A common question from new business owners is about how they should go about getting a branded cooler like you see in a lot of shops and businesses. Now, a lot of companies don’t have to pay for these branded coolers (I used the Coca Cola cooler in the title as an example since they the most obvious brand you would associate branded coolers with), but instead the supplier gives them one for free in exchange for only selling the company’s branded products.
So what does this mean for business owners? Well it is possible to get a cooler for free, but if you are just starting out it’s probably not advisable to get a free cooler from a large company at first. Not only will they restrict you from offering a full range of products to your customers, but they will also insist that certain quotas of drinks are bought each month. For a young business, the uncertainty of the early months means that you shouldn’t make any commitments when first starting.
Instead, have a look at the classified or even online auction sites such as eBay for second hand coolers. There is often a high turnover of businesses, especially in the catering industry, which means that you can get a second hand bottle cooler on the cheap.
Buying a Soft Drink Cooler Online
Auction sites are by far the best option when it comes to finding preowned bar or restaurant equipment, but there are sites that sell used stuff too. One good example is Pierce Food Service Equipment (www.pierceequipment.com) which has a selection of new and used stuff.
EBay has absolutely every kind of equipment you could imagine, with used coca cola coolers for sale on the site all the time. Be careful when bidding on some of these machines, especially the coke ones, as there is a bit of a collectors market for any vintage coca cola cooler, so don’t be shocked if the price in an auction shoots up rapidly!
Local auctions can be a little cheaper than buying online, but you will have to do a little bit of extra legwork to find stuff. Call round your local restaurant suppliers from the phonebook – most suppliers have an auction every so often where the sell on used equipment that they no longer have any use for. But you will have to call them up to find out. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”
Finally you can look in the local newspapers and classifieds – in my local paper there are bar and restaurant equipment auctioned off every week, so if you keep your eyes peeled you may be able to pick up a bargain.
If you are a new small business, definitely try to go down the second hand path – a lot of startups over estimate demand for their area, so you will have to build up a regular customer base, so skimp where you can until the money is rolling in.
You may also enjoy:
- Keg Cooler Buying Guide
- Considerations for a Bar Cooler | How to Select a Bar Cooler from the Various Types Available
- Getting a Small Drinks Cooler for the Bar Area | Have Drinks Within Easy Reach and In Open View
- Bar and Restaurant Equipment Leasing | Should you Choose a Restaurant Leasing Company or Should You Buy Your Own Equipment?
- Bottle Coolers for Bars, Shops and Restaurants | Different Types of Bottle Coolers for the Service Industries