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Connecting with the Next Generation

November 2nd, 2018 | Posted by Matthew Shattuck in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Connecting with the Next Generation)

Gen Z?

Millennials are no longer the most recent next up and coming generation that the retail and food service industry needs to adjust too. ‘Generation Z’ was born after 1994 and according to Engagement Labs, Gen Z “is expected to account for 40% of all consumers by 2020.” An NPD report says the Gen Z is a “snack oriented” generation that enjoy ready to eat food.  It’s obviously imperative to know Gen Z’s consumer habits and values when planning for a successful future in vending.

“Connect, communicate, customize and cashless” are the new 4 C’s the vending industry must note when reaching Generation Z according to Vending Times’ Paul Schlossberg. Compared to other generations Generation Z pays extra attention to food.  Schlossberg writes, “We should be paying attention to the upward trend line of Gen Z conversations about convenience stores and chain drug stores.” Gen Z is using social media to share opinions of about food early and often. Using social media to share your brand and products is vital to connecting with Gen Z consumers.  It doesn’t take a large empire to find success using social media, giving smaller business the opportunity to connect with Gen Z. Spreading the word about your business and removing any hurdles from Gen Z connecting with your brand is a great step in reaching the next generation that wants to connect and communicate with you..

Cashless payment is no doubt important to a generation where their phone is basically another part of the body and is the epicenter of their waking hours.  Receiving cashless payments to your vending machine is a must for reaching Gen Z. There are some great options available for vendors looking to use cashless payments. PayRange, for example is the world’s leading payment network for coin-operated machines. Customers download the PayRange App and use their phone to pay instead of having to carry the correct amount of coins in their pocket. PayRange is efficient and secure for the customer and adding money to the Pay Range wallet is very simple. See if PayRange is what you need for your machines. 

Are you making the right moves to welcome the next generation of consumers to your machines?  Don’t be shy to share on social media what your brand is doing to help others and how your product is making a difference. Are you equipped with PayRange so your customers and tap their phones and buy your products? Some important things to think about as 2018 comes to a close.

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Increasing machine sales with cashless Payment Options

August 21st, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Vending machine sales - (Comments Off on Increasing machine sales with cashless Payment Options)

As technology progresses, fewer and fewer consumers are carrying cash and coins. Instead, financial transactions via credit and mobile devices are becoming more common. What’s more, card swiping devices, mobile payment, and other digital payment options are predicted to overtake ‘traditional’ payment methods in the near future, making it a must have in today’s vending market.

Research reveals that 49% of consumers, and 56% of Millennials, are already using / interested in using mobile payment technology and 18% of consumers say that they would use mobile payments if more locations accepted it.

Many consumers today, Millennials in particular, rarely carry cash and prefer cashless options such as credit / debit cards or other options such as Apple Pay which will likely be a revenue driver for vending machines. In fact, a recent study that began in March of 2016 found that vending machines advertising Apple Pay increased overall revenue by 22% while contactless purchases from those same vending machines rose 89%.

With all of that said, the market for cash and coin vending is still viable so don’t scrap your traditional payment acceptors just yet. The best way to increase your profit would be to provide customers with the best of both worlds by installing both cashless payment options and coin and cash acceptors on your machines.

All of eVending’s machines are equipped with the latest electronic coin changer and bill acceptor and have a standard peripheral opening for additional payment options such as Greenlite, a cashless system that accepts debit / credit cards and mobile payments including Apple Pay. With Greenlite, you are able to remotely monitor your vending machine’s transactions from your web-based account.

Contact eVending today if you are interested purchasing a new vending machine with a cashless system or would like to add Greenlite’s mobile / wireless payment option to an existing vending machine.

Trends in Healthy Vending

August 21st, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Trends in Healthy Vending)

Trends in Healthy Vending Selections

The American diet has been through many transformations over the years, its most recent shift driven by growing health concerns.

Over the past few years the beverage industry has seen some shifts in consumer preference trends. Within the past year healthy beverages have taken the spotlight, many of which are focused not only on low calories but also health benefits such as low sugar and sodium.

As you can imagine, the increase in health conscious individuals has introduced greater demand for less sugary drinks and sodas. Consumers are now showing patterns that indicate a higher demand for water and other low calorie and nutritious options. While soft drinks still hold a large chunk of the refreshment category, data shows that their hold may be slipping as their volume and market share go down. Vending Times reports that the “volume slipped by 1.5% from 12.8 billion gallons in 2014 to 12.6 billion gallon sin 2015, which lowered CSD market share to less than 40%.”

One of the biggest threats to carbonated soft drinks is bottled water. According to Vending Times, bottled water is projected to take over as America’s largest beverage category by volume by 2017 if not by the end of this year. They also note that bottled water sales increased by 8.9% in 2015 and now total $14.2 billion (wholesale).

