After spending a lifetime selling food I made the decision to retire. I still stay in touch with the vending industry that treated me and my family so well. Now we are spending time traveling around the country and enjoying the sites that this wonderful country has to over.
Southern California the central valley to be specific is a beautiful place. Coming from Iowa the weather in January is sometime to die for. In January they are picking Navel oranges and lemons. The central valley grows many fruits and nuts.
I would like to encourage all of you to work your businesses hard while your young so that when retirement comes along you can follow your dreams of what retirement means to you.
Dennis
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Thursday, January 28, 2016
Friday, November 16, 2012
I was out on routes Tuesday and Thursday this week. I now have 166 accounts and I'm adding 5 new accounts each day out. Tuesday I took off with 5 boxes for growth and along the way lost 4 accounts. Had to pick up 9 new accounts to be where I wanted to be at the end of the day.
The first snack box route I built years ago grew at a pace of 2 new accounts per week in the beginning then 2 per day later on. Growing at the pace I'm growing this time makes it seem like more are dropping off but I think it is just more noticeable because of the quicker growth.
Sales are running just shy of $20.00 per box at this time. The one area I have let down in is carding those that have to high of shortage. I'm starting to rectify that problem now before it gets out of control.
With Vistar's 50 case minimum order there has been no profits in the books at this point but in the next 1 to 2 weeks I'm anticipating my first profit. The profit is about a week late at this point in time from what I had anticipted in the beginning.
I'm a much happier person today than when I was in the corporate world and have no regrets about leaving my previous employer, they are a great company I'm just not a good employee.
I will be ordering more boxes soon as I just opened the last case. Thanks to all of you that have sent words of encouragement it means a lot to me.
Dennis
The first snack box route I built years ago grew at a pace of 2 new accounts per week in the beginning then 2 per day later on. Growing at the pace I'm growing this time makes it seem like more are dropping off but I think it is just more noticeable because of the quicker growth.
Sales are running just shy of $20.00 per box at this time. The one area I have let down in is carding those that have to high of shortage. I'm starting to rectify that problem now before it gets out of control.
With Vistar's 50 case minimum order there has been no profits in the books at this point but in the next 1 to 2 weeks I'm anticipating my first profit. The profit is about a week late at this point in time from what I had anticipted in the beginning.
I'm a much happier person today than when I was in the corporate world and have no regrets about leaving my previous employer, they are a great company I'm just not a good employee.
I will be ordering more boxes soon as I just opened the last case. Thanks to all of you that have sent words of encouragement it means a lot to me.
Dennis
Sunday, November 11, 2012
My business is definately taking a turn for the better as time goes on. The new route is up to 28 accounts now, another route has 37 and the other 3 routes have 30 so I now have 155 accounts. I thought I had 156? I may have to count the routes when I'm getting ready to fill boxes.
This past week I was out on a route 3 times. I picked up 25 new accounts. Two of the routes I picked up 10 new accounts and the 3rd route I picked up 5 new accounts. Going forward with the routes filling out I'm going to drop down to 5 new accounts until each route hits 60.
I don't know if any of you can associate with what I'm about to say but here goes. I have worked with some great salesmen in my life but I'm not in that catagory. One morning this past week my wife and I where drinking our morning cup of coffee when I told her that at that time in the morning I'm always worried that I won't be able to make the sales goals I have set for myself.
She looked at me kinda funny and said that surprised her. I told her it was true and that doubting my sales ability has always been there for me. I deal with my doubts by making myself get out of the vehicle with a box in hand and head into that first door each day.
Once inside the presentation starts to flow from my mouth, the fear seems to end and I begin to enjoy the people I'm meeting for the first time. I have a policy to thank the ones that don't buy for listening to my presentation. If someone will listen to me I feel they have done everything that I could expect from them.
I hate the thought of being a failure and putting this on VENDiscuss has put me in the hot seat. There may come a day when I won't make my sales goal. I just want all of you to know the day after that, I will get up and do it all over again.
Dennis
This past week I was out on a route 3 times. I picked up 25 new accounts. Two of the routes I picked up 10 new accounts and the 3rd route I picked up 5 new accounts. Going forward with the routes filling out I'm going to drop down to 5 new accounts until each route hits 60.
I don't know if any of you can associate with what I'm about to say but here goes. I have worked with some great salesmen in my life but I'm not in that catagory. One morning this past week my wife and I where drinking our morning cup of coffee when I told her that at that time in the morning I'm always worried that I won't be able to make the sales goals I have set for myself.
