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Vending.com - The Best Locations for Vending Machines
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Where to Put Vending Machines: Best Places & Locations

Vending machines are now almost everywhere, offering a convenient and flexible method to enjoy food and beverages on the go. They are automated machines that serve snacks, drinks, energy bars, and other merchandise with easy cash, credit card and mobile payments like Greenlite Vending. Owing to its convenience and easy access to healthy food, a vending machine is a valuable asset that suits various locations. For those looking to increase their income, vending is an exciting industry to dive into, especially with the helpful vending machine financing options available. However, before starting a vending operation it’s important to consider a few critical components when choosing good vending machine locations.

This article will help you better understand how to choose the best places and locations for where to put your vending machines.

Why should you consider locations? 

The location you choose for your vending equipment is a critical component that might decide your success in the industry. You should select an area with a large number of potential clients. Vending is a lucrative industry with passive profits and the best locations are very competitive to get. Many times the locations you want already have a vending operator and other times you may need to persuade the location owner why your vending business will benefit their employees and customers.

The three most important factors for success in a vending business are location, location, and location. 

Finding the best place or location for a vending machine company may be difficult. We don’t want you to buy a machine only to have it go unused. Therefore, securing locations is an important first thought when starting a vending operation.

Analyzing foot traffic is vital: Visibility is an important factor to consider in the vending business. Spots with heavy foot traffic and hungry people are good vending machine locations and can be a great opportunity for your vending equipment to make your money. The cornerstone of a successful business is willing customers who want what you’re selling. Therefore, you’ll need to choose locations with a large volume of people who are interested in the products you’re providing.

Understand competitors: It’s important to understand that the best way to beat your competition is to provide your clients with what they desire the most. When you are in the vending business, you must master multiple techniques to outperform your competitors successfully. We recommend assessing the competition in your area using the following criteria. 

  • Condition of machines 
  • Easy payment options 
  • Product selection 
  • Service quality 
  • Price point

Business contract with property owners: It would be fantastic if you could plug a vending machine into any available location and start selling. However, consent from property owners and a contract is required to deploy your equipment without any hassles. To cover costs, company owners may request a fixed monthly rental rate or a percentage of earnings, depending on their specific circumstances. 

Product offerings must match your location: A great way to provide great customer service and increase your profits is to meet the needs and desires of the people at your locations. Don’t hesitate to do research and ask the location ownership what they want to see in the machines. Providing a balance of snack and drink offerings is important too. It’s common for people to want a snack to go with their drink purchase.

Most Common locations for Vending machines :  

  • Amusement Parks
  • Apartments  
  • Banks  
  • Business offices  
  • Bus stations  
  • Bookstores
  • Factory break rooms
  • Fire stations
  • Gyms   
  • Golf course lounge and other sporting spaces   
  • Healing & wellness spaces  
  • Hotels   
  • Industrial parks   
  • Libraries   
  • Manufacturing plants   
  • Nursing homes
  • Office break rooms   
  • Schools   
  • Railroad stations   
  • Shopping centers
  • Universities   
  • Tourist places   
  • YMCA

Here are the few best, most profitable places and locations for a vending machine to consider.

Schools and universities: Snacks and beverages are appealing to young folks no matter where they go. They often want to satisfy their cravings after a full day of activity.  Why not place a machine where they all congregate? Vending machines on a university campus are perfect for the on-the-go lifestyle or sit back and chill lifestyle of most college students.  

Apartment Complexes: Apartment complexes are densely populated with many occupants and frequently lack dining alternatives. Having a 24-hour vending machine on-site is a great way to find potential customers where they already are and provide snacks and drinks they want so they don’t have to travel to the store. You can sell almost anything from this location, including magazines and newspapers, bread and frozen foods, or hot and cold beverages.  

Office buildings: Customers who don’t bring their drinks, snacks, or lunches have options thanks to vending machines. How many times have you been too lazy or too hurried to bring food from home? If you’re considering putting your vending machine in an office building, evaluate whether the facility has other food available and how much it costs. You have the chance to make a significant profit if you are the only vending machine in the building or if there aren’t many proximity choices for food or drinks.  

Healthcare Facilities: If you are looking for the best vending machine location, try placing your vending machine in hospital lobbies. In addition to being a venue that welcomes visitors frequently, it is also one that is highly secure. Healthy Snack vending machines are a great addition to healthcare facilities for visitors and caregivers to have access to food and beverages whenever they need them.  

Gyms/Fitness centers: Strategically placing a vending machine in a fitness facility lobby is especially effective if you stock it with exercise-related products. Consider equipping your machine with water, sports drinks, nutritious snacks, and protein bars.  

Automobile repair centers: A car dealership is always open and has a lot of foot traffic. These are places customers have to wait, linger and may be more tempted to pass the time with a snack. The sales, technical, and service staff can also rely on vending machines for quick access to food and drink.  

Hotels: Hotels and motels are excellent places to install any form of vending machine to draw customers for spontaneous or regular snacking. Most hotel guests are away from home without their kitchen to tempt them, so why not do it with a vending machine? A hotel lobby is an excellent site to install a vending machine. Most hotels are open to working with anyone who wants to place a vending machine in their lobby.  

Your one-stop shop for all your vending needs: Vending.com 

The vending business can generate a significant profit only when you find exceptional locations. However, identifying and securing good vending machine locations can be challenging. If you need assistance determining the best suitable locations or are looking to start a new vending machine business, experts at Vending.com can help you with the right vending solution. For more information, reach out at 1-855-929-1042 today. 

