Vending machine s

[fieldsmith]

Has anyone got experience in vending machines in isolated areas ? We are looking at a farm to rent with a camp ground, has no power but we want to sell lamb ect in a refrigerated vending machine.

 

[upnortheast]

Isolated area, you need something special to get the punters in. Lots have found once the initial novelty wears off.folks don't bother.
How are you going to run a fridge with no power ,?

 

[onesiedale]

why do you think that selling lamb to campers will work well?

 

[Still Farming]

Not cheap

 

[GEMS]

Have to agree , why would campers want fresh lamb ??
Campers want bacon,sausage , easy meals, bbq stuff (could be lamb i guess )

 

[GEMS]

Also milk, tea bags, coffee, soap, toothpaste, gas canisters, wood, batteries, wifi, electric charging facilities..
Suggest you go camping and see what you haven't got/ can't get........

 

[fieldsmith]

Wow , so much constructive help , Facebook is bad but I thought a farming forum would have a bit more constructive input

 

[Tim G]

The comments made are constructive, in my view. Aside from not having electric there, these machines aren't cheap, are you really going to sell enough lamb to make it pay? How big is the campsite and how busy is it?

 

[onesiedale]

Wow , so much constructive help , Facebook is bad but I thought a farming forum would have a bit more constructive input

tbh.I thought the responses were pretty much measured.
You say you are looking at renting the farm, but it has no power??
I think servicing a campsite will be the last of your worries!
Unless of course, the campsite is to be your only income.

In which case, give us more context and an idea of your custome base and we can put realistic constructive thoughtson here.
We have an honesty shop in an isolated area, turn over a significant income, takes an awful lot of management, needs servicing with a serious electric supply . ..and doesn't have a vending machine because we feel £CapEx is too much. Just use fridges and freezers
...oh, and I think a leg of lamb would be the last thing on the shopping list for our customer base.

 

[roseshep]

I think what OP is saying is BBQ options with the lamb? eggs bread etc for campers? can you not run it off solar?

 

[onesiedale]

campers and BBQs suggest a well serviced campsite.
No power, to me suggests a field....do you really want to encourage BBQs?
Camping is a serious pastime for those that do it. The type of customer that will spend on a full cooked meal will be wanting a well serviced site.
Tent in a field campers will bring their own food with them.
Just my thoughts

 

[upnortheast]

Sorry if you are disappointed by the replies but I think we are being realistic. Unless there are other factors that you haven't told us about.
You would be pee'd off if you spent thousands on vending machine and it didn't work.

 

[upnortheast]

Wow , so much constructive help , Facebook is bad but I thought a farming forum would have a bit more constructive input

I see @fieldsmith just joined the forum yesterday so probably isn`t familier with the folk who have responded.
Worth noting that @onesiedale, @Tim G & myself have a bit of experience between us of vending machines & selling direct to the public so maybe worth pondering the contents of their responses before dismissing it .