Other drinks that are making splash in the market are sports drinks, many companies are taking not and have begum developing new healthy beverages to satisfy the evolving demands of consumers. Pepsi has even announced its launch of products like organic Gatorade, according to Business Insider. Additionally, niche categories including selections like energy drinks and ready-to-drink coffee are outperforming most traditional mass-market categories such as carbonated soft drinks and fruit beverages. Other changes being made to beverages include downsizing cans and bottles to offer consumers a more moderate serving size. Lucky for you, eVending machines are equipped to handle many shapes and sizes of products keeping you equipped and ready to handle the ever evolving beverage industry.

State of Vending Machine Operators Industry in the United States

August 21st, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on State of Vending Machine Operators Industry in the United States)

The state of vending machine operators industry in the United States and industry performance

A long trend of declining revenue has made for a slow decade for the Vending Machine Operator industry in the United States. Within the past five (5) years revenue has declined each year except for 2012. According to IBISWorld Inc. revenue has decreased at an annualized rate of 0.8% to about $7.3 billion within the past five years, and a 1.1% decrease so far in 2016. The status of the industry has been a result of changes in the eating index, new nutritional restrictions, and the rise of micro markets and convenience and grocery stores among other things.

Although the outlook may be somewhat discouraging, with downward revenue trends being expected to continue, there is a silver lining as these decreases are expected to occur at a slower rate. Over the next five year period, industry revenue is expected to decrease at a rate of 0.6% to an estimated $7.1 billion, according to IBISWorld. In the coming years, key external drivers will both positively and negatively affect the industry’s profit margin; these include an increase in per capita disposable income, a rising healthy eating index, and rising prices for corn and sugar.

Changing laws pose a big threat to industry operators. Since its implementation in 2014, the USDA’s Smart Snacks in School has introduced new challenges for operators who have machines in primary and secondary schools. The nutritional restrictions have created a limited selection that operators can supply, and unfortunately the approved items are not popular among the students. These restrictions have caused many operators with school locations to experience a 30-40% decrease in revenue. If more laws similar to these continue to be passed some vending operators will be forced to find healthy selections that will be profitable, or exit this industry segment.

In response to the decreasing sales from snack, food, and beverage machines the industry has turned some of its attention to using technology to generate sales, as well as continuing to pursue non-traditional machine markets. As it stands in 2016, of the $7.9bn in the industry, movies and games has 29.8%, food has 29.6%, beverage has 29.9%, and other products have 10.7% according to IBISWorld.

Technology such as touch screens, cashless / mobile payment, and remote monitoring systems will help companies are the future and will create a more enticing customer experience which will hopefully drive sales. Recent advances in technology will help to improve operators’ profit margins, as they will be able to monitor machines more closely and make decisions to eliminate underperforming machines.

Competition / Major Players
IBISWorld determined the market share concentration in the industry to be medium with the top four industry operators being estimated to represent 47.1% of total industry revenue, the remaining 52.9% being held by small to medium sized companies. Major players with the largest market share are Outerwall Inc. (21.2%), Compass Group PLC (12.5%), and Aramark Corporation (9.0%).

Over the five years leading up to 2016, market share concentration has been on the rise as costs continue to increase while revenue declines. IBISWorld determined the most important key success factors for businesses in the industry are:
• Having an exclusive sales contract
• Ability to pass on cost increases
• Economies of scale and scope
• Proximity to key markets
• Easy access for clients
Internal competition in the industry is high and the trend is steady, according to IBISWorld. More and more companies are beginning to diversify the products they offer, as well as changing the machines to cater to the rising healthy eating index. IBISWorld says that sleek, well-branded machines with easy customer interfaces and technology will help spur revenue growth for operators.
Overall, the industry outlook has been looking up as the continual decline in industry revenue is expected to slow. Improvements in technology will give operators tools to remain profitable. Industry companies need to continue to focus on meeting the demand of healthy vending and embracing technology to drive efficiencies and increased sales.

Beverage Consumption Trends

August 21st, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Vending machine - (Comments Off on Beverage Consumption Trends)

Beverage industry consumer preference trends

Over the past few years the beverage industry has seen some shifts in consumer preference trends. Within the past year healthy beverages have taken the spotlight, many of which are focused not only on low calories but also health benefits such as low sugar and sodium.

As you can imagine, the increase in health conscious individuals has introduced greater demand for less sugary drinks and sodas. Consumers are now showing patterns that indicate a higher demand for water and other low calorie and nutritious options. While soft drinks still hold a large chunk of the refreshment category, data shows that their hold may be slipping as their volume and market share go down. Vending Times reports that the “volume slipped by 1.5% from 12.8 billion gallons in 2014 to 12.6 billion gallon sin 2015, which lowered CSD market share to less than 40%.”