 

Ref: https://www.vendmedic.com/vending-machine-locations/

Steps to Start Your Own Vending Business - vending.com
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Steps to Start Your Own Vending Business

The vending industry is profitable because it provides consumers with convenience. Statistics point out that the industry boasts an annual revenue of $23 billion in America alone. In this article, we’ll explore why vending machines are an attractive business option and discuss the steps to get started.

What’s in it for me? 

A vending business is a lucrative opportunity that offers a lot of profit potential. Through hard work, dedication and perseverance, vending can provide the income you’re looking for while giving you the chance to be your own boss.  Your vending business can start small and grow slowly as you gain more experience.

A guide to an efficient launch 

 Target market, business type, and other fundamentals 

An informed beginning brims with potential for a better future. It’s important to take some time to learn about the vending industry, before investing too much capital. Our vending specialists are happy to answer your questions about gaining locations, selecting products, setting prices and financing new equipment. We have helped more people get started in the vending industry than any other company.

Location is one of the prime factors to be considered while starting any business, and vending is no different. Gaining locations that have heavy foot traffic and customers interested in your machines is vital and very competitive. Providing locations with quality machines, dedicated customer service and delicious products can help secure valuable locations.

Choose your machines 

Once you have locations and you know what products you want to sell visit Vending.com to see our full line of equipment and choose which machines can service your customers best.

Tight finances?  

Your dreams are not busted if you don’t have all the cash to create a vending business or purchase new machines. Vending.com offers up to 100%  financing and other flexible financing options for qualified applicants. When financing, your vending machines can pay for themselves with just a few sales per day. See our latest promotions here.

Complete all the legal formalities 

A vending business may have fewer requirements to start with but follow the same state-wise provision as any legal business in America.

Vending regulations in America differ based on the types of vending machines and the state you are in. You may find information on this by contacting the local Chamber of Commerce or referring to the state’s business regulations online. 

Companies registering themselves as an LLC, S Corporation, or C Corporation must work with a registered agent of the state. This agent will be authorized to accept legal and government notices on behalf of the business. 

An LLC is required to file Articles of Organization, whereas a corporation must file Articles of Incorporation. Again, it is pertinent to conduct thorough research on the legal requirements or hire a legal advisor to assist you.

Great time to learn more

Our vending machine specialists are eager to take the steps to get started and help you thrive in the vending business. Give them a call today at 888- 929-1042 and see why Vending.com has helped more people get started in vending than any other company.

vending.com - Top Benefits of Vending Machines at Workplace
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Top Benefits of Vending Machines at Workplace

Employees spend more than half of their life at work, whether in an office, on a production floor, or jumping between several jobs. As an employer, it’s necessary to develop an atmosphere that encourages productivity while supporting their health and well-being objectives.

Providing enough access to food, drinks, and nutritious snacks to your employees is a significant component of workplace efficiency. Vending machines in the workplace from Vending.com is a great way to let your staff access food right at their workstations.

Before deciding whether or not to put vending machines in your office, consider the top benefits of vending machines at work.

  1. Vending Machines Require Minimal Maintenance: A reputable vending service business, such as Vending.com, will take care of your machine’s vending machine needs. We can give you tips on how to find the best location for your business and even help you choose the items that best fit your needs. This allows the business owner to focus entirely on your work rather than worrying about restocking and maintaining your new vending machine. Maintaining, installing, and stocking vending machines with a reliable business like Vending.com can save you time and money. 
  2. Enhanced Productivity: A vending machine may enhance productivity while assuring your staff’s satisfaction. Employees will spend more time getting work done if they are not required to leave the workplace to acquire food and beverages. Furthermore, when employees are hungry, their productivity suffers. A combo vending machine can help employees avoid the afternoon slump by offering a much-needed push. You will undoubtedly witness a boost in office productivity if you make food immediately accessible. Having vending services in your workplace has a lot of benefits. Customers and staff benefit from vending services, while businesses benefit from increased consumer satisfaction and employee bonding. These easy-to-operate machines boost staff productivity and are a must-have for any company looking to grow.
  3. Higher Level Of Employee Satisfaction: It may be a tremendous morale booster for an employer to ensure their employees’ fundamental requirements are met. Employees want to feel valued on a personal level and encouraged in their individual and career aspirations. Vending machines are a thoughtful approach to making consumables available in the office and improving employee satisfaction. Being able to swiftly get a drink and food and return to your desk without missing a beat gives you a tremendous sense of fulfillment. Keeping people happy at work encourages them to work better and achieve tremendous success.
  4. Maintain a Healthy Work Environment for Employer & Employees: A workplace with vending machines could provide refreshments, water, food, and other basics to employees anytime. As a result, the team is always ready to work. You should begin installing healthy vending machines at your office for a healthy lifestyle. When there are vending machines in the office, the employees are more likely to stay for longer hours to put in the extra effort. The vending machines have become somewhat of a hangout zone for the employees. There is less time wasted dispensing food or beverages, so the team is refreshed at the optimal time. This fosters a positive relationship between the employer and the employees.
  5. Appropriately Satisfying Hunger And Thirst: People in hotter areas must consume two liters of water every day. Humans require at least a liter of water daily in the coldest climates. Vending machines may provide your employees with various beverages and water in this case. On hot and humid days, your employees will stay hydrated. This simple machine offers a brilliant answer for keeping your employees hydrated. These machines have excellent quality and provide immediate beverages with just a tap. There’s no need to wait for hours to grab a cup of coffee or a bottle of water. 

