- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Ice Vending
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:06 pm
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:06 pm
Anyone have any experience in the ice vending business (Twice the Ice, Iceburg, etc)? These are those stand alone units where you bag your own ice. I'm starting to see alot of them pop up and it seems like they would be good money makers.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:09 pm to geauxnc0308
I own a few (twice the ice). They have been great.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:37 pm to I Love Bama
Any advice on getting in the business? Did you research all the companies and found Twice the Ice was the best? I've found 6 so far, with most saying $100K to get them up and running (all initial info, haven't talked to any of them directly yet). Unfortunately, Twice the Ice territory has already been purchased in my area.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:40 pm to geauxnc0308
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.
I don't get where the demand comes from outside of Fourth of July bar-b-que cookouts and tailgaiters during football season.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:43 pm to LSURussian
quote:
I don't get where the demand comes from
Hurricane season, near a beach,lake or river year round fishing...
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:43 pm to geauxnc0308
Depending on the quantity of snowball stands in your area, block ice for snowball stands can be very lucrative. Of course that would be seasonal.
Company called Fun Time Foods in Baton Rouge either does or did supply a lot of the area's stands for some time now. Not sure if he's still doing it anymore as he was getting old.
Edited to give example.
Company called Fun Time Foods in Baton Rouge either does or did supply a lot of the area's stands for some time now. Not sure if he's still doing it anymore as he was getting old.
Edited to give example.
This post was edited on 8/18/10 at 4:47 pm
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:49 pm to LSURussian
I imagine it's very seasonal, but I know the ones near the lake/ballfields/beer stores on payday are packed with folks at certain times. I don't care if it's seasonal as long as it's cash flow positive year over year. I'm pretty sure location makes or breaks these things.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:50 pm to geauxnc0308
I would start out with one machine. I think the TTI machines are the best from what research I have done. If you get in a high traffic/low income area you will do well. My best machine will do 35k this year. I know a guy in memphis who has a 60k a year machine.
Don't fool yourself into thinking that all you have to do is go collect money everyday. I have three machines right now and they cost me about 10 hours a week.
If you know more about the iceberg machines I would love to hear it. I had never heard of that company till you posted that.
Don't fool yourself into thinking that all you have to do is go collect money everyday. I have three machines right now and they cost me about 10 hours a week.
If you know more about the iceberg machines I would love to hear it. I had never heard of that company till you posted that.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:51 pm to LEOtheLION
I like the idea of the ice vending thing better since you don't have employees to deal with. Don't feel like being forced to pay their health care...
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:52 pm to Paul Allen
quote:Ok, but only if a hurricane actually hits, right? Which is every 3, 4 or 5 years or so?
Hurricane season,
quote:Really? People don't just empty their ice maker into their Igloo before they go? That's what I do. I'll trust you on this one but it sure seems both seasonal and unreliable if it rains a lot in a summer.
near a beach,lake or river
quote:Ok. I can see that.
year round fishing...
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:57 pm to I Love Bama
Thanks for the info. If you don't mind sharing, what will your worst machine do and what was your average capital outlay? I'll be happy to share info on all the compaines once I hear back from them. I'm still doing my DD.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 4:59 pm to geauxnc0308
quote:
I like the idea of the ice vending thing better.....
It does sound like a cool business....
Posted on 8/18/10 at 5:02 pm to geauxnc0308
post your e-mail real quick
Posted on 8/18/10 at 5:07 pm to I Love Bama
I'll create one later this evening and post, only have my business one right now. I know, I'm a noob
*sp*
*sp*
This post was edited on 8/18/10 at 6:44 pm
Posted on 8/18/10 at 5:30 pm to LSURussian
quote:
Really? People don't just empty their ice maker into their Igloo before they go?
Man, that is only good for a 12 pack.
I really noticed these machines alot at the beach this summer. Seemed like a good concept as I stopped and used it twice.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 7:00 pm to notiger1997
quote:That's a three-year supply for me....
Man, that is only good for a 12 pack.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 7:05 pm to LSURussian
quote:
Man, that is only good for a 12 pack.
That's a three-year supply for me....
You need to get out more.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 7:07 pm to foshizzle
quote:I'm going to Kiev, Ukraine next week for work. Does that count as getting out more???
You need to get out more.
Posted on 8/18/10 at 7:17 pm to LSURussian
I love those machines. I buy a bag every day at the one by my house. There is almost always someone coming or going to it when I am there. You can't beat the price and convenience.
ETA: I use the one in the Harvest parking lot in Dutchtown.
ETA: I use the one in the Harvest parking lot in Dutchtown.
This post was edited on 8/18/10 at 7:44 pm
Posted on 8/18/10 at 7:37 pm to El Josey Wales
During football season, the one on Acadian/Perkins gets about $200-250 from us and there's at least 7-10 other groups out there doing the same thing on Saturday morning.
This post was edited on 8/18/10 at 7:38 pm
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News