She looked at me kinda funny and said that surprised her. I told her it was true and that doubting my sales ability has always been there for me. I deal with my doubts by making myself get out of the vehicle with a box in hand and head into that first door each day.
Once inside the presentation starts to flow from my mouth, the fear seems to end and I begin to enjoy the people I'm meeting for the first time. I have a policy to thank the ones that don't buy for listening to my presentation. If someone will listen to me I feel they have done everything that I could expect from them.
I hate the thought of being a failure and putting this on VENDiscuss has put me in the hot seat. There may come a day when I won't make my sales goal. I just want all of you to know the day after that, I will get up and do it all over again.
Dennis
Friday, November 2, 2012
Route Still Growing
It is Friday afternoon and the money has been counted from the boxes I run yesterday. The sales have been picking up on the last 2 routes I ran. Product sold was 18.50 per box and money in the box was 14.50 giving me 21% shortage.
The shortage will come down as from this point on I'm going to be carding the worst offenders. I think some of the resistance to the $1.25 price is breaking down, I was sure that it would with time.
I added 20 new acounts the last 2 days I was on routes. My total number of accounts is 131. Next week when I start running the routes that have 30 accounts on them I may start placing 5 new accounts per day instead of the 10 or more I have been placing up till now.
As the routes fill out and the accounts have been on the route for a month or two I think that sales per box are going to increase to around $23.00 to $25.00 and the money in the box will climb to $17.00 to $19.00 per cycle.
I've had a few accounts dump there snack box operator and take my box even though it is $1.25 versus theirs at $1.00. I had even more take my card as their present operator is not able to offer much chocalate because of being at $1.00.
My thought is give people what they want and charge them accordingly. You may miss some accounts when your selling but in the long run it is going to pay.
The shortage will come down as from this point on I'm going to be carding the worst offenders. I think some of the resistance to the $1.25 price is breaking down, I was sure that it would with time.
I added 20 new acounts the last 2 days I was on routes. My total number of accounts is 131. Next week when I start running the routes that have 30 accounts on them I may start placing 5 new accounts per day instead of the 10 or more I have been placing up till now.
As the routes fill out and the accounts have been on the route for a month or two I think that sales per box are going to increase to around $23.00 to $25.00 and the money in the box will climb to $17.00 to $19.00 per cycle.
I've had a few accounts dump there snack box operator and take my box even though it is $1.25 versus theirs at $1.00. I had even more take my card as their present operator is not able to offer much chocalate because of being at $1.00.
My thought is give people what they want and charge them accordingly. You may miss some accounts when your selling but in the long run it is going to pay.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Start Up Continues To Grow
Hello,
Its Sunday afternoon and it's time to update for those that are interested. I've been out 2 times since the last update. I started a fifth route to put more time in between deliveries. The reason for the fifth route is sales are not where I want them to be.
Still getting resistance to the $1.25 price tag but I know it is the right thing to do with the price of gas and all other expences. I'm sure with time they will stop resisting the price. Every time I have raised prices there has always been a temporary dip in sales.
I will start replacing a few accounts in a few weeks if sales don't increase but I don't want to do it to quickly.
In the last two days out on the route I picked up 28 new accounts and now have 110 total accounts. Starting the fifth route I now plan on 300 accounts for this route. Ottumwa is the location of the new route and is wide open that is a welcome thing.
Its Sunday afternoon and it's time to update for those that are interested. I've been out 2 times since the last update. I started a fifth route to put more time in between deliveries. The reason for the fifth route is sales are not where I want them to be.
Still getting resistance to the $1.25 price tag but I know it is the right thing to do with the price of gas and all other expences. I'm sure with time they will stop resisting the price. Every time I have raised prices there has always been a temporary dip in sales.
I will start replacing a few accounts in a few weeks if sales don't increase but I don't want to do it to quickly.
In the last two days out on the route I picked up 28 new accounts and now have 110 total accounts. Starting the fifth route I now plan on 300 accounts for this route. Ottumwa is the location of the new route and is wide open that is a welcome thing.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
My Snack Box Start Up
Things have been going as planned up to this point. Last Thursday I went out with 20 boxes run the ten accounts I had and then placed 10 new accounts. Sales on an 8 work day cycle are running a little over $13.00 per box and right at 20% shortage.
