Your Robo JetBoss Success Guide
Everything You Need Is Here
Below you'll find all of the information you'll need to go from zero to profit your very first weekend!
We have lists, sales tips, instructions, videos, downloads and we'll also be growing our Blog articles containing helpful user and sales articles along the way.
Of course, we also offer post sales advice and technical support for the Robo JetFloss machines themselves.
At Floating Cotton Candy, we're not just selling you a piece of hardware, we're supporting the creation of an entirely new version of the cotton candy industry!
In case you need it, here's a list of all the equipment we offer.
Creating Unbelievable Profits!
If you use the sources we recommend in the "Accessories & Supplies" section below, the material cost of a "small" serving made on a paper cone is just $.10 cents - and this cone will sell for our recommended price of $3 all day long.
On the other hand, the large portions that really "Wow the Crowd" are spun on 20-22 inch long bamboo skewers or plastic straws (paper won't support their weight) and your material cost will be no more than $.27 cents; yet these will sell for $5 without any price push-back whatsoever.
Even better, if you mix your own floss-sugar and order supplies in bulk quantities, (we show you where to get the best prices) then you can cut your input costs by 30%!
So, let's make this perfectly clear, a small cone that sells for $3 will net you $2.90 and a large that easily sells for $5 puts a whopping $4.70 in your pocket!
Where Can You Sell RoboFloss Cotton Candy?
Here's the thing.... Floating Cotton Candy will sell itself just about anywhere kids can be found! Unlike the cotton candy that you're used to (that just sits there in bags or plastic tubs) once you fire up the Robo JetFloss, selling isn't usually the problem... keeping up with demand is the issue!
Seriously, as long as you have a "target rich environment" and follow the advice we provide, sales will take care of themselves.
The biggest question then is where are the best locations?
Obviously, where you live is going to dictate the opportunities available. In general, think about locations that have a high concentration of families that will be present for several hours at a time. This significantly increases the odds that treats will be purchased.
Common "Vendor Opportunities" where Floating Cotton Candy sells exceptionally well:
- Arts & Craft Fairs
- Farmer's Markets
- Open Air Music Festivals
- School Sporting Events
- Church Social Events & Fundraisers
- High School Football Games
- Apple Orchard Weekend Events
- Youth Wrestling Tournaments
- Youth Cheer Tournaments
- Charity Fundraisers
- City/Town Fairs, Field Days & Festivals
As you consider your own area, you'll no doubt quickly think of many additional opportunities that would be available many weeknights, and certainly just about any weekend.
In addition, you can also offer Floating Cotton Candy as a "Service For Hire" by the hour or a flat fee for special events such as:
- Birthday Parties
- Anniversary Parties
- Graduation Celebrations
- Store Grand Openings
- Company Holiday Parties
- Corporate Business Events
- Weddings Receptions
- Charity & Related Fundraising
- Conventions & Trade Shows
- Class Reunions
- Political Events & Fundraisers
- Business & Club Meetings
The list is practically endless.
If for some reason you don't feel that you can identify enough opportunities, check school, community and business event calendars, and also just start asking parents with children who are engaged in extracurricular activities for the types of events they attend where snack vendors are present.
Even if you can't come up with a large and comprehensive list to begin.... don't worry. Once you operate your Floating Cotton Candy in just a few public locations, you will be invited to all sorts of events, meetings and gatherings that you would have never even considered.
That's the benefit of offering a product and service that's new to the market and that has absolutely no competition... new business opportunities will find you!
2 Steps to Sales Success
Success Is Really This Simple....
While there are endless ways that you can generate sales events, ranging from calling on entertainment venues, banquet halls and convention centers, there are really only two simple strategies you need to employ:
- Inquire About Table Rentals - This is remarkably simple and requires no sales skills whatsoever. Once you've assembled a list of potential Vendor Opportunities (from above) where sales are most likely to be strong, all you need to do is inquire about becoming a vendor. The organizers of such events are always looking for paying vendors, it's a big part of how they fund these events. For many of these events, securing vendors is a full-time staff position (or an entire department) so they will be absolutely thrilled to receive your call.
