How to Choose the Best Products for Your Car Wash Vending Machines
Whether you currently have vending machines at your car wash or you are looking to expand your business by adding new vending equipment, you need to make sure to choose the best products for your machines. Having the right mix of products ensures your car wash customers can find exactly what they need when they want it most.
Before we discuss what products you should stock in your vending machines, it is equally important to understand how vending machines can benefit your car wash business. In addition, you need to be thinking about how you can attract customers to your machines.
Vending Machines Encourage Impulse Purchases
One of the main benefits of having vending machines stocked with car wash materials and other items is that they entice people to make impulse buys. They might be thinking about how they need a new car freshener for their car or they are thirsty after washing and detailing their car. Then they see your vending machines and buy what they want.Vending Machines Work 24/7
You wouldn’t want to miss out on opportunities to upsell your customers various vending items. If you are looking for a reliable employee who can sell car wash materials to your customers 24/7, even on holidays and weekends, you need vending machines. With self-serve car washes, it is not uncommon to get people stopping by at all hours of the day.
Give Your Customers Payment Options
The key to selling items out of your vending machines is accepting a variety of payment methods. You could accept cash, add debit and credit card readers, or enable smartphone payment features.
The thing to remember is that millennials and younger people rarely carry cash these days. They either pay with a credit or debit card or use their smartphone wallet to pay. Not offering different payment options will hurt your vending sales.
Place Vending Machines in the Best Locations
The location of vending equipment is equally important. There is a common misconception that vending machines must be next to bill changers. With electronic payment options, this is no longer the case. You could have machines in several key locations at your car wash.
For example, you could have one machine in a secure location by your vacuum sweepers. You could have another machine in the middle section of your car wash bays. You could then have a machine on each of the car wash bay building. By placing machines in different areas, your customers won’t have to go far to buy the car wash materials they want.
Which Types of Vending Machines Are Best for My Car Wash?
Another consideration is to pick the right types of vending machines for your car wash. There are the traditional single, three-, and five-column vending machines. These types of vending machines normally feature a single product like different scents of car fresheners or Armor All products like tire shine.Traditional machines are easy to secure to the walls of your car wash. They can be placed in car wash bays or on the exterior walls. The only drawback with these machines is that most do not accept credit, debit, and smartphone payments, so you would also need a bill changer and an ATM at your car wash so customers could pay cash for the items they want.
Another type of car wash vending machine you could use is a non-refrigerated multiple-row vending machine. There are five to six rows that each have three or five columns for products. With this type of vending machine, you could feature a wider range of car wash materials, hand car wash equipment, and even non-perishable snacks.
A variation of the non-refrigerated multiple-row vending machine is a refrigerated machine. A refrigerated machine is perfect for keeping soft drinks and bottles of water nice and cold for your customers. You can also sell car wash supplies out of the same machine, such as microfiber cloths, sponges, tire shine wipes, and so on. The coolness of the unit won’t affect the quality of the car wash supplies.
When selecting a machine, consider which one would allow you to offer the best mix of products for your customers. Don’t forget to take into account how and where you can secure the machine.
For example, with the larger vending machines, you can secure the backs of the machines to a wall or place them in a secure housing structure, so the front of the machine is accessible by your customers.
Selecting the Best Mix of Car Wash Materials
It is no secret that the number one car wash vending machine items sold are Little Trees car fresheners. So, you would want at least one single five-column vending machine filled with Little Trees in different scents. If you opt for a larger vending machine, then you will want to use one row of the machine.For the other items to stock in your car wash vending machines, think about the processes used to wash and detail cars at your car wash. Your hand car wash equipment is probably set up to take care of washing the car.
Some customers may need car wash towels to help get off difficult dirt, mud, or tar. After they get done washing and rinsing the car, they may want to dry it too. Stocking microfiber cloths would be a good choice.
You will also want to stock an assortment of Armor All products since these are also top sellers at self-serve car washes. Tire shine, tire foam, original protectant, and glass wipes are all popular Armor All items. Another top item is “wax and dry” liquid wax in spray bottles.
If you stock microfiber cloths, you could use one row of your vending machine to sell larger bottles of car detailing supplies in addition to wipes. Some of your customers might have two or more cars, so selling larger sizes of car wash supplies could be all that is needed to entice them to buy from your vending machine.
Aside from these items, don’t overlook the money you could make on selling snacks and beverages too! Your customers may have kids they bring along, so being able to have access to snacks and drinks can benefit mom and dad while they wash and sweep out the car. Parents could also use the snacks and drinks as a reward if the kids help wash and detail the car.
Last, make sure to save a few spaces to try out new products with your customers, such as smartphone USB charging cables or portable chargers. Seasonal items also do well at various times of the year. For example, in the winter, lock deicer, heavy-duty floor mats, wiper blades, and snow brushes can be top-selling items.
Car Wash Vending Machine Selling Tips
While you might have some contact with your customers and can direct them to your vending machines, you cannot be at your car wash 24/7. It is important to make your customers aware of your vending machines and products by using these tips:
- Generating Customers: The easiest way to let customers know you have vending equipment onsite is by hanging up posters in car wash bays and by your vacuums. Make sure the signs stand out, feature a few of your top-selling items, and tell customers where the machine is located.
- New Products: When trying out new products, only order a small quality of items. This way, if they are not a hit with your customers, you won’t have wasted a lot of money.
- Clearing Out Slow-Moving Products: If you have items that are not selling, have a clearance sale. Make sure to hang up signs in car wash bays and near vacuums to let customers know what items are on sale.
- Tap into Social Media: If you recently upgraded or added vending machines at your car wash, announce it on social media. You could let customers know some of the top items you are selling, the location of the machines, and other details. Don’t forget to announce new products too!
- Upgrade Payment Options: If you still have cash-only machines, consider upgrading to credit, debit, and smartphone payment options. Once you do, announce the upgrade on social media, as well as hang up posters around your car wash.
- Sell Vending Items Online: If you want to expand your car wash vending sales, take them online. You could add an e-commerce section to your existing car wash website, where customers can order their favorite items from your online vending store. You could ship to their home or meet them at a scheduled time at your car wash to deliver their purchases.
- Keep Vending Equipment Looking Great: Customers will be hesitant to buy items out of vending machines that look rundown. Make sure to keep your machines looking great.