I went to Muscatine Monday with 20 boxes and run the 10 established boxes and then placed 10 new accounts. My wife had taken the day off it was her birthday and I had hoped to get back early. As you might guess it was the longest day I have had since starting the route. I got done with the route and had placed the 10 new boxes about 2:30.
One of the stops I run yesterday did a decent amount of sales but the coin box was gone. This happens in this business I relate it to a board going bad in a machine. You don't want the coin box to come up missing nor do you want to buy a new board for a vending machine.
I will begin running 20 boxes tomorrow and my plan is to place 10 new accounts making my first 30 account route. By placing 10 new accounts each day I have been able to place a 50 case order every two weeks with Vistar out of Chicago.
I think at the beginning of this start up my wife may have wondered if I still had what it takes to start a new business at my age. I hope and trust that I have convinced her I still have what it takes. I have 82 boxes placed now and the goal of 240 is getting closer.
As Hanable on the A Team would have said it's nice when a plan comes together.
I went to Muscatine Monday with 20 boxes and run the 10 established boxes and then placed 10 new accounts. My wife had taken the day off it was her birthday and I had hoped to get back early. As you might guess it was the longest day I have had since starting the route. I got done with the route and had placed the 10 new boxes about 2:30.
One of the stops I run yesterday did a decent amount of sales but the coin box was gone. This happens in this business I relate it to a board going bad in a machine. You don't want the coin box to come up missing nor do you want to buy a new board for a vending machine.
I will begin running 20 boxes tomorrow and my plan is to place 10 new accounts making my first 30 account route. By placing 10 new accounts each day I have been able to place a 50 case order every two weeks with Vistar out of Chicago.
I think at the beginning of this start up my wife may have wondered if I still had what it takes to start a new business at my age. I hope and trust that I have convinced her I still have what it takes. I have 82 boxes placed now and the goal of 240 is getting closer.
As Hanable on the A Team would have said it's nice when a plan comes together.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
I took off Friday with 20 boxes, 10 to service the 10 existing customers and 10 for new accounts. I had 2 new accounts early. As I was running the existing accounts one told me they had changed their mind and wanted me to take my box out. They had 2 boxes from a competitor and they only charge $1.00 per item.
Now to stay even with my goals I needed to place 11 boxes. As my day progessed I had 2 of my existing accounts that where closed. I have not counted the money yet but it looks as though 2 of the 8 boxes I brought back didn't do much. The other 6 look normal to heavy use.
I do think I'm getting some resistance to the $1.25 price but still think it will pan out to be a good move.
I placed 11 new accounts but still had 2 full boxes because of missing 2 accounts and it was about 1:30pm. I decided to use the 2 boxes and went looking for more new accounts. At about 2:30 I had picked up a couple more accounts and now I have 52 accounts on my 4 routes.
I'm having a good time walking into so many businesses. Every morning at the YMCA gym there is a gentleman that comes in shortly after my wife and I get there. Until Friday I had no idea who he was. I walked into the Sterzings Potato Chips factory office and there he was. He and a freind bought the company a couple years ago.
He come over and listened to my presentation and said no he wasn't interested. We talked for a while and I passed a message on that a piano performer in Jamaica had asked me to give a freind of his that had married into the Sterzing family over 30 years ago.
It is truly a small world with many enjoyable people in it. Every day that goes by reconfirms that leaving my former employer was the right move for me.
Now to stay even with my goals I needed to place 11 boxes. As my day progessed I had 2 of my existing accounts that where closed. I have not counted the money yet but it looks as though 2 of the 8 boxes I brought back didn't do much. The other 6 look normal to heavy use.
I do think I'm getting some resistance to the $1.25 price but still think it will pan out to be a good move.
I placed 11 new accounts but still had 2 full boxes because of missing 2 accounts and it was about 1:30pm. I decided to use the 2 boxes and went looking for more new accounts. At about 2:30 I had picked up a couple more accounts and now I have 52 accounts on my 4 routes.
I'm having a good time walking into so many businesses. Every morning at the YMCA gym there is a gentleman that comes in shortly after my wife and I get there. Until Friday I had no idea who he was. I walked into the Sterzings Potato Chips factory office and there he was. He and a freind bought the company a couple years ago.
He come over and listened to my presentation and said no he wasn't interested. We talked for a while and I passed a message on that a piano performer in Jamaica had asked me to give a freind of his that had married into the Sterzing family over 30 years ago.
It is truly a small world with many enjoyable people in it. Every day that goes by reconfirms that leaving my former employer was the right move for me.
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