Monday, September 29, 2008
How to Go About Advertising
Many of you are advertising on your DVDNow machines. How do you go about Advertising and what do you see working and what kind of fees do you charge? Any ideas would greatly be appreciated.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Movie Questions
Since this happens to be a popular topic, ask your questions to see who has the answers.
Mike
Mike
Friday, September 26, 2008
Why Pick the Grocery Store? What Should I Say?
I see that you have a number of kiosks at IGA's and I'm preparing to approach some of them in Florida, where we live and I'd like to know what helped in your sales presentations to your IGA locations. I wouldn't think that the income/commission would be the key.
I'd appreciate any comments you could offer.
Thanks, Wayne & Betsy Weaver
O.K., I'll answer this from my end. Remember, there are numerous reasons that a store owner or manager should consider putting a machine in their store. I'll start by saying this: They don't have any investment in your machine. They don't have to fork over the $20,000 it costs to get one started up. Their risk level is really low, so why not?
On top of that, if they know anything about marketing and making money for their company, they know that the more floor traffic in and out of the store, the odds go up considerably that they sell more products. Let's take a look at the Redbox machine that's been going into the McDonalds and Albertson's stores. Why would they put these machines in their stores? Simply for the reason I just gave you. They want floor traffic. These movies provide a reason for the customers to come back.. They are banking on selling more products. (And they do) or over 6,000 machines wouldn't have homes in stores.
Here's my opinion on where I'd be a little upset if I was the store that had the Redbox machine sitting outside my store. Many of these Redbox machines sit outside. What's the point? Basically, it allows the customer to bring he movie back 24hours. Does that really help the store though? I'll let you think about that.
Now, why put a DVDNow machine in a grocery store? Several reasons come to my mind.
1. We don't put them outside. The customer has to come inside so the odds of buying something increase. 2. Each DVDNow Kiosk owner can customize everything about their machine to accommodate the store that hosts it. I also think that our business is a little more customer friendly. Since each of us is an independent business owner, we have the option of engaging our customers on a different level. When they call you with questions,they get the guy that actually owns the machine. Customers want to get in touch with the guy that runs the show right? Well, you're the guy (or gal). Make it an opportunity to show your customer how great your machine is. Being able to take the video out of the machine after swiping your credit card and then being able to put it back in the machine without being charged is something you can't do with Redbox. How about seeing what's in? You have to go through a series of stages to find out what's in the Redbox. Go and check for yourself. Although Redbox holds more DVD's, you can't see them through the glass window. Plus, we cycle movies so fast that the old ones don't get rented anyway.
3. Advertising and newsletters for your potential customers is always something that can be done on the DVDNow Kiosk. Being able to customize the look and feel of your Kiosk for the location is something Redbox can't do. How much fun would it be to run a few videos of community events on your Kiosk? People love that kind of stuff. You'll be able to do that with your Kiosk from DVDNow.
As far as income is concerned, most of these stores are only interested in the floor traffic you provide them. Repeated traffic adds to the bottom line. I also sell my old DVD's to my host stores so they can sell them and make a little more money. I float them for about a month so they have them sold before I even bill them out. How can you go wrong with that? Redbox wouldn't do that with their host stores.
I happen to have a great relationship with my IGA stores. The managers are super people and they love the machines. Plus, they take care of them for me like they own them. I'm pretty lucky. Make sure you put them in a place where they are excited about them. If the employees and the manager thinks highly of them, they'll work for you. If they treat them like a bubblegum machine in the corner, you'll have a tougher time with them. Don't settle for anyone that is not going to help you out.
I won't pay anything more than 10% of net revenue on my machines. That's probably too much but my store owners take care of my machines too. They do all the work. If I was doing all the work for them, I wouldn't even pay that much. They make good money on the traffic in and out of the store. They wouldn't have it without the machine so there is a huge value to that. Also, I never pay for internet connection. If they want it bad enough, they'll take care of that. Rentals are so inexpensive anyway, it takes a lot of rentals to make up all the fees and internet hookup.
Mike
O.K., I'll answer this from my end. Remember, there are numerous reasons that a store owner or manager should consider putting a machine in their store. I'll start by saying this: They don't have any investment in your machine. They don't have to fork over the $20,000 it costs to get one started up. Their risk level is really low, so why not?
On top of that, if they know anything about marketing and making money for their company, they know that the more floor traffic in and out of the store, the odds go up considerably that they sell more products. Let's take a look at the Redbox machine that's been going into the McDonalds and Albertson's stores. Why would they put these machines in their stores? Simply for the reason I just gave you. They want floor traffic. These movies provide a reason for the customers to come back.. They are banking on selling more products. (And they do) or over 6,000 machines wouldn't have homes in stores.
Here's my opinion on where I'd be a little upset if I was the store that had the Redbox machine sitting outside my store. Many of these Redbox machines sit outside. What's the point? Basically, it allows the customer to bring he movie back 24hours. Does that really help the store though? I'll let you think about that.
Now, why put a DVDNow machine in a grocery store? Several reasons come to my mind.
