When it comes to starting or expanding a vending business, the location of your machines is paramount. It requires some research and legwork to evaluate traffic, study your competition and secure permission from property owners.
Choosing a location that has higher foot traffic is key to the success of your business. You want to attract habitual buyers and impulse buys.
Retail Sites
A vending machine in a retail site such as a shopping mall can be a lucrative business opportunity. These places see a lot of traffic and people are often thirsty for ice-cold drinks or quick food.
Another ideal location is in a drug store or pharmacy. These shops can dispense raffle tickets, movie tickets, soft drinks, bottled water, snacks and many other items.
These stores also have employees who spend long hours there. Employees love a convenient option for snacks and drinks, so they are more likely to keep your machines in the break rooms if you are willing to place them for free.
A co-working office is another great location for a vending machine. More companies and individuals are working remotely at this point in time, so they are looking for a way to get out of their houses. A co-working space might allow you to rent a space for free in exchange for selling your products there.
Offices
Vending machine locations throughout a variety of offices. Retailers, office buildings and other businesses have both employees and customers who want to grab a snack or drink while they’re on the go.
These types of offices also have employee break areas, which are a good location for vending machines that sell beverages and snacks. It’s a smart move to call the business owner or property manager and ask for permission to install a vending machine in a specific location on their property.
Hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities are also a good place for vending machines because of the steady flow of patients that need access to food and drinks. Military bases are another good location for a 24-hour vending machine because many of the people on site work long shifts and don’t have time to run out for snacks or beverages. School campuses are also a good option for vending machines because students can stay up late and need quick snack options.
Auto Repair Garage
Starting a new auto repair garage requires business planning, legal work, finance and accounting, permits, hiring, and marketing. These are important workstreams to tackle, and mistakes made in the initial planning phase can be costly down the road.
For example, one challenge faced by many collision repair shops is managing inventory. Using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can help streamline the repair process, but it can also be difficult to track inventory usage and eliminate excess items.
This is where FinishMaster’s Vending Machine solution comes in. With a cart system that tracks usage, Ocasio and Mendoza are able to keep the shop well stocked.
This is a new operating protocol for FM Automotive Collision Center, and it is taking time for the technicians to get used to it. However, they are happy with the result so far! This is a good way to reduce excess inventory without sacrificing customer satisfaction. They’re still weighing the cost of this project against the savings that they could see from reduced inventory.
Call Center Facility
Call centers are a popular place to install vending machines. They can dispense a variety of items, including soft drinks, juice, snacks, bottled water and energy drinks.
Vending machines are also a great way to promote brand awareness and drive new business for your company. They are a great solution for call centers that have a limited number of employees and a high turnover rate.
The type of call center a company chooses is determined by the needs of its customers. Inbound call centers provide customer service to current and potential clients, including billing questions, payment inquiries and tech support.
Outbound call centers are a more traditional approach, mainly used for sales and other promotional activities. Agents make calls to prospects and customers, which may include offering an insurance policy or other products.