Are Vending Machines a Good Investment for a Car Wash?
When you are looking for ways to grow your car wash business, one business opportunity you should not overlook is investing in vending machines. Starting a profitable vending machine business to supplement your car wash earnings only requires a small investment on your part.Why Your Car Wash Needs Vending Machines
There are several reasons why your car wash needs vending machines, including:Vending Machines Are Easy to Own and Operate
It is easy to start using vending machines at your small business. You simply purchase and stock the machine with a variety of products.Increases Car Wash Product Sales
When customers purchase car wash supplies, accessories, snacks, and beverages from your vending machines, it helps increase your products sales.Helps Grow Your Profit Margins
The more items you sell out of your vending machines, the higher your profit margins will be. So, if you are looking for an effective way to increase profit margins with minimal startup costs, you cannot go wrong with vending machines.Can Be Customized to Fit Your Customers’ Desires
You can choose different types of vending machines and customize how you stock them. For example, you could have a snack and drink machine, another machine with air fresheners and Armor All products, and so on.Can Feature Seasonal Items
Vending machines are a great way to feature seasonal items your car wash customers need. For example, you can stock snow brushes, ice scrapers, and lock de-icer in the winter.Can Have More Than One Machine
The great thing about starting a vending machine side business is having more than one type of vending machine. For instance, you could have soda machines, snack machines, car wash accessory machines, etc.Opportunities to Expand Beyond Your Car Wash
You could easily start a side business and become a business owner of your own vending machine company. Not only could you have machines located at your car wash, but also at other nearby businesses, office buildings, shopping centers, and doctors’ offices.Sells Suggested Items for You 24/7
Vending machines work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They constantly sell suggested items to customers no matter what time they visit your car wash. You do not even have to be at the site to make a sale.Tips for Successful Vending Machine Sales
Part of generating healthy vending sales requires understanding how to utilize vending machines at your car wash best and using these great tips.#1. Consider your different vending machine options.
If you have a tight budget, start with smaller vending machines like a Little Trees air freshening machine and an Armor All products vending machine. Then, as your sales increase, you can get mega machines to feature even more items.Another affordable option is the Express Store. It offers an alternative to traditional vending machines, which is perfect for car washes where you are at the site. Besides costing less, the Express Store can hold more, offers a wide range of products, and provides a much better value for your money.
#2. Determine the best locations for placing your vending machines.
Where your machines are located is equally important. You want to place your vending machines in high-traffic areas where they are visible and easily accessible. If your car wash is open 24/7, place vending machines in well-lit areas.#3. Find a wholesale supplier to stock your vending machines.
If you want the best profit margins on the items you stock in your vending machines, you need to find a wholesale supplier and buy your items at wholesale prices. Plus, buying at wholesale gives you more flexibility in setting retail prices.#4. Choose what items to stock in your vending machines.
Putting all of your "eggs into one basket" is never a good investment. Instead, you want a product mix of vending items to entice your customers. You need to decide what items to sell your car wash customers. For instance, you could feature Little Trees Air Fresheners, Armor All wipes, Armor All tire foam, microfiber towels, water, soda, and snacks.#5. Determine appropriate prices for your items.
Pricing is equally crucial to ensuring a profitable vending machine business for your car wash. If you price items too high, they will not sell. On the other hand, you also want to avoid pricing items too low, as it can give the perception they are inferior products somehow.#6. Change out seasonal products regularly.
If you decide to feature seasonal products in your vending machines, you need to change them out at the end of the season. You don’t want to still have snow brushes in your vending machines when it’s the middle of summer.#7. Try out new items in your vending machines.
Deciding on the proper mix of items in your vending machines does require some experimentation. You should not be afraid to swap out items that are not selling or sell slowly with new items. Additionally, when new products are released, make sure to try them and see if they could become a bestseller.#8. Offer flexible payment options.
You need to offer your customers the flexibility to pay for the items in your vending machines. At the minimum, you should accept cash, debit, and credit cards. However, if you want to attract more customers, consider vending machines that allow you to accept digital wallet payments.#9. Keep accurate records of inventories and sales.
You need to have a running total of inventories of the items you stock in your vending machines. Doing so allows you to determine which items are selling the most and which ones are not. Plus, you will be able to track your sales and profit margins more accurately.#10. Discontinue items that do not sell.
Use your vending machines to your advantage to get rid of items that do not sell by featuring them on sale. Place a sign inside the machine or on the outside in front of the item to alert customers to the sale.Where to Purchase Vending Machines and Vending Items
It is easy to find the right types of vending machines and vending items for your car wash business at Superior Car Wash Supply. We offer a wide range of vending items at wholesale prices to make it easy to keep your vending machines stocked with the products and items your customers want and need.Please feel free to explore our online store or contact us at 800-554-9274 for further assistance and information today!