Typical fees will range from as little as $50 to $150 for smaller events lasting from a few hours to a full-day. Larger festivals can run as much as $500 to $1,000 a day, but will have the attendance to justify the price. With the markup Flying Cotton Candy provides and a product that sells itself, there's not much risk involved, as long as you have protection from inclement weather!
- Suggest Revenue Sharing - You will run into some instances where the concessions for such events are tightly controlled by the organizers themselves or contracted out to a single vendor. In these cases there may not be an opportunity because they could consider cotton candy to be in competition with their own potential revenue. In addition, without prior exposure to Flying Cotton Candy sometimes you'll receive a lukewarm reception for any number of reasons, generally because they're picturing the dull bagged concession variety.
In these situations, and especially if the event is a School or Charity fundraiser, you might want to offer a "Revenue Sharing" model instead. Promising anywhere from 25% to 33% of gross sales is common. When you make it clear that they have nothing invested and nothing to lose and don't even need to provide staff for the sales, many who were originally thinking you might be a competitor now will see you in a more positive light. This arrangement will usually be less profitable then renting space outright. But again, with the markup involved, you're still going to find this to be well worth your while!
In almost every case, one of the above strategies will be all you need. Remember, event promoters need vendors, so as long as they haven't already booked another cotton candy seller, you won't usually encounter much resistance.
However, if you do sense a lack of enthusiasm, keep in mind that they've almost certainly never seen Floating Cotton Candy before and are not reacting to your offer, but to the boring products they've experienced in the past.
Here's where the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words" becomes highly relevant. If you sense a "ho hum" reception to your inquiry at any point in time, make sure to show them at least 2 pictures... one of Floating Cotton Candy being made, and another capturing the excited faces of children either watching the process or holding a finished cone. Even better, have a short video clip available that pans from the creation to the crowd.
Once you do that, objections dissolve faster than candy floss during a tropical thunderstorm, in August!
Be sure to have photos and video ready to email at all times and keep a few on your phone as well. Until you have media of your own to use, steal a few of ours, we don't mind! Remember, we're here to build the future of Floating Cotton Candy by helping you succeed!
Accessories & Supplies
Getting Started - Accessories & Supplies
On the one hand, all you really need is a Robo JetFloss machine, a power outlet and sugar... it's really that simple. But, like with most things in life, the devil is often in the details, and having the right accessories and sources will not only save you time and money, but it will make you appear more professional while increasing profits at the same time.
We've also found through trial and error that having just the right setup makes the whole business run smoother and is then much more enjoyable too! So, while none of the following is required, we suggest for one-time purchases:
- Being a commercial grade machine the Robo JetFloss comes with a 20 amp straight blade plug. Unless you're going to use it exclusively in a commercial location equipped with such an outlet, you'll need one of these adapters: 1-Foot Nema 5-15P to 6-20R or this T-Blade Adapter. Alternatively, you can order an 10 ft long replacement NEMA 5-15P to C19 power cord for just about the same price. Note... this doesn't require any wiring on your part. the power cord plugs in the back of the machine just like a typical computer. Occasionally, (it's not always in stock) this Conntek 15' cord is available. It's twice the price but I've ordered two for my machines because it usually eliminates the need for an extension cord which is one less thing to worry about.
- If you're ordering the Standard or XL models, they now come with smaller 20" pans. Unfortunately, we don't yet offer "Half Bubbles" in this size. However, you can buy either this 20" full Bubble or this 20.5" Bubble on line and simply cut the top off to create your own. A Dremel (or similar craft tool) or any angle grinder will do the trick in a couple of minutes.
- For mobile power generation, the best fit I've found is the Wen Super Quiet model generator is ideal. This unit conserves gas with adaptive power regulation and is quiet enough to use without disturbing customer conversations!
- A Heavy-Duty 25' Extension Cord is going to be needed sooner or later as you won't always be close to an outlet and you're going to want a 12 gauge indoor/outdoor rated model.
- If you're going to mix your own floss sugar mix, then these 5 gallon food service grade buckets from Lowe's can't be beat for large batches of 25 lbs at a time. And, while you can use standard lids, we guarantee you'll want to make your life so much easier with these spin-lock Gamma Seal lids instead! On the other hand, for mixing 5 lbs or less, Rubbermaid MixerMate Pitchers are the best trick of the trade!
