vending machine Archives - Page 2 of 8

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.

How do YOU start a Healthy Vending Business?

If you’re looking to get on board with the healthy vending revolution that’s taken America by storm, you’ll need the right vending machine, appropriate product, and the best locations, without breaking the bank! We’re here to tell you exactly how you can do this without being locked into a franchise such as Human Healthy Vending.

Whether you’re vending traditional snacks, drinks, healthy snacks, or a combination, you’ll need a vending machine that is appropriate for your product and eye-catching to draw in customers. Many healthy vending franchises say they’re giving you a great deal when they offer vending operators start-up packages that include the machine, product, locations, tutorials, etc. for exorbitant prices. Such franchises include Human Healthy Vending, Healthy You, Fresh Healthy Vending, Naturals 2 Go, and others. Don’t be fooled! You can buy a vending machine new or used with a warranty for less than half of the cost that the healthy vending franchises charge! When buying a machine, keep in mind that a Healthy Wrap or some other healthy design/decal will identify your vending machine as a healthy option for customers and attract more sales.

Many healthy vending operators who are just getting into the business are under the impression that they have to special-order product or purchase online to offer their customers the healthier options they’re looking for. Many of the franchises like HUMAN Healthy Vending and Fresh Healthy Vending are spreading these lies but it simply is not true! You can find most healthy vending products locally. Check out our blog post on healthy product ideas. Buying in bulk from places like Sam’s Club or Costco can save you hundreds when re-stocking your machine and you can then pass those savings on to your customers. Additionally it is more convenient to be able to buy them on demand as you are serving your route instead of waiting days for the product to arrive.

Once you have the perfect healthy vending machine with all the best products stocked in it, you need to find the most profitable locations for your machines. Check out the DVS Blog for tips on finding and securing some of the best locations; remember that you don’t have to hire a locator or offer high commissions to get your machine in the hottest spots. You can usually sell a prospective customer on your machine, product, and services alone, without the need to offer a commission. However, if you don’t have time to locate the machines yourself, there are many great companies out there who can help you find good locations for around $400- 500. Check out our resources page for more information.

Lastly you will need the proper licensing from your state, county and city where you are doing business. Don’t get overwhelmed by the bureaucracy though. With a simple google search you should be able to find out what forms need to be filed and licenses obtained in your local area. The vending business is one of the easiest small businesses to get into and the Return on Investment (ROI) is typically less than a year if you do it right by buying an affordable machine and securing good locations. Give us a call as we are here to help you do just that. If you have additional tips and feedback please share them with us.

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.

Link Between Soft Drinks and Depression

There has been plenty of studies being done that suggests that sugary soft drinks are not good for our bodies. Now, there’s a study that may suggest now that it is also not good for our mental health. A new study of more than 260,000 participants has found a link between sweetened soft drinks and depression. This is just another warning for consumers to really start thinking about what types of drinks to ingest. Look for bottled waters when going to a vending machine as the most healthful beverage. Skip the soft drink during your lunch or dinner and go for water with lemon or unsweetened iced tea. The best is to drink a Karma Wellness Waters which will also give you the daily recommended 7 vitamins. Help spread good health by becoming a distributor for a healthful beverage. Knowledge and health promotion is all it takes!

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/sweet-sodas-soft-drinks-may-raise-risk-depression-183000091.html

Chocolate A Necessity During Hard Economic Times

People are cutting back on a lot of luxury items during hard economic times. But study show chocolate sales not affected! Always keep a variety of chocolate items in your vending machine….it will always be a hot seller!

Read this article for more details!

How to increase your Vending Revenue

Monitor market trends

Review your locations

Replenish product stocks in your machines

Keep your machines in good condition

How do YOU start a Healthy Vending Business?