Vending Machine for Snacks: Employees in any office are always on the lookout for on the go snacks. That’s where snack vending machines plays an important role. Introducing free coupons for the vending machine that provides refreshments to high-performing employees will keep the workplace humming with activity. With a snack vending machine in house, best performers can make use of the coupons as a token of appreciation. Now is the time to have a snack vending machine for your office. You’ll be surprised to hear that these appetizing vending machines may help you make more money. Guests and non-staff members will require snacks and water in some work areas. These individuals will pay the price for the product they consume. 

Looking for vending machine equipment or want to learn more about the benefits of a vending machine? You should consider all your options from type of machines to choice of items. Vending machines are convenient and don’t come with any hidden expenses. There’s no reason why you should not give it a shot! A big picture benefit of having vending machines at work is that they can also help you maintain a healthier workspace by providing more nutritious alternatives. Do you want to keep your employees happy and satisfied during their workday? Reach out to Vending.com today for all of your vending needs!

Vending.com - Vending technology is transforming the food industry
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Vending technology is transforming the food industry

Introduction

Vending machines have been serving food products to consumers for more than a century. Today, more than $30 billion worth of food and beverages are bought from vending machines all over the country each year. They form an integral part of the food supply chain.

Like all electrical and electronic equipment, vending machines are embracing the growth of technology. Cloud computing, the Internet of Things, Electronic Payment Interfaces like Greenlite Vending, and Graphical Human-Machine Interfaces are some examples of the latest technology used in modern vending machines Such pieces of technology have created new possibilities in unmanned food retail. They have improved efficiencies, reduced waste, enhanced accountability and delivered novel experiences for the end-user. Let us explore how technology in vending is transforming the food industry and its trends.

Vending in the Food Industry

Thomas Adams installed machines selling sugar-coated chewing gum balls in New York in the late 19th century. Vending machines have since played a significant role in food industry trends. Today they sell everything from packaged potato chips to freshly cooked pizza. Disregarding a few fringe variants, the majority of food products that flow through the vending channel are of four broad types:

Snacks and Beverages – This is the largest contributor to the share of food products sold through vending machines in the United States. It includes cold beverages (23%), packaged snacks (15.5%), and candy & confectionery (18.3%). This amounts to about $17.6 billion in annual sales in the U.S. They are mostly convenience sales and impulse purchases.

Frozen Food & Cold Storage Products – This category is the second-largest by sales. It consists of ice cream (1.9%), frozen food (5.3%), and Healthy & Fresh Food (8.2%). Such products usually have a short shelf life. Hence the vending machines selling them are limited to specific areas like grocery stores, micro-markets or other sites where consumers come to buy food supplies. Together, they contribute to about $4.9 billion in annual sales in the U.S.

Hot Beverages – The hot beverage vending took a tremendous beating during the COVID-19 pandemic and the following lockdown measures of several state governments. But since 2021, the industry has been bouncing back hard. Today, hot beverage vending machines contribute to approximately 3.8% of total sales, equaling about $1.2 billion annually.

Others – All other categories have been grouped into this category. This includes fresh pizzas, hot food, soup, ready meat, and french fries. This segment contributes to $4.2 billion in annual sales in the U.S. Some reports claim that this is the fastest-growing of all categories of food sold through vending machines.

Benefits of Vending Technology for the Food Industry

There are several participants in the food industry. Some of them are a part of the food products’ value stream. They participate in the production, logistics and consumption of food. This includes the business that produces and packages food, catering or food services providers, wholesalers and retailers. When vending machines are involved in the process, there are more participants. They are vending machine operators, owners of locations where the vending machines are placed and sources of food products.

Economic Value Added for all Stakeholders: The sale of food products through vending machines creates revenue for vending machine operators and location owners. Considering that a massive part of the sales on vending machines are discretionary and impulse purchases, they increase the total sales volume in the food industry. This helps all the participants in this industry grow their revenue.

Vending in Food Security: It is estimated that about 3.1 million Americans suffer from acute food insecurity. A big part of it is because of food deserts. This is a crisis driven by the lack of accessibility to food where it is required. Vending machines can become satellite stores for store owners, which can be replenished regularly. This helps extend the range of service of the grocery or departmental stores without having to incur expensive capital. The latest vending machines have onboard or cloud-enabled inventory management software. This helps the store owners to track consumption and replace the stock in these remotely installed machines without having to visit them for frequent inspection. When all impediments are removed, store owners are motivated to install more vending machines that give access to processed and fresh food. This can help improve food security by providing convenient access to essential nutrition anywhere and anytime.

Vending for Sustainability: As discussed earlier, vending machines with inventory management help track food consumption. Owners can now stock the right amount of food in their machines by monitoring stock levels. This minimizes food waste.

Moreover, new-age machines use energy-efficient cooling systems like R290-based refrigeration units. They are easier to deploy than replacing large cooling units of big stores or markets. This makes vending machines an energy-efficient supplement to stores wherever possible.

Dealing with catastrophic disruptions: If there is anything that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us in 2020 and 2021, we depend on a fragile supply chain for our daily needs. The world is still reeling from its after-effects. Vending machines can help address the last-mile supply chain issues by providing contactless access to essential food supplies. Some machines have inherent UV-based irradiation to sanitize machine interfaces and supplies.

Emerging Technology in Food Vending

Recent advances in electronics, software and computing have revolutionized the vending industry. The benefits of this technological progress have had a positive impact on the food industry and its trends. Some of them are discussed below.

Contamination Prevention: UV sanitization has helped vending machines not only sanitize the touchpoints where consumers interact with them. They now can sanitize the merchandise they sell. UVend Technology makes high-touch machine surfaces safer by destroying or inactivating some of the most common viruses, bacteria, and highly beneficial during COVID-19.