1. We don't put them outside. The customer has to come inside so the odds of buying something increase. 2. Each DVDNow Kiosk owner can customize everything about their machine to accommodate the store that hosts it. I also think that our business is a little more customer friendly. Since each of us is an independent business owner, we have the option of engaging our customers on a different level. When they call you with questions,they get the guy that actually owns the machine. Customers want to get in touch with the guy that runs the show right? Well, you're the guy (or gal). Make it an opportunity to show your customer how great your machine is. Being able to take the video out of the machine after swiping your credit card and then being able to put it back in the machine without being charged is something you can't do with Redbox. How about seeing what's in? You have to go through a series of stages to find out what's in the Redbox. Go and check for yourself. Although Redbox holds more DVD's, you can't see them through the glass window. Plus, we cycle movies so fast that the old ones don't get rented anyway.
3. Advertising and newsletters for your potential customers is always something that can be done on the DVDNow Kiosk. Being able to customize the look and feel of your Kiosk for the location is something Redbox can't do. How much fun would it be to run a few videos of community events on your Kiosk? People love that kind of stuff. You'll be able to do that with your Kiosk from DVDNow.
As far as income is concerned, most of these stores are only interested in the floor traffic you provide them. Repeated traffic adds to the bottom line. I also sell my old DVD's to my host stores so they can sell them and make a little more money. I float them for about a month so they have them sold before I even bill them out. How can you go wrong with that? Redbox wouldn't do that with their host stores.
I happen to have a great relationship with my IGA stores. The managers are super people and they love the machines. Plus, they take care of them for me like they own them. I'm pretty lucky. Make sure you put them in a place where they are excited about them. If the employees and the manager thinks highly of them, they'll work for you. If they treat them like a bubblegum machine in the corner, you'll have a tougher time with them. Don't settle for anyone that is not going to help you out.
I won't pay anything more than 10% of net revenue on my machines. That's probably too much but my store owners take care of my machines too. They do all the work. If I was doing all the work for them, I wouldn't even pay that much. They make good money on the traffic in and out of the store. They wouldn't have it without the machine so there is a huge value to that. Also, I never pay for internet connection. If they want it bad enough, they'll take care of that. Rentals are so inexpensive anyway, it takes a lot of rentals to make up all the fees and internet hookup.
Mike
All You Kiosk Owners, Sign In and Let Everyone Know Where you are
So many of you have been in touch with me that I can't even keep up anymore. Why not just quickly sign in below to show everyone where you are: Also, sign in under "followers"
Mike Weiland
http://readydvd.com
Mike Weiland
http://readydvd.com
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Mike, I am having trouble finding Kiosk Insurance
diane said...
Mike I bought two kiosks. I am having trouble finding insurance for them. I just got a call back from another agency saying unless I had vending experience they didn't want to insure the kiosks for fear of fraud on my part! what??? Who do you use please?
September 24, 2008 11:36 AM
diane said...
Mike I am having trouble getting insurance on my two kiosks. who do you use?
September 24, 2008 11:37 AM
Mike at ReadyDVD said...
My father in law has us set up with a company QBE. They are a national company. In some state, they may go through an agent. They are are a company from Australia. We are set up with a brokerage house in Fargo North Dakota named Concord General Agency. You will have to look them up online. I don't have their number right off hand.
September 24, 2008 11:44 AM
Mike at ReadyDVD said...
Concord General Agency in Fargo North Dakota
720 28th St SFargo, ND 58103
(701) 239-9941
September 24, 2008 7:55 PM
Mike I bought two kiosks. I am having trouble finding insurance for them. I just got a call back from another agency saying unless I had vending experience they didn't want to insure the kiosks for fear of fraud on my part! what??? Who do you use please?
September 24, 2008 11:36 AM
diane said...
Mike I am having trouble getting insurance on my two kiosks. who do you use?
September 24, 2008 11:37 AM
Mike at ReadyDVD said...
My father in law has us set up with a company QBE. They are a national company. In some state, they may go through an agent. They are are a company from Australia. We are set up with a brokerage house in Fargo North Dakota named Concord General Agency. You will have to look them up online. I don't have their number right off hand.
September 24, 2008 11:44 AM
Mike at ReadyDVD said...
Concord General Agency in Fargo North Dakota
720 28th St SFargo, ND 58103
(701) 239-9941
September 24, 2008 7:55 PM
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Quick Tips and Hints, PLUS Machine Maintenance
This video is basically set up for those of you that have asked me what I do to save a few bucks on the videos that go into the Kiosk. Basically, I think I've covered the concept ot recycling the case for videos over and over again. Just be careful each time you use the video case. If it's in terrible shape, you'll have to get a new one. Watch the video and if you have anymore ideas please add them below. There are getting to be quite a large number of Independent Kiosk owners that it's always nice to learn from you guys.
CLEANING MY DVD MACHINE-MAKE SURE YOU GROUND YOUR MACHINE!
I clean the machines once a year. Call DVDNow if you have any other questions. This works out well for me to keep the machines going well.
Sincerely,
Mike Weiland
http://readydvd.com/
E-MAIL ADDRESS--take out the +
Sunday, September 14, 2008
October DVD Kiosk Art from ReadyDVD
Sorry about this month guys! I'm trying to find titles that are good. As you know, we need to supply our customers with the best movies... I don't believe in just throwing junk in our kiosks to just put new movies in. If the titles aren't good, then who wants to rent them. I am going to be adding a few here and there. I know that doesn't help you much, but being smart for our customers is the best thing we can all do.
Sincerely,
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