- For storing your sugar floss mix in convenient and moisture proof containers, we've found the RubberMaid MixerMate Bottles in the 2 Quart size to be Perfect for the task. When full, they'll hold about 4 lbs of sugar floss, are easy to handle and the opening is ideal for spill-free filling of the floss bowl without needing a funnel or scoop. The only drawback is they are not entirely moisture proof, but we've found that 60mm x 3mm o-rings fit the bottles perfectly and really do the job of keeping your sugar floss dry. The bottles cost only around $2.50 a piece at most retailers (Target, Walmart, etc) and the o-rings are less than .50 cents each when buying a 10-pack online. Well worth the money.
- There are countless storage tubs for sale everywhere, but the most practical and economical we've found are the Sterilite® 60 Qt (15 gallon) Industrial Utility Storage Totes Buy 2 of them, they're the perfect size for this particular job. If you need something a bit more durable and watertight, then the Plano Sportsman Totes/Trunks are about 50% more, but arguably worth every penny. The small and medium are more than large enough (don't let the names fool you, they are 56 and 68 quart respectively).
- We tried a lot of scoops, ladles and cups until we stumbled across the OXO Good Grips Flexible Scoop. Save yourself untold amounts of spilled sugar and countless frustrating "close but not quite" other options and just buy one of these now.
Recommendations For Regular Supplies:
- Paper Cones for making smaller portions. Box of 1000 from Sam's Club.
- Long Bamboo skewers from 20" to 36" lengths are typically used for making the larger and more impressive servings. We suggest 21" semi-point as the length is just right and the point is not sharp!
- We stock 21" plastic straws in a variety of colors (we never know what will ship) that are 8mm diameter and are ideal for making small to medium cotton clouds. Not only are they larger in diameter, but they are obviously not affected by humidity and will not twist and warp during storage or transit. Check this page for current pricing. Shorter 14 inch mini-straws are also available.
- Ready to use Flavored SugarFloss or Concentrated Flossine that you can mix yourself with regular granulated sugar from Webstaurantstore.
Miscellaneous Items:
- For cleaning the Robo JetFloss you'll need a flat tipped screwdriver and a 7mm nut driver in order to remove the floss head lid and the nuts that attach the heater coil. Since the machine is metric, the Irwin 6 in 1 Nut Driver might as well be made to order for the Robo JetFloss!
- The one cleaning tool I always have on hand to remove accumulated floss off the pan and stator during operation is a "Tile and Gout" brush. I've tried just about every one you can find, but ironically, the least expensive one out there is the one that actually works best (at least for this purpose) and that's the Carlisle Grout Brushes. They get the job done quickly and efficiently, but without having to worry about damaging any surfaces.
- I've found that a very light coating of standard non-stick cooking spray on the inside of the bowl makes an absolutely unbelievable difference in the ease of cleaning off excess sugar floss. I usually reapply every 60 to 90 minutes depending on temperature and humidity.
- If you have to remove carbonized sugar (blackened and very hard to remove) from your floss head, then you'll find Carbon-Off to be a very useful product!
- If you're going to mix your own sugar floss then you'll need measuring spoons for accurately using Flossine. Remember, the general ratio is one tablespoon of flossine to 5 lbs of sugar. When using the MixerMate bottles (above) they hold roughly 4 lbs of sugar and this works out to be about 2 "rounded" teaspoons of flossine per bottle.
- A stable and durable business card stand for self-promotion at all of your events. One for handout fliers is a good idea too. Make it easy for customers to know what services you offer and how to contact you in the future and you'll be amazed at how many events you'll book without even trying! Of course this applies to any business venture, but the effect is much more dramatic when it comes to Floating Cotton Candy.
- A "Tip Jar" of some sort... preferably hand decorated with a prominent "Thank You" written on top. People are so used to tipping retail servers nowadays, and also enthralled by the Floating Cotton Candy process, that you'll be amazed at how much extra cash this can produce!
Cotton Candy Carts
Two Handle Cart
If you need exceptional portability, we do offer a two-handle knock-down cart (the wheels can be very quickly removed) for $365.