Hot Food Vending: Energy-efficient heating systems combined with precision robotics have helped turn vending machines into kitchens. This is expected to widen the range of products and services offered through vending machines.

Sustainability & Eco-Friendliness: Modern cooling systems, prevention of waste using inventory management platforms and other environmentally responsible features make vending machines a compelling retail channel in food industry trends.

Conclusion:

The food industry has been one of the earliest beneficiaries of vending technology. All stakeholders in the food industry benefit from the use of vending machines as a channel for last-mile retail. The recent developments in technology have only enhanced the benefits of vending machines.

Vending.com has been a part of the vending industry for over 90 years. Strong investments in research and development on cutting-edge technology have helped Vending.com set the pace for innovations in the vending industry. If you are looking to set up a vending business or grow your current vending business, talk to us at 1-855-929-1042 or visit our website.

Vending.com - Factors To Consider Gaining Happy Customers
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Factors to Consider Gaining Happy Customers

Customers today have more information, needs, and power than ever before, and marketers must strive to live up to their expectations to provide a better customer experience. Customer happiness, like customer engagement, is a vital measure of success nowadays. While brand recognition has long been a marketing goal, implying one-way, business-to-consumer broadcasts, customer engagement suggests the growing importance of more intimate connections through two-way interaction. These connections result in satisfied consumers and simply making your customers happy.

Low levels of customer satisfaction imply that your retention rates will be low as well. According to Kolsky’s research, just one out of every 26 dissatisfied consumers reports. More significantly, 91% of unhappy consumers who do report a complaint vanish. You can afford to lose 91% of your unhappy customers with that in mind. Based on consumer insights, you may optimize the customer experience, boost customer happiness, and increase retention rates. Continue reading to discover low customers and obtain more happy customers.

Let us consider an example: When a consumer has a problem with the machine, where can they go to file a complaint? For a refund of their funds? For the item that became trapped in the machine? They sometimes direct their anger at the device, causing damage to the engine and the surrounding space, such as scratching the floor or destroying the walls. Vending machine sales may suffer as a result of this discontent. 

Here are some simple steps to enhance customer service and boost vending machine sales.

What can a vending business do to improve the customer experience and vending machine sales without consumers’ feedback? There are specific techniques to follow to enhance the customer experience. These are best practices followed by reliable vending business experts like Vending.com.

Make Sure To Address Complaints Immediately: There are various ways to achieve this, but the easiest is to maintain at least some contact information on the devices. Customers may contact suppliers and report any difficulties using a phone number or email address. Vendors can also employ call centers to manage complaints after hours. Customers would feel better, and vending machine profit would increase if suppliers responded quickly to complaints. At Vending.com we make our customers feel valued in realizing that their opinions matter and that their business is appreciated. 

Always keep your machines in perfect working condition: If consumers have frequent issues, such as the bill validator not accepting their money, resolving the issue is important to maintain customers returning to your vending machine and increase sales. People are not interested in buying products from vending machines if they have difficulties with them. Although supporting devices in perfect working order and keeping them clean takes effort, attracting consumers to visit the machine and purchase items is worthwhile. Even if it means completely replacing a vending machine, providing consumers with a comfortable experience goes a long way toward enhancing customer happiness and vending machine sales.

Maintain closer relationships with the contact person (POC): To cite an example, there will always be a point of contact for vendors and route drivers at office buildings, residences, and hospitals. This individual will collect consumer complaints, take down names of persons who require refunds and keep track of issues with the equipment. They are doing free services for the vendor. Maintaining a positive relationship with this person will improve their experience with the vendor. Suppose a vendor notices that a customer is unhappy since they have spent too much time receiving complaints about a machine. In that case, they should offer them a beverage or snack as appreciation. These are ways vendors may improve the customer experience, encourage customers to return to vending machines, and boost total vending machine revenue.

Final Thoughts: When improving your customer service and boosting brand satisfaction, there are various factors to consider. To simplify things, we recommend that you follow our suggestions, but don’t limit yourself. You can master your company’s customer service using various innovative methods – and you should never stop if you want to be the best-loved brand in the world.

Vending.com offers full service programs that help the first time owner-operator just getting started in the vending business or the seasoned vendor-operator looking to expand a growing business. Be a part of the rapidly growing vending industry with Vending.com. Our vending experts are standing by to help with your questions call us at 1-855-929-1042.

vending.com blog - Why Vending Machines Should Be Allowed in Schools
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Why Vending Machines Should Be Allowed in Schools

Students don’t always have enough time to have a balanced breakfast or lunch at home or during the school day. This is just one of the reasons why vending machines should be allowed in schools. Luckily, vending machines from Vending.com provide a quick option for a needed snack. Plus, providing healthy and nutritious options may be the only way some students are getting the right nutrition throughout the day. Students and teachers may receive nourishment from snack vending machines by purchasing their favorite snacks in the middle of the day.

The benefits of vending machines may provide a unique element to your school or organization with innovative, low maintenance vending solutions readily available. Convenience and accessibility are the key benefits of vending machines. Choose customized vending machines from a reliable provider like Vending.com that offers food, snacks, or combo machines. For a healthier lifestyle, choosing more healthy alternatives is a must, along with options and selections that are unique for your students and staff. It helps users save both time and money. The icing on the cake is that there are no hidden costs.

How beneficial are vending machines in schools? This is a topic that has sparked several debates throughout the years. We know that some people favor the concept while others are against it. For instance, parents are nervous that their children may engage in harmful eating habits. Most people believe that vending machines exclusively sell high-fat and high-sugar foods. This isn’t the case, according to a CBS News report. According to the findings, the United States government issued a mandate through the Department of Agriculture requiring vending machines to offer healthy, smart snacks rather than junk food. Since the regulation was issued, Frozen Food Vending Machines have provided healthier options. 

