Jörg Balters started his snack vending business in mid-2021. Over the past three years, he has made remarkable progress , including a significant increase in sales , the expansion of his vending machine fleet , and the development of new locations .
At the beginning of his journey, Mr. Balters purchased four used vending machines for around €9,000 and installed them in a school, an emergency room, and his own business. The initial period was marked by fluctuating sales and challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, Mr. Balters remained motivated and took steps to optimize his business. He invested in telemetry to remotely monitor sales and inventory and actively sought new locations in Düsseldorf, including a promising location at a large company with two snack machines and two fully automatic coffee machines.
Over time, Balters expanded his business to include additional vending machines and locations, including an outdoor vending machine in an airport parking lot and a convenience store project in rural areas . He experimented with various strategies, such as adjusting his pricing structure, introducing new products like e-cigarettes, and incorporating local products into his product range.
In November 2022, Mr. Balters achieved sales of over €3,600, the second-strongest month of his career to date. This success underscores the positive development of his business.
However, Mr. Balters also faced challenges, including technical problems with vending machines, vandalism, and unexpected difficulties with government regulations, which forced him to close his vending machine shop after only four months.
Despite these setbacks, Mr. Balters remained optimistic and willing to learn. He signed a contract with a major shipping company that offered him a sales potential of 80,000 cups per year .
In summary, Mr. Balters' snack vending business has developed positively over the past three years. Despite some challenges, he was able to increase his sales, expand his vending machine fleet, and open new locations. Mr. Balters' story demonstrates that perseverance, adaptability, and the ability to learn from challenges are crucial factors for success in the snack vending business.