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How to increase your Vending Revenue

Whether your vending machine business is a success so far or otherwise, there’s always room for improvement. In this article, we offer some pointers in increasing the revenue generated by your vending machines.

Monitor market trends

Part of being successful in this business involves regularly monitoring what’s going on in the general marketplace. Go around town and take a look at some of your competitors. What type of items have they focused on? Are they drawing in customers? One recent trend to watch is the growth in popularity of “healthy” foods being sold in vending machines. If your candy sales are falling you might want to consider selling healthy snacks instead!

Review your locations

The vending machine business has the reputation of being “hands-off” – meaning that revenue is generated like clockwork after you’ve set up your machines. While this is partly true, you do need to keep an eye on how each machine is doing. Which area, if more than one, is progressing and which are not? If a particular machine is consistently faring badly then it is very important to find the cause of the problem and resolve it as soon as possible. You may find that moving locations will considerably raise product sales.

Replenish product stocks in your machines

Good stock management is vital for both maintaining and increasing revenues. If your machines are constantly out of stock you are leaving money on the table. Customers will tire of using your machines and may end up going elsewhere.

Keep your machines in good condition

For a customer, there is little more annoying than having money disappear inside a vending machine. Complaints can be a major headache for you and your employees. Instead, keep ahead of potential problems by servicing your vending machines on a regular basis. Your reputation depends upon it.

New USDA School Regulations

And How It Affects Your Vending Machine…

In an effort to reduce the percentage of childhood obesity in the United States, the federal government has elected to alter the rules and regulations put forth by the US Department of Agriculture for snack and drink vending machines. These guidelines are being put into place in order to safeguard the health and well-being of future generations. For most people, this revolution won’t change anything. However, aside from nutrition coordinators and schoolchildren, there is a small minority who will certainly feel the impact of new procedures.

Vending machines are in the halls of schools all over the country. Behind those machines are vending machine proprietors and business owners whose livelihood depends on what products are in their machines, and the demand from consumers to purchase those products. Knowing the latest nutritional information and restrictions is essential for these entrepreneurs to succeed in their business and, with that in mind, here is a list of the newest facts and regulations issued by the USDA:

All Foods

Must be “whole grain-rich” products; or have a fruit, vegetable, dairy, or protein as their first ingredient; be a combination food that contains at least 1/4 cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or contain 10 percent of the daily value of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber.)

Limits Per Serving

Calories: Snack: 200; Entrée: 350
Sodium: Snack: Less than 230 mg.; Entrée: 480 mg.
Fat: Snack: 35% of calories; Entrée: Less than 10% of calories; Trans fat: zero grams
Sugar: 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

NOTE: Beginning July 1, 2016, foods may not qualify using the 10% daily-value criteria, and snack items must contain no more than 200 mg. sodium per item.

Beverages

Juice: 100% fruit juice or vegetable juice with no added sweeteners
Milk: Unflavored, low-fat, or flavored low-fat milk; milk alternatives are allowed.
Water: No restrictions on plain water (with or without carbonation)

So What’s In and What’s Out?
Here are a few examples…

What’s In	What’s Out
Light Popcorn	Chocolate Sandwich Cookie
Granola Bar	Chocolate Bar
Flavored Water	Soda Pop
Baked Potato Chips	Candy
Trail Mix	Snack Cakes
Dried Fruits	Cookies
Fruit Cups	Pretzels
Yogurt	Ice Cream
Diet Sodas	High Calorie Sodas
Diet Sports Drinks	High Calorie Sports Drinks

When determining what merchandise to stock in a machine, keep a few key things in mind; under the new rules, most food sold in school will now be subject to fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits. Snack foods will have to be less than 200 calories and have some nutritional value instead of being mostly empty calories. By respecting these new directives, a vendor is choosing to be a part of the cause and is helping reduce the consequences of childhood obesity, along with ensuring a secure, long-standing enterprise for future years to come.