  1. Vending Machines Provide Nutritious Food: Some vending machines could sell gum, candy bars, potato chips, cookies, and other products liked by children. Schools may choose the 40 Selection Snack Vending Machine from Vending.com that has a high-capacity to accommodate multiple nutritional foods, such as string e, carrots with hummus, dried fruit, milk, yogurt, veggie fries, and more. This can provide a healthy diet for kids and therefore improve each student’s learning environment. Fresh fruits and vegetables available as snacks in schools is believed to go a long way toward building a healthy school food environment and improving nutrition that will impact the rest of their lives.
  2. Promotes Healthier Eating Habits Among Students: Consuming low-quality foods every day might lead to a lack of learning chances, but so can hunger. If a student is more concerned with the fact that their stomach is growling than with the points in the classroom, their grades will suffer over time. One of the benefits of vending machines in schools is that they allow students to satisfy their food cravings while keeping their attention on teachers and classes. Affordable pricing is crucial, so many schools either engage with local vending services to reduce expenses or acquire the necessary equipment themselves. Schools may also procure affordable used vending machines that are certified from Vending.com.
  3. Vending Equipment For Non-Food Applications: The discussion about vending machines in schools frequently revolves around the quality of the food accessible to students. Today, supply dispensers may be utilized for many purposes, such as providing students with pencils, pens and notebooks to ensure they don’t skip a beat in the classroom. Everyone profits when the school population has high levels of satisfaction. Vending machines increase the school’s revenue while providing students and their parents or guardians with access to the products they need for a successful school day.
  4. Equipment Increases Employee Satisfaction: When students and faculty on the school campus are happy and healthy, the results in each classroom are increased. Multi-purpose vending machines ensure that everyone’s fundamental requirements are met is a slight but significant morale booster that should not be overlooked. People who have easy access to products they desire or feel personally cared for make them comfortable. Also, they are delighted when they witness that their objectives are a priority and the administration is striving to help them in various ways.

Final Thoughts

In being allowed in schools, vending machines can provide students with almost everything they want and should have in a healthy and organized manner. It offers a variety of food and product options that assist students and staff in being focused and productive in their academics. Now that we’ve heard about the numerous benefits of placing vending machines in schools, it’s time to act. Contact Vending.com today to add a new vending machine to your school campus. You can assure that children consume fresh and nutritious food without compromising quality. Call Vending.com at 1-800-548-1982

Vending.com - Growing Your Small and Medium Business With Vending Machines
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Growing Your Small and Medium Business With Vending Machines

There are various benefits to owning and managing a vending machine business. Being your own CEO and creating your own schedule without depending on anybody else could help you maximize profits. Once an individual starts a vending business and becomes successful, they will want to expand it in order to increase their income and enjoy the profits.

Vending machines sell everything from beverages to chocolate, candies, and gourmet snacks. These machines can be found almost anywhere, including the workplace, travel destinations, or other public gathering locations. The National Automatic Merchandising Association reports that 18% of vending machine operators make between $1 and $4 million per year. At present, it is a $42 billion sector that could be pretty successful for anyone looking to expand their own company. 

Whether you have a vending machine business or you want to start one to help grow your small business, here are some pointers to assist you in expanding:

  • Amp up existing products: Increasing the quantity of vending machines is a good idea. Finding out what items will complement your current developments is a good start. Suppose you already have vending machines that sell hot meals or snacks. In that case, it’s a great idea to add vending machines that sell cold beverages. Consider things from the users’ perspective and you’ll come up with a slew of brilliant ideas. 
  • Upgrade your vending machines: Vending machines have incredible technological developments. Purchase the latest vending equipment from Vending.com that has the most vending machine models for snacks, cold drinks, refrigerated and frozen food, coffee and other hot beverages. All products are equipped with enhanced technology, such as touch screens and cashless solutions, to attract even more customers and everything you need to start, expand, or manage your vending business.

Many users prefer cashless vending machines. Installing vending machines in strategic locations is a brilliant idea. When you purchase a vending machine from Vending.com, you can be confident that you are in safe hands. Vending.com offers a trustworthy business concept to help you create your own vending business or to employ machines to help grow your small business, with over 90 years of expertise in the vending industry.

  • Consider Proper Service and Maintenance: To enhance your revenue, keep your machines in perfect condition. Machines must always be cleaned and stocked with supplies, and, depending on your location, they should be refilled twice a week. To avoid losing potential buyers, you must also check that the machine is in good operating condition. When you buy vending machines from Vending.com, you get the prompt maintenance support and technical experience to keep your vending machines running smoothly. Its well-stocked parts department can ship components anywhere around the world quickly and reliably.
  • Change locations: In addition to improving existing vending machines, look for new places where vending machines can be installed. Your search should be completely objective, taking into account customers’ demands and purchase patterns. You may come across areas with many passers-by, but if they don’t buy, your investment and upkeep costs will go down the drain. 
  • Choose Appropriate Locations: Like any other retail business, a vending machine’s location is critical to its success. Locations should correspond to the things you offer. The products you choose should be appropriate for your location and traffic. Even the most popular products may not sell in a crowded place if the target market is not relevant.

If you find an opportune location, but notice a vending machine is already there, do not fret. Get a feel from the location manager about their vending service. Are they satisfied with the service? Is the current machine outdated? What can you offer that they are not receiving from their current vending operator?

