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re: Ice Vending
Posted on 8/18/10 at 9:45 pm to LSURussian
Posted on 8/18/10 at 9:45 pm to LSURussian
quote:
Who are the target market customers? People who don't own refrigerators?
I don't get where the demand comes from outside of Fourth of July bar-b-que cookouts and tailgaiters during football season.
obvious demand since these things are popping up everywhere
2
Posted on 8/18/10 at 10:53 pm to Zilla
I agree, and the model looks very good to me - no employees and "breakthrough" technology. Not quite streaming media, but still replacing an existing need with an exact but cheaper product.
Posted on 8/19/10 at 6:11 am to geauxnc0308
I have a small lawn service company as a side job and love these machines. I use it every Saturday morning on my way to cut some yards. I like the shoot, where you put your ice check under it and just pull the leaver. It fills the ice chect perfectly
Posted on 8/19/10 at 8:36 am to geauxnc0308
quote:
I agree, and the model looks very good to me - no employees and "breakthrough" technology. Not quite streaming media, but still replacing an existing need with an exact but cheaper product.
Sounds interesting, I'm checking into it myself. The very small dispensers may be good at some of these independent convenience stores, where the owner might be interested in sitting back and collecting % of sales instead of having to buy the ice from the distributor and fixing the freezer if it goes bad.
Posted on 8/19/10 at 9:18 am to LSURussian
quote:
It does sound like a cool business....
nice
Posted on 8/19/10 at 9:33 am to BigSlowMaxCo
quote:Finally somebody got it!!
It does sound like a cool business....
nice
Posted on 8/19/10 at 11:36 am to geauxnc0308
You'd have to sell a lot of bags of ice to cover your initial $100k. I considered it but seemed like too big of a risk to me. I can't imagine how long it'd take to sell that much ice, plus enough to cover maintenance, electricity, water, and to lease the land.
But, the one near our house always has a couple of people near it. Great for towns with lots of fisher/hunters. We also go get a few bags every time we tailgate or have a party at the house.
But, the one near our house always has a couple of people near it. Great for towns with lots of fisher/hunters. We also go get a few bags every time we tailgate or have a party at the house.
Posted on 8/19/10 at 1:04 pm to Zilla
Those iceberg machines look pretty cool, and seem to have a smaller footprint than their twice the ice cousins. These run $100k?
Posted on 8/19/10 at 1:05 pm to Slickback
I have a relative who owns about 50 of them in Texas and I know he has done quite well with them. In the summer, hurricanes and etc he does very well but its very hectic with maintenance. The machines shut themselves down a good bit so make sure you learn how to work on them or have a reliable person that can do it as well. He had some dickheads doing it for him and it lost him lots of money when people were lined up for ice and the guy couldn't fix it.
Posted on 8/19/10 at 2:57 pm to MCJeff
quote:
where you put your ice check under it and just pull the leaver
Those are called ice chests by the way.
Posted on 8/19/10 at 6:40 pm to MikeBRLA
quote:
and just pull the leaver
Damn you missed lever.
Posted on 8/19/10 at 11:05 pm to LSURussian
quote:
Who are the target market customers?
Offshore fishermen is one target market.
quote:
I don't get where the demand comes from
I live in NC and I do a lot of offshore fishing. We used to have to buy shitloads of bagged ice at premium prices plus we were at the mercy of stores and their hours of operation.
Now we pull a truck up with the entire bed full of ice chests, fill them all up reasonably with the "bulk" option and then load the ice into wells on the boat. The next morning, we're off at 5 am loaded with ice.
Where I live, the winters are rough for fishing, so this would be seasonal, but in a place like Florida....
This post was edited on 8/19/10 at 11:15 pm
Posted on 8/20/10 at 9:04 pm to geauxnc0308
When you get done with your research could you put the info in this thread. I looked at this briefly a few years ago. What held me back was not knowing what kind of return it would generate.
Posted on 8/20/10 at 9:27 pm to geauxnc0308
Seasonal, obviously, but the ones I see always have people using them.
This post was edited on 8/20/10 at 9:29 pm
Posted on 8/23/10 at 2:13 pm to Scoop
quote:
Seasonal, obviously, but the ones I see always have people using them.
Here in South Louisiana people use lots of ice in the winter as well. Especially hunters.
Posted on 8/24/10 at 12:11 am to I Love Bama
I'd love to hear some first hand experience with these too if you don't mind.
Posted on 8/24/10 at 7:40 am to I Love Bama
quote:I looked in to these when they first started showing up and found they were incredibly expensive to setup. I loved the concept but thought break-even was a long shot. How long did it take you to see a profit? Also, what type of venue are you setup in? Near marinas? Gas stations?
I own a few (twice the ice). They have been great.
Posted on 8/24/10 at 12:31 pm to geauxnc0308
If you can set up next to a campground you will have year round business I know I use these type machines quite a bit while camping.
I know I use these type machines quite a bit while camping.
Posted on 8/24/10 at 12:46 pm to bayoudude
I would think that most of the best spots have already been taken.
Posted on 8/24/10 at 1:24 pm to wickowick
quote:
I would think that most of the best spots have already been taken.
They have.
To the guy in B-ham...
Jefferson County has already been bought out. I don't really feel comfortable taking about them anymore on here. Good luck.
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