Thanks BZOR, we are working on an add-on module with field configurable compartments and doors to do just that. Will see how the smaller items sell
If the intention that this be unattended, I can see it being a target for an illegal card scanner. Crooks are everywhere a credit or debit card can be. Sent from my XT1030 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the input Mike the card reader we use is external and one of the benefits is that is is hard to get a skimmer on it and even harder with our bezel that goes around it...that being said...thieves always find a way....Also since you have to check in and pay to get in the park there would be a trail to follow if they hit more than one machine. So far no skimming and we always check when we fill up
Finally starting to get our latest batch of woodshax out to new state parks and replace our original prototypes.....still need to make more Now out at 11 DFW state parks...with 2 more in the next couple of weeks. March Spring break season has been ridiculous.... $25K in wood sales so far in march with 10K just from the 13th-19th. I gotta figure out how to source more firewood
Excellent! Nothing like starting a business that fills a niche and having it take off. Continued success.
Northeast Al, Thanks....small world..... I grew up in Putnam County NY...Mahopac to be exact......my family goes back about 300 years there
I was mostly out of there by 83 when I joined the Army but my dad still lives there.....if you know Lake Mcgregor, Putnam Country Club land, the old airport, now the soccer fields.....that was all ours back in the day. My grandfather built the lake in the 1950s
Can we get an update on how this operation is thriving? where have you expanded to? or are you now retired living south of the equator?
We've camped around New England, very campground sells firewood, and many people just down the road do as well, usually the outside sellers have a better price. Personally I just use a propane campfire. Easy to light, not green like most campgrounds sell, and instantly out at bed time.
Scavenger, We are now at 15 State parks with 4 more coming on line next week and gross firewood sales should top 200K for the year with about a 100K profit (we are working to get our wood and processing costs down to get that margin a bit higher) with these last parks I am out of machines again and working to make more for outside sales. So I think I have proved the concept and reached our capacity to supply and fill the machines in our area. November is a crazy month...especially thanksgiving week so everyone is out on the road refilling. Rowerwet....We are able to differentiate our product by providing 24 hours sales with a quality product (split small and medium for good fire starting and all seasoned oak and sources within 50 miles of each park and supplemented with kiln dried if from farther away to slow the spread of invasive species). The guy outside the gate will always be cheaper but you don't know where the wood comes from, you have to leave the park, he is not open 24 hrs a day and none of the profits go back into the park system. My best customers are Parks that used to sell their own firewood because of the Ranger work involved, accounting for sales and theft....now the Rangers can do Ranger things and the campers can put down their beer at midnight and stumble over to our machine and get what they need/want/desire to continue the camping experience.
Rowerwet....just cause you asked.....we also just completed testing out our 20Lb propane cylinder exchange machine. It is now the only machine of it's kind that is fully UL listed for hazardous location operation (class 1 Div 2), Outdoor Vending machine (UL 751) and ADA compliant....and of course modular....you can sell from 5 to 84 cylinders ..........thinking of trying one at one of our bigger parks
Me..... I get the Metal cages fabricated, assembled, galvanized and powder coated over seas and then we put all the magic inside them here in Texas
Nice work woodshax. You've done an excellent job bringing this to market and are clearly executing on a well thought out business plan...quite impressive.