To learn more about healthy vending options, visit Piranhavending.com we are always striving to offer the best service and satisfaction to our customers.

Suggested Shelf Life for Popular Vending Items

Vendors need to pay attention to expiration dates of products that are sold. The following are suggested shelf life for the most popular vending items. You should always follow expiration or sell-by dates printed on the products that you purchase. If you have a vending question, ask us about it here!

Chocolate Candy	9-12 Months
Sugary Candy (ie: runts, Mike & Ikes, Skittles, Hot Tomales)	18 Months
Gumballs	18 Months
Licorice	6-9 Months
Nuts	6-10 Months
Chips	2-3 Months
Pop Tarts	5-7 Months
Granola Bars	6-8 Months
Bottled Diet or Non-Diet Soda	3-4 Months
Canned Diet Soda Soda	3-4 Months
Canned Non-Diet Soda	9-12 Months
Gatorade or other Sugar Sugary Juice Drinks	9-12 Months
Bottled Water	10 Years

Step By Step On Moving A Vending Machine

Here are the step by step basic rules that anyone can apply when moving a vending machine! It is best to have 2 or more people do this job to keep things simple and injury free.

Empty the vending machine.

Always empty the vending machine before you plan to move it. Take out all of the snacks, drinks, and change from the machine. You do not want them to get disorganized and potentially break and make a huge mess! Taking the extra few minutes to do this will save you from cleaning up a broken can of spilled beverage everywhere!

Measure doorways and hallways

Make sure your vending machine will fit through any doors and hallways that you are planning to go through. You may have to take off some doors to go through them. If you do, make sure you bring the proper tools to pop those doors easily. Doing this will make sure you do not damage any areas with your vending machine.

Tie up the power chords

Tie the power chords of the vending machine with regular plastic twist ties. You do not want to accidentally run the chords over with your dolly or step on them and potentially fall. Take the time to wind them up neatly so they are out of the way.

Have a furniture dolly

If you have a regular dolly, you can go ahead and use it to move your vending machine. But you will also need a moving blanket and a strap to tie the vending machine to the dolly. Using a furniture dolly is the easiest way because it has 4 wheels and the vending machine can be placed on it without the potential of tipping in a direction that you do not want it to go. Once you have the vending machine securely on a furniture dolly, you can literally wheel it anywhere you want it to go.

Wipe down machine

Make sure you wipe down your vending machine once you place it in it’s new home location. Wipe away hand prints and any dirt or debris that may have landed on your vending machine. Make it look new and fresh and it will be ready to serve it’s new customers.

Refill machine

Refill your vending machine with fresh snacks and drinks. Make sure all of the prices coordinate with the items and make any changes if necessary. Fill the coin changer (if applicable) with change so the vending machine is ready to operate.

You are ready for business!

New Technology In Vending Machines Will Display Nutrition Facts For Consumers

There is a new craze on being health conscious. Consumers that use vending machines are also becoming more health conscious. New Technology available on the market will help consumers make better health decisions when purchasing from a vending machine. These digital screens will hold a database of nutrition facts on the products that you will offer in the vending machine. When a consumer goes up to a vending machine, he or she will be able to make a healthier choice by reading the nutrition facts. You can find out more about how to get this technology on a vending machine by calling Piranha for more information.

As a vendor, this technology is just another great tool to help the consumer make a purchase by offering facts on nutrition. Consumers want to make healthier decisions. Vendors can now choose from a variety of healthier items to offer in a vending machine. You can take a look at this wonderful product offered by Piranha Vending and implement this vitamin infused beverage as a part of the healthy item lineup on ANY vending machine. This tool will definitely help continue the sale of healthy items!

If you are interested in more information on how to get this technology onto your current vending machines, or if you are interested in purchasing vending machines that have this capability, give us a CALL and our representatives will help you join the health craze in vending!

How to increase your Vending Revenue

Monitor market trends

Review your locations

Replenish product stocks in your machines

Keep your machines in good condition