How to Find Profitable Locations for Your Vending Machines: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why Vending Machine Placement Makes or Breaks Your Business

If you want your vending machine business to be successful, it's important that people can see and get to it easily. If you put your machine in a busy place, you will make money. But if you put it in a place where not many people go, you will not make money. NewFuns knows a lot about this and says that choosing the right place is the most important thing for a successful vending machine business.

1: Research Your Target Audience & Local Demand

• Understanding Your Customer:
  • Begin by defining your ideal customer. Are you targeting students, office workers, or gym-goers?
  • Analyze their demographics, preferences, and purchasing habits.
  •  
• Assessing Local Demand:
  • Research popular products in your target area.
  • Consider local events, festivals, and seasonal trends that might influence demand.

  • Example: High-performing machines in transit hubs earn 1,000−1,800/month, while poorly placed units in low-traffic areas struggle to hit $200/month (Source: National Automatic Merchandising Association, 2023).

  •  
  • Research Your Target Audience & Local Demand Actionable Strategy: 
  • Step 1: Map Demographic Gaps
    Use free tools like Census Business Builder to find areas with:
  • Areas with high concentrations of people during the day (e.g., office clusters).

  • Step 2: Validate Demand On-Site

    • Conduct a 2-hour observation at potential spots (e.g., count foot traffic between 12-2 PM).

    •  

    • 2: Identify Top 10 High-Traffic Location Types

      Based on our industry expertise, here are some of the most promising locations:

    • Offices:	High concentration of employees with limited access to outside options.
      Schools and Universities:	A constant flow of students seeking snacks and beverages.
      Hospitals and medical centers:	Long waiting times and a need for convenient refreshments.
      Gyms and fitness centers:	A growing demand for healthy snacks and hydration.
      Factories and industrial parks:	Workers with limited break times and a need for quick meals.
      Transportation Hubs (Stations, Airports):	Travelers seeking on-the-go snacks and drinks.
      Shopping Malls and Retail Stores:	High foot traffic and a captive audience.
      Apartment Complexes:	Residents seeking after-hours convenience.
      Hotels:	Catering to travelers seeking late-night snacks and beverages.
      Entertainment Venues (Cinemas, Theaters):	Captive customers seeking refreshments.

    •  

      •  

      • 3: Evaluate Locations with a 5-Point Checklist

      • Criteria	Key Questions
        Peak Traffic	Does lunchtime foot traffic exceed 100/hour?
        Dwell Time	Can customers wait 5+ mins (e.g., in waiting rooms)?
        Competition	Are there <2 direct competitors within 200 m?
        Safety	Is there CCTV coverage and evening lighting?
        Landlord Flexibility	Will they accept a 3-month trial contract?

      •  

         

      4: Pitch Landlords & Negotiate Win-Win Deals

      • Professional Presentation: Prepare a compelling pitch that highlights the benefits of your vending machine.
      • Revenue Sharing: Offer a fair revenue-sharing agreement that incentivizes the landlord.
      • Maintenance and Support: Emphasize your commitment to regular maintenance and prompt service.
      •  

• 5: Legal Compliance You Can’t Ignore

  • Permits and Licenses: Obtain all necessary permits and licenses from local authorities.
  • Health and safety regulations: adhere to all health and safety guidelines.
  • Accessibility Requirements: Ensure your vending machine complies with accessibility standards.
  •  

  6: Red Flags: 5 Location Types to Avoid

  • Low Foot Traffic: Locations with minimal traffic will result in low sales.
  • High Crime Areas: Locations prone to theft or vandalism pose a significant risk.
  • Areas with Excessive Competition: Over-saturated markets limit profit potential.
  • Locations with Limited Accessibility: Hard-to-reach spots deter customers.
  • Locations with uncooperative landlords: can cause many headaches.
  •  

  • 7: Success Stories

  • NewFuns has helped numerous clients achieve remarkable success by placing cotton candy vending machines in strategic locations.
  • For example, a client who placed machines in a large children's park saw a 30% increase in sales within the first month.
  • 
  • Learn more about our vending machine business cases
  •  

  • Conclusion

    If you want to find a good place to sell your vending products, you need to do some research, make a plan and negotiate. This step-by-step guide will help you to be as successful as possible. NewFuns is here to help you. We provide great vending machines and we know what we're doing.