It will accommodate practically any cotton candy machine and the vinyl decal can be easily removed and replaced with your own branding if you prefer. Assembly is required.
There's a video review of it here on this site with more information.
4 Wheel Robo JetFloss Cart
We also have a Magenta cart with 4 caster wheels that was designed specifically to fit the Robo JetFloss.
The main deck is just big enough to encompass the Robo JetFloss and is lower than any other on the market... ideal for a machine that shoots floss into the air!
The price is $395 with only the handle and wheels needing assembly.
Again, vinyl graphics can be left in place or removed for your own company branding.
7 Tactics to Trigger More Sales
7 Tactics to Trigger More Sales
In reality, just showing up and operating the Robo JetFloss will generate impressive sales, and certainly enough to put traditional cotton candy operators to shame.
Floating Cotton Candy is so new to the market, and so entertaining that it really does generates sales all on its own. That said, experience has taught us just over half a dozen simple techniques to maximize sales at any event.
- Set up in a high-visibility location - It's the sight and smell that attract the masses so make sure that you're positioned to be seen from all sides as much as possible given the venue. Definitely avoid being placed in a kitchen, commissary or tent if at all possible. If you have to be pushed back under some structure, make sure that you're as close to the front edge as you can, and ideally sticking out as much as possible.
- Start making cones right away - Until you actually begin making Floating Cotton Candy the Robo JetFloss looks an awful lot like any other cotton candy machine, and that's not particularly exciting. The key to attracting attention and making sales is to have cotton candy floating up in the air for all to see! Plus, the aroma of warm cotton candy is rather intoxicating and will attract additional attention as well.
- Make a scene. - If you have help or assistants, make a really large cone and have them walk a couple of laps around the entire event holding it. Floating Cotton Candy cones really stand out and demand attention! Those who have never seen them before will make a point to come looking, and those who have purchased from you before will immediately recognize that you're back.
- Offer a few at a discount just to prime the pump. - If you don't have anyone who can take a sample cone for a site tour, then offer a deal to the first few people who stare at the Floating Cotton Candy and catch your eye. Give them a significant discount (or even a free cone) if they promise to walk at least one lap around the event while holding the cone up high before eating it! You have to learn to pick out the trustworthy types, but generally if you offer this bargain to a few, at least one cone will survive the rounds and then new customers will come looking for your stand.
- Put some out for display on either a table top or upright stand. - There may be times where you cannot be actively making cones because you're either on a break, refilling supplies or talking to an important prospect. Regardless, that's no reason that anyone should ever walk by and think for even one moment that you're running an ordinary cotton candy operation! In addition, customers tend to come in waves, and there will be times when not everyone can wait, so having half a dozen cones made in advance can make for quick sales.
- Engage with your customers - It should probably go without saying, but we're going to say it anyway: the entire experience should be FUN for your customers! That means watching the Floating Cotton Candy being made should be fun, eating it should be fun, and interacting with YOU should be fun too! The Robo JetFloss pretty much takes care of the first two by itself, so that just leaves you.
Simply put, if you go out of your way to have fun, then they'll probably have fun too. Since we all have our own unique personalities, there's no one way to engage and entertain. That said, if you just treat the customers (mostly children) like your own kids and grand-kids, then things tend to work out pretty well.
Feel free to wear a silly hat, shirt or other accessories. Also, verbal bantering and teasing tends to keep them very amused, especially when there are giant fluffy mounds of sugar on the line. Examples that will almost always keep them entertained while the cone is being made include:
- Repetitively asking them "Is it big enough yet?" long before you're done and then protesting slightly when they insist that it is not.
- Insisting there's no way they are really going to eat the whole thing by themselves and allowing them to debate you on the subject.
- Asking them if they want to know about the special contest where they can win a free cone? After they excitedly answer YES! tell them all they have to do is eat the first one in a single bite!
You get the idea and will no doubt develop your own style. But, since it can take a minute or two to craft each cone (depending on size and conditions) it's good to keep them entertained and engaged throughout the process.