  • Increase the Machine Lineup: Once your vending machine business is up and running, expand your inventory and supplies to match client demand. You might also want to purchase a new machine but ensure you use your profits for purchase. However, if you want to save money for the future, you may procure a used vending machine from Vending.com.
  • Enhance Your Product Variety: You will not get your desired results with only a few candy or soft drink selections. You must provide a wide range of products. Customers will flock to you once you begin supplying the products they truly crave.
  • Make the Most Out of Advertisements:  Advertising is a fantastic strategy to inform potential clients about your vending business. You will not gain the profit expected if your target clients are unaware of your vending machine and the products available.
  • Make the most of your advertisements by incorporating visuals of vending machines and details regarding their locations. Vending.com can help you create a custom vending machine graphics or wrap that is unique to your company and location. Customers can directly collaborate with the marketing team to design, print, and install a customized graphic or advertise on the touchscreen that will help significantly boost profit.
  • Secure Referrals: If you want to grow your small business or your standalone vending machine business, make sure you deliver exceptional service. Regular consumers are more inclined to recommend your services to others. Word-of-mouth is the most effective and efficient form of advertising.

 

The Bottom Line

You want to grow your small business and boost your profits as an entrepreneur. It is only feasible if your approach is objective and logical. Always consider the user’s viewpoint so that you can provide them with what they demand. Having an eye on the latest trends and developments lets you upgrade your vending machines periodically.

Scaling up, however, does not determine the success of the vending machine. You must make improvements to match your customers’ cravings. The vending machine business offers excellent earning potential. Still, to achieve that potential, you must follow best practices.

For additional information, give Vending.com a call at 1-800-548-1982.

Vending.com - Operator and user safety in vending machines
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Operator and user safety in vending machines

The Mysterious Case of the Great White Shark Vs. a Vending Machine

The origin of this statistic is unclear, but the most famous quip about safety in vending machines is that they are 4 times as lethal as the great white. We can be sure that neither was thrown into a gladiator’s ring to compete against the other, so we may never know how accurate this claim is. The most likely source of this is a research report published by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1995. This report states that between 1978 and 1995, 2.2 people were killed by vending machine-related accidents on an average per year [1]. This is not an isolated report. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a unit of CPSC, published a similar piece in 2015 to claim that the number is around 4 per year [2].

Vending machine safety incidents do not just impact business continuity for your vending business. It is a fiduciary responsibility to ensure the safety of operators and users. The good news, though, is that it is often how the machine is used that causes the incident. Not the machine itself. Manufacturers are using technology to make machines safer. Vending.com takes safety seriously, ensuring that standards are complied with and features added that ensure the safety of our customers, end-users, talk to us to know more about how we ensure this. 

Government institutions regulate the market to ensure that manufacturers are incorporating safety features. You can consider a few simple factors as a vending business owner to ensure that your operators and users have safe interactions with the vending machine.

Operator Safety

Vending machines are electro-mechanical equipment. Operators need to handle machines with necessary care and caution as they would handle any electrical appliance or equipment. Machine installation may be the most vulnerable point for potential incidents for the operator. Even that can be avoided by adhering to the installation process, using the right equipment, and wearing necessary protective gear. Once set up, operators will use the machine to program them, collect cash, or load new stock. There are well-defined vending machine safety user manuals that ensure that incidents like instability or electrocution are avoided during these tasks. Using suitable material handling equipment like mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical forklifts can prevent stock collapse and reduce operator fatigue. Vending.com equips all machines with the usage, service, maintenance, and troubleshooting literature to ensure a smooth experience for operators. Factory direct warranties, parts and service, as well as financing services are their expertise. Vending.com offers full-service programmes that assist first-time vending business owners as well as established vending business owners looking to expand their existing operations.

User Safety

The most common reason for safety-related incidents in vending machines is machine abuse. When delivery fails, some users kick, nudge, or even rock the machine. This can result in the machine tipping over. Vending machines are made of metal and glass, making them anywhere between two hundred pounds to eight hundred pounds, depending on the configuration and features. A fully loaded vending machine will weigh a few hundred pounds more. Mishandling the machine can make this come crashing down on the user. Damage to the machine legs or the floor surface can also lead to instability. Electrostatic charge accumulation is another cause of safety hazards. It might appear like these incidents can be avoided only through better user behavior. While that is true, the machine operator can ensure no clogging in the machine’s vending machine that can potentially frustrate the user. Manufacturers like Vending.com also uses technology that guarantees reliable disbursal of merchandise, contact us to know more about our iVend technology. Choosing the merchandise with suitable packaging is another important factor in ensuring proper disbursal.

Vending.com has a complete vending catalogue that can be customized with your company’s logo and colour scheme. It offers clients all around the globe a high-quality, state-of-the-art full-service vending experience with the widest range of safe and easy-to-use vending machines.

