Why Location Is Everything

Everything in vending revolves around your location quality, not just the fact that you have one. A great machine in the wrong place won’t perform. Your goal: don’t just get a location—get a good one.

Top Location Types to Target

Residential Complexes

• Look for 100+ unit apartments, senior living centers, and large garden-style properties.

• Prioritize buildings with one centralized structure and high youth traffic near pools or bus stops.

• Success Story: A single customer made a $280 transaction using a smart vending machine like a grocery store.

Institutional Settings

• Includes schools, YMCA facilities, hockey rinks, and pickleball venues.

• These attract steady traffic and often have captive audiences tied to memberships or events.

Workplace Hubs

• Ideal: manufacturing plants, roofing companies, and warehouses with round-the-clock shifts.

• Multiple shift patterns = sales across breakfast, lunch, and dinner times.

Mixed-Use Locations

• Think churches, transit depots, and event arenas.

• These offer high-volume, event-based spikes but can be seasonal or inconsistent—high risk, high reward.

Lead Generation: Where to Hunt

Old-School Driving

• Look for full-time parking lots and pop in.

• Tools: Google Maps, Yelp, or Chamber of Commerce directories help you plan stops.

Filtering Good Locations

Use these three filters when evaluating a lead:

Occupancy & Foot Traffic

• Visit during peak hours—is the parking lot full?

• Do people still work there on Friday afternoons?

Availability Window

• Prioritize 7-day/week or 24/7 locations like urgent care or vet hospitals.

• Avoid employers who go remote on Fridays or weekends.

Machine Placement

• Ensure machines are easily accessible.

• Avoid isolated areas like pool houses that are only used 3 months a year.

Qualifying the Lead on Your First Visit

When you pop in:

Ask who oversees the amenities and talk directly to them.

Questions to ask:

• “Are you happy with your current vending services?”

• “How many people visit or work here daily?”

• “Would you prefer more modern snacks like Poppy over Diet Coke, or pre-made meals instead of candy?”

Red Flags to Disqualify a Lead

They Ask for High Revenue Share

• If they ask for 15%+, they see vending as a cash cow—not as an amenity.

Empty Parking Lot

• An empty lot at 2 PM on a weekday means poor traffic.

Poor Placement Request

• If they want it hidden in a storage closet, try to move it to the lobby.

• If they resist, walk away—visibility is critical.