Note: While there are some exceptions, adult customers find this type of banter substantially less amusing than children do, especially if the event also serves alcohol. As such, we recommend you use your best discretion and avoid teasing or taunting the adults.
- Prominently display Business Cards & Handouts - Flying Cotton Candy is so unique that people will often inquire about your availability for other events. Make it easy for them to grab one of your cards... don't make them have to ask! Realize that for every prospect who will take the time to ask, there will be several who will feel uncomfortable doing so, or who don't want to wait in order to catch your attention. If you're really ambitious, print flyers making it clear that you can be hired for Birthday Parties, Corporate Events, Store Openings, Wedding Receptions and similar functions. That is if you don't mind the extra business.
Floating Cotton Candy is so unique that the product and service honestly sells itself, but it never hurts to do the extra "little things" in order speed things along!
Robo JetBoss Blog
Sticks & Cones.....
New Robo JetBosses often mistakenly assume they should decide on whether to create their Floating Cotton Candy on sticks (either wood or plastic) or paper cones. Given the history and tradition in the states, some won't even realize they have that choice and instead believe that paper cones are their only option.
In reality, we strongly suggest that you offer both sticks and cones because they each have advantages for you, the Robo JetBoss, and combined they can't be beat.
Paper cones do offer many advantages. They are lightweight, take very little space as they stack together very efficiently and are exceptionally inexpensive, costing just pennies apiece. The only real disadvantage is they are limited to 12" in length and thus are limited to making modest sized servings.... at least in comparison to what the Robo JetFloss is capable of producing.
By comparison, wooden and plastic sticks are available in variety of diameters (3mm to 6mm) and lengths (12" to 36"). Most Robo JetBosses will use sticks in the 20" to 22" range and 5mm to 6mm diameter is quite rigid enough to support even the biggest of creations. The disadvantages of sticks however is that they are much heavier, take more storage space and are substantially more costly, easily costing as much as 5 or 10 times a single paper cone.
However, given the markup involved, cost really isn't a consideration, and we do offering both on your menu. The most obvious benefit to providing customers with the option is that it provides customers with an option. Of course that sounds somewhat circular, but it leads to a key point that's very much worth remembering:
- When faced with only a "yes/no" decision, more consumers will say no, than when they are presented with a few buying options.
Please note that we specifically limited that statement with the word "few" as we feel some food vendors take this quite a bit too far.
That said, offering a Paper Cone as your Small and a Stick serving as your Large provides your customers with a nearly perfect decision making metric because these options are distinct in every way. The size, material and visual presentation are completely dissimilar.
Additionally, by the time customers have made it to your booth, and/or the front of the line, they've already been able to clearly see these distinctions for themselves and most have already made their purchasing decision.
Contrast this with a consumer presented with the common choices of small, medium, large and extra-large where all are cups or plates. Granted, many will always choose one of those sizes out of habit, but others will enter into a state of analysis paralysis as they try to make up their mind. This can be frustrating not only for themselves, but also for the vendor and everyone in line behind them as well.
Offering a Stick vs. Paper Cone as your only two options enhances sales and profitability as well as the speed and efficiency of the entire process so much so that we wouldn't suggest offering servings any other way.
However, while this dual medium approach is almost always the best solution for maximizing Floating Cotton Candy profits, there is one very notable exception. On those occasions where:
- You are not selling cones individually, but are instead,
- Paid either a flat fee or on an hourly basis, and
- Where there will be a large number of attendees, and
- You are expected to serve all comers.
In these situations you could easily find yourself with more demand than time would allow, and you run very real risk that there would be those who would not be served. This results in disappointment, complaints and damage to you reputation.
At these times, the smart choice is to only provide paper cones for the simple reason that you can make them much faster, and thus are more likely to have enough time to satisfy the demand.
It should be noted that you can still make some pretty impressive servings this way, so you needed worry about anyone walking away feeling let down. But the reality is that there's almost never enough time to fully service a substantial crowd if the cones are free to them, and as a result everyone orders the massive Floating Cotton Candy portions that you would otherwise make as your Large portion on a stick.
Hungry For More?
There's much more to learn....
Keep reading and viewing on the second page of the Robo JetBoss Success Guide as we're adding more content on a regular basis.