Ensuring Safety for Your Vending Machine

    • Timely Maintenance – Regular maintenance of the machine makes it function to specifications. It can also help discover potential safety hazards before they cause an impact. The refrigeration air intake mechanism, the coin and cash handling units, the collection tray, or any other part of the machine where transaction failures can happen need to be checked. Vending.com helps you with the timely maintenance, repair, and service of your vending machines.
    • Harnessing Technology – Using technology like Guarantee Vend can prevent machine abuse by some users. This will, in effect, help reduce the chances of tip-over. Modern machines have UV-based surface sanitation systems like UVend. They help reduce the spread of contagious diseases when users touch frequent contact surfaces.
    • Right Parts – Using manufacturer-authorized spares and supplies is an excellent way to eliminate uncertainties in machine performance. Spurious parts will not only reduce the life of the machine but can create safety issues. These parts are seldom tested and certified by regulatory agencies for your vending machines. Choosing to partner with a reliable partner like Vendnet offers the benefit of a fully stocked parts department that is committed to delivering components quickly and reliably anywhere around the world.
    • Finding the Right Machine (Compliance with Standards and Regulations) – Selecting certified machines for safety is a fundamental responsibility of the vending machine provider. It helps avoid accidents and wins the trust of the end-users. UL, FCC, and CE are good examples of standards that vending machines need to comply with. Vending.com offers a complete range of certified vending machines to fulfil all of your vending requirements. Location assistance is also included in the package.
    • Reliable Manufacturer – Vending machine manufacturers who have a lasting presence in the market have a lot of knowledge gained from years of research and addressing field issues. Fly-by-night operations do not bear the burden of long-term care for machines or users. Established players have a reputation to defend and, above all, a genuine interest in the welfare of the market that they serve. Which is where Vending.com with our 90+ years of experience, market leadership, and stability comes into the picture.

Conclusion

Vending machines are safer to operate or use than several other machines. But that does not diminish the responsibility of vending business owners towards deploying safe machines. Thankfully, that is not a difficult decision to make. A set of simple tasks like timely maintenance, use of approved parts, selecting the suitable machine, and buying from reliable manufacturers can make your vending machines an enjoyable and safe experience for everybody.

 

Vending.com bears a 90-year legacy in providing safe vending solutions. Our R&D team has tested and validated our machines for the necessary safety standards. To learn more about the safety of our machines, can talk to us at 1-855-929-1042 or visit us at www.vending.com.

 

[1] https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/1996/CPSC-Soda-Vending-Machine-Industry-Labeling-Campaign-Warns-Of-Deaths-And-Injuries

[2] https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/2019_NEISS_Coding_Manual.pdf

[3] https://medium.com/purple-theory/vending-machines-vs-sharks-3e2362d762fa

Vending.com - Blog
Posted on | by pmasters@wittern.com | Leave a Comment on Finding the best location for your vending machine

Finding the best location for your vending machine

At the cost of sounding cliche, the top three of the five most important factors for success in the vending business are location, location, and location. It won’t be surprising if the other two are location too. Winning the best location for the vending machine is the first step towards monetizing the capital investment made on the machine. It influences critical business metrics like sales, profits, and average revenue per user. Choosing a poor location for a fancy piece of vending equipment is like keeping your gold in the bank and paying rent for safe keep. It is not only a poor use of your asset, but it also burns more cash for the upkeep. Incidentally, you could check out Vending.com’s profit calculator to simulate your earnings.

Need for a new location

Vending businesses are always looking for new vending machines and the best locations to place them in. The location is where their business starts generating returns or cash. Each vending business owner has their own drive to expand or enter a new location.

  • Starting a new vending business

Vending is a lucrative business with low barriers to entry. Vending machines are easy to use, not too expensive, and quick to generate returns. First-time investors of the vending industry who are looking to save for a rainy day are hungry for new locations. Location owners prefer working with them as long as they are in for the long haul. Vending.com has a specialized focus on helping entrepreneurs becoming successful.

  • Expanding to a new location

Vending machine owners who are already in business are also looking for opportunities to expand. They often start close to their base of operation and slowly expand to adjacent locations.

  • Choosing the right location for maximizing growth

Businessmen who are trained hands at the vending business always seek to maximize growth. If they identify an open opportunity in a high-growth locality that can benefit from the convenience of a vending machine, they pursue it. This adds to the race for space. Our earlier blogpost covers this area.

  • Diversification of risk

Veterans in the business are not only hungry for growth but are also keen to reduce risk. Betting on one or a few locations is like putting all the eggs in one basket. So, they often try to find new localities to place their equipment with diverse demographics and preferences. This helps them tide over challenges due to lagging demand in the areas they already operate in.

Selecting the right location

Newbies and veterans alike are hunting for that attractive bit of real estate where their vending machines can serve more and more customers. But not all places have the same level of earning potential. Successful vending entrepreneurs carefully select the ideal spot for their machines and then go all-out to win the location. While there is no clear definition for the right site, common sense and meticulous consideration of certain influencing factors can help get the best location deal. Some of them are discussed below.

  • Traffic volume

All said and done, like all other retail businesses, vending is a numbers game. The more the number of transactions, the faster is the recovery of capital employed. The machine should be placed in spaces where there is a good level of foot traffic. Public spaces, offices, schools, and other public places are good examples of a good volume of user traffic. These locations often generate the most per-machine revenues.

  • Traffic quality

While the volume of transactions driven by high foot traffic is essential, the kind of traffic also plays an important role. The vending machines in the lobby of the office of an investment bank will have users with high disposable income. The average price per transaction will be higher than a school where children deal in “small change.” This also allows adjusting margins depending on where the machine is located. A good example would be when the same water bottle costs more in the office than at the school.

  • Competition

Competition in the vending business is a necessary evil. When the location you are pursuing has been hosting a competitor for a long time, the competitor continues to enjoy good sales. But it also means you will have to fight harder. Fight harder with the location owner for placing the machine and then fight harder for the wallet-share of the consumer who visits the place.

There are also advantages to placing the machine where there is competition. It is relatively easier to price suitably for the location without experimentation. A common trick is to price the competitors’ product brands at lower levels in your machine and price your unique ones at higher margins. Eventually, in a location with fair competition, the prices of all vendors settle down to similar levels. Then the differentiator is through the quality of products, availability, and the quality of the machines used. This is also an opportunity to showcase and grow your brand’s identity and recall value, and Vending.com’s marketing has the precise support that helps with this.

