TL;DR:
The on-site visit approach of Manuelle Duval, owner of MKD Luxury Amenities and current operator of 10+ locations, is to let the decision-maker do most of the talking, control placement, keep product talk high-level, and leave with a clear agreement and next steps.
What to Do at the Site Visit with Manuelle Duval
You’ve purchased a secured location on Vending Village and now you’re at the on-site appointment with the decision-maker. What should you do?
I spoke with Manuelle Duval of MKD Luxury Amenities, an operator in the Washington, DC area (DC, Maryland, Virginia) running 10+ locations with a focus on smart machines. He also works full-time as detective sergeant, so his process is built for speed and clarity.
1) Manuelle’s baseline rule: talk less, listen more
Manuelle’s biggest point is simple: be personable, but don’t dominate the conversation. He’ll ask one or two questions, then let the decision-maker do most of the talking.
What to listen for (and write down):
- Their “why now” (complaints, empty breakroom, resident requests, service issues)
- Who the users are (residents, employees, members, guests)
- Any constraints (hours, access rules, noise, security, delivery restrictions)
Operator takeaway: if you’re doing most of the talking at the initial meeting, you’re guessing instead of qualifying.
2) Control placement by asking about traffic, not “where to put it”
Instead of asking “where should the machine go?”, Manuelle asks:
“Where is the highest-traffic area in the building?”
Once they point it out, he recommends the spot based on exposure and daily walk-by traffic. The goal is to avoid “we’ll move it later,” because moving machines wastes time and creates unnecessary friction.
On-site placement checks to run (fast):
- Power outlet availability and distance
- Visibility (not tucked away)
- Clearance and door swing space
- Loading path (how you’ll get equipment in and service it)
- Any rules that affect best vending machine locations (access limits, security desk sign-in, quiet hours)
3) Keep product and pricing high-level, then validate with basic research
At the meeting, Manuelle doesn’t over-promise a perfect product list. If they ask about product, he’ll share a short list of popular items and explain he has broad distributor access.
Then he does quick homework after the visit:
- A basic “what do people buy here?” check (demographic and nearby demand signals)
- Builds a starting mix that fits the average user, not just one person’s preferences
Operator takeaway: decision-makers often request items based on personal taste. Your job is to balance that with what will actually sell, especially when you’re stocking a new placement.
4) Bring the agreement and leave a tight follow-up loop
Manuelle shows up with a draft agreement in hand and also emails a copy. He’ll leave it with them, and only pushes for a signature on-site if the decision-maker is already giving “ready to sign” language.
Need customizable sales flyers and agreement templates? https://blog.vendingvillage.com/customizable-flyers-templates/
Two practical moves he uses:
- Bring a printed agreement so the meeting can end with paperwork, not “send me something.”
- Take a photo of the proposed install area and send a quick mockup of the machine placed in that exact spot (same day or next day). That prevents confusion later.
Timing reality: site visits can be 5 minutes to an hour, depending on how busy they are and how many questions come up.
Thank you, Manuelle for sharing your time and insights from your hands on vending machine business experience.
Next step: Review the Vending Village blog for operator insights at every step of the vending machine business: https://blog.vendingvillage.com/
Then browse vending machines with location for sale in your area here: https://vendingvillage.com/search