One of the biggest threats to carbonated soft drinks is bottled water. According to Vending Times, bottled water is projected to take over as America’s largest beverage category by volume by 2017 if not by the end of this year. They also note that bottled water sales increased by 8.9% in 2015 and now total $14.2 billion (wholesale).

Other drinks that are making splash in the market are sports drinks, many companies are taking not and have begum developing new healthy beverages to satisfy the evolving demands of consumers. Pepsi has even announced its launch of products like organic Gatorade, according to Business Insider. Additionally, niche categories including selections like energy drinks and ready-to-drink coffee are outperforming most traditional mass-market categories such as carbonated soft drinks and fruit beverages. Other changes being made to beverages include downsizing cans and bottles to offer consumers a more moderate serving size. Lucky for you, eVending machines are equipped to handle many shapes and sizes of products keeping you equipped and ready to handle the ever evolving beverage industry.

An Up Close Look at FDA’s Calorie Disclosure Rule

June 5th, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on An Up Close Look at FDA’s Calorie Disclosure Rule)

An Up Close Look at FDA’s Calorie Disclosure Rule

The FDA Calorie Disclosure Rule for vending machines is directed by Congress and stems from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that was approved by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The section 4205 amendment of the ACA was implemented to “help make calorie information for vending machine foods available to prospective purchasers in a direct, accessible, and consistent manner to enable them to make informed and healthful dietary choices,” according to the Federal Register.

It is important to note, the Rule applies to vending operators, rather than the food manufacturers and it applies to vending only, not micro markets or OCS. This rule requires that vending machine operators who own or operate 20+ machines, or who voluntarily elect to be covered, comply with the guidelines as defined in the FDA Calorie Disclosure Rule.
The FDA’s Final Rule, issued in December of 2014, will go into effect on December 1st this year. The rule requires that operators provide the calorie content of food products in one of several locations:
• On a sign in, on or adjacent to the vending machine so long as the sign is easily read and in close proximity to the article of food or its selection button
• On the front of the product label- the font must be in a type size at least 50 percent of the size of the largest printed matter
• On the product’s Nutrition Facts panel, if it is visible while the product is inside the vending machine- provided the calories displayed represent the total calories per package item
• On a digital display, if the vending machine has one
eVending’s snack and refrigerated / frozen vending machines are equipped with two line digital displays. Using a machine planogram approach, the products’ nutritional information is entered into a text file along with the selection number and product name. The product name (up to 20 characters) as well as calorie and fat calorie information (up to four digits each) can be included in the text file. The information can be programmed into the machines through a two-step process.
1. Create a text file with the information in DEX format
2. Upload the DEX text file to the machine’s control board by attaching a laptop to the vending machine with a GVC control board cable.
This feature will ease the transition in complying with the FDA’s new rules and regulations by providing you with a tool that can display the calorie content of the products in your machine.
In addition to the above described rules, the vending operator must disclose their telephone number and mailing address or email address by posting it on the vending machine. The information can be placed on the face of the machine or with the calorie declarations in, on, or adjacent to the machine.
The Final Rule will be enforced by the FDA starting December 1, 2016. The FDA can enforce the rules through its regulatory enforcement process. Failure to comply with the rule will render the covered vending machine food misbranded under the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FD&C). Learn more about the FDA Calorie Disclosure Rule by visiting NAMA’s FDA Calorie Disclosure Online Resource Center.

How to Choose the Right Combo Vending Machine for Your Location

June 5th, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Combo vending machines - (Comments Off on How to Choose the Right Combo Vending Machine for Your Location)

Questions to consider when purchasing a new combo vending machine

When you find yourself looking for a combo vending machine that will suit the needs of your company or looking to start a vending business for yourself, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.
1.How much space will it occupy?
2.Is it easy to maintain?
3.Does it vend a variety of snacks and drinks with different size containers?
4.If I need help programming it, can I find help easily?
5.Can I get parts for it if I decide I want to vend something unusual?
6.Does it have a warranty if anything should break down?

It is no coincidence that eVending’s Futura Combo Vending Machine is the best-selling combo vending machine on the market. Its versatility and many features make it an all-around value and the best combo vending machine choice for almost any location.
•Stylish, appealing design to attract customers – With its LED lighting, the Futura Combo Vending Machine is visually attractive. Its tempered glass front product display windows allow consumers to fully recognize the items and find the product of their choice. Whether looking for a snack or a drink selection, customers can quickly and easily see product options in the Futura Combo Vending Machine.
•Small, compact footprint to fit in almost any location – The Futura Combo Snack and Drink Vending Machine has a small footprint with dimensions of 34 ½” wide, 31 ½” Deep and 74 ½” Tall. This combo vending machine will fit through most doors and uses a standard electrical outlet.
•Easy to operate and maintain – With pull out drink trays and snack coils, the Futura Combo Vending Machine is easy to load and switch out products according to what is selling the fastest. It’s important that we provide a vending machine to you that is User Friendly.
•Unmatched product versatility and maximum capacity for its size – The Futura Combo Vending Machine has a beverage vending capacity of 136 products including cans and bottles and a snack vending capacity of 217 snacks. With 20 snack selections and 9 beverage selections, you are able to vend popular choices of water, sports drinks, juices, milk, or snacks including chips, candy bars, granola bars, and other healthy choices all from one vending machine.