  • Merchandize

The merchandize that is sold in the machine also varies as per the location. Protein shakes sell almost exclusively at the gym. There is very little chance that an office employee will shell out change for a protein shake at the cafeteria. Potato chips at the gym might only the serve the purpose of testing the resolve of the patrons. They may fly off the racks at a school or a park though.

  • Type of Vending Equipment

It might come as a surprise, but what machine you choose will also depend on your location to place it. The table below shows how certain types of machines will suit almost all the locations, while others fit only a few.

Location Combo Vending Machines Drink Vending Machines Snack Vending Machines Frozen Food Machines Coffee Vending Machines
Schools and Universities ✔ ✔ ✔
Offices ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Hotels ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Shopping Centers ✔ ✔ ✔
Hospitals & Care Centers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Government Offices ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Transport Service Centers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Gyms ✔ ✔ ✔
Manufacturing Facilities ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Conclusion

Vending business owners can consider work half done when they have scored the best locations for their vending machines. From there, it is just making them rain.

Experts at Vending.com can guide you to get your new vending business off to a flying start or race ahead of the competition. To know how to pick the best vending machines for your location or suitable locations for the equipment you have in mind, talk to us at 1-855-929-1042.

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Posted on | by pmasters@wittern.com | Leave a Comment on Ways customer service influences your vending business

Ways customer service influences your vending business

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” 

– Maya Angelou – Poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist

Certain sayings have a great deal of wisdom hidden in them that resonates with us. What makes them great is how they remain true across time. We all must have heard the above Maya Angelou quote in some variation or another, and this holds for customer satisfaction, which in turn drives sales success.

Customer Satisfaction = Customer Service + Customer Experience

A particular study by Oracle® found that 86% of the surveyed consumers were willing to pay more for better customer service. The link between customer satisfaction and sales success is well-documented.

Though there are multiple definitions based on context, we could safely take the following equation as the simplest canonical form: Customer Satisfaction = Customer Service + Customer Experience. 

Customer satisfaction is a combination of aspects that are in our control, 

  • Vending customer service, the tangible aspects such as a well maintained and stocked machine, ensures full marks
  • Customer experience, where the intangible elements, such as aesthetics or a contactless and cashless experience, come into the picture.

At Vending.com, our machines cover both aspects. 

Quality of Customer Service

Vending customer service is key to gaining repeat customers and growing your business.

Stock availability

More product selections translate to more sales. Our combo vending machines, for instance, vends multiple product types and has a flexible and high storage capacity.

Ease of Use 

The customer does not like coin jams, bills returned, glitchy interfaces, or faulty buttons. The customer depends on the vending equipment to save them time while servicing their needs.

Safety

Vending equipment is a substantial piece of machinery. As rugged and handsome as they are, they still need to be grounded, balanced, and suitably located to stave off any possibility of injury. In today’s environment, sanitization of high contact surfaces are also non-negotiable. Check out our UVend Technology that provides a safer vending experience for customers.

Quality of Customer Experience

Customers are the cornerstone of your success. Focusing on the below areas will help in maintaining and optimizing the quality of their interaction with your vending business.

  • Ease of accessing information: We are living in a mobile-first consumer environment. Your customers are used to responsive touchscreens with strategically located useful information. They expect no less from their food, snack, or drink vending machines.
  • Technology
  • Cashless: Again, the focus is on a seamless interaction. One where mobile and card-based payment systems increase convenience for the customer. Our offerings are equipped with the latest payment acceptance systems. Additionally, in some cases, these offerings can be retrofitted. We recommend contacting your sales representative for more information.
  • Contactless: Unattended retail is growing. With this, our machines are equipped to make the entire user-machine interaction contactless, from product selection to payment to delivery. We ensure a no-touch experience to the end-users. 
  • Aesthetics – The Where, How, and Wow of Product Placement
  • Planogram: Out of sight, out of mind. We do not want visibility to affect your sales. Our in-house experts help you plan the positioning of your best-sellers. This ensures customers do not turn to another machine just because they could not spot the snack they wanted.
  • Lighting: Visibility is one thing. Viewability is another. Vending.com machines have strategically placed LED bulbs that enhance merchandise viewability.
  • Design: The where and how of product placement is covered, and now we come to the ‘wow.’ Depending on the audience targeted, a good design helps you get extra sales. Vending.com helps you convert your branding goals or your marketing ideas into visual graphic wraps. 
  • Alignment with/cognisance of customer philosophy
  • Accessibility: Patrons will range from children or elderly or the differently-abled. As such, our machines are all ADA compliant or ADA ready.
  • Sustainability: Consumers are now more aware than ever of the environmental impact of their purchase decisions. Vending.com has always been at the forefront of creating or in the early adoption of energy-efficient practices. Our machines are ENERGY STAR® certified. We constantly innovate through engineering and sourcing to keep the toll on our environment to a bare minimum.

We have ensured client success throughout our decades (90 years) of experience in delivering automatic merchandising equipment by helping our clients provide great end-user service and constantly optimize the end-user experience. We deliver thanks to our consistent focus on innovation and dedicated and exhaustive service, maintenance, and repair.

Making Vending Machines Your Best Salesperson

With a vending machine, there is an opportunity to provide standardized vending customer service and a quality customer experience to ensure more repeat sales and increased customer loyalty.

At Vending.com, we focus on making our machines a delight to use. We incorporate customer feedback and industry trends into our R&D. Connect with us to know more about the features and machines that will drive more vending sales for your business at 1-855-929-1042.