totally wrong.

Being a Newbie I read the date on the left of the screen (joining date) as the posted date.
Therefore the subject that I thought was being talked about 3 years ago was in fact a topic from last week......(what a wally)...

was a it confused when you said old topic swps??