5-year limited parts warranty and lifetime phone technical support – Because the Futura Combo Vending Machine is made right here in the USA, we are able to provide you with technical support and a 5-year limited parts warranty right here from the factory. Rest assured you will get exactly what you are looking for.

Five Reasons Why the Futura Snack and Drink Combo Vending Machine is the Best Combo Vending Machine on the Market

June 5th, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Combo vending machines - (Comments Off on Five Reasons Why the Futura Snack and Drink Combo Vending Machine is the Best Combo Vending Machine on the Market)

The Futura Combo Vending Machine is the perfect choice for vending the snack and drinks that your customers want in one machine. The following are five reasons why the Futura Combo Vending Machine is a proven winner providing the ultimate customer experience.

 

  1. High Capacity and Wide Range of Product Versatility – The Futura Combo Vending Machine has unmatched capacity in relation to its small footprint. Along with its large capacity, this combo vending machine offers a wide range of products. It provides a versatile selection of 20 different snack and food options including pastries, chips, candy, and healthy food products. It also vends nine drink or beverage selections including a combination of cans and bottles. Offer consumers juices, water, milk, soda, and sports drinks from one machine.
  2. Easy for Consumers to Use and Owners to Operate – The built in features in the Futura Combo Vending Machine makes it user friendly and easy to operate in any situation. For example, it accepts coins, tokens, $1-20 bills and has an internal, automatic vertical dollar bill stacker. Also, optional cashless credit card readers can be added to the machine directly at the factory before shipment. For owner/operators, its digital electronic pricing allows for accounting mode to monitor cash and vending sales data. As an owner/operator you are able to track data by row, tray or the entire machine.
  3. High Quality Combo Vending Machine Made in the U.S.A. – Unlike most combo vending machines on the market today, the Futura Combo Vending Machine is manufactured in Des Moines, Iowa USA starting with a raw roll of steel. Most combo vending machines on the market are actually manufactured in another country such as China or India with only minor final assembly taking place once it reaches the United States. Not eVending’s vending machines though – our Des Moines, Iowa facility has over 375,000 square feet of manufacturing space in which we have manufactured snack and drink vending machines since 1931.
  4. Industry Leading Technology – The Futura Snack and Drink Combo Vending Machine features an ecofriendly design with low power consumption. It is energy efficient with dual area L.E.D. crisp lighting and uses a single power cord with low power consumption of only 2.5 Amps. It is equipped with iVend’s guaranteed vend sensors. If product does not vend correctly, the customer is not charged.
  5. Best-in-Class Warranty and Free Lifetime Technical Phone Support – Backed by a 5-Year Limited Parts Warranty as well as Free Lifetime Toll-Free Support and Nationwide Local support, the Futura Snack and Drink Combo Vending Machine is a great choice for any location. It is ADA compliant and manufactured in the USA. Whether your location is large or small, the Futura Combo Vending Machine can handle it all with one great combo vendor.

Contact eVending today at 888-982-8128 to learn more about the Futura Combo Vending Machine. Or if you are ready to make your purchase, you can do so ONLINE!

5 Mistakes of a New Vending Machine Operator

June 5th, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Vending machine business - (Comments Off on 5 Mistakes of a New Vending Machine Operator)

When you start a vending company, the first thing you want to do is outline the mistakes that you can avoid, to ensure your future success. We’ve outlined the top 5 vending machine business pitfalls new vending machine operators make when first starting out, in hopes you can avoid them:

Inaccurately Calculating Profits
Projecting higher profits than reality can really inhibit your ability to push your vending business further. A safer method is to underestimate your profits, so that you don’t exceed the anticipated spend for the year. The cost of your vending machine needs to be allocated for at least a year in order to be safe in the profit realm. In reality, most vending machines earn back their costs through sales in 12 to 14 months.

Placing Vending Machines in Low Traffic Areas
Priority needs to be placed in your location. It needs to be one of your top priorities when installing a new vending machine. High traffic areas are your best bet when it comes to location, that way the products inside of them can be seen and purchased by your consumer. Make sure the location is properly lit, safe, and easily accessible to everyone.

Ignoring the Buying Habits
Know your base. If you notice that a certain product isn’t selling, try changing the pricing, and vice versa for products that are selling well. Keep in mind your consumer, their buying power, and their purchasing habits – this will help keep your products moving faster and more frequently.

Choosing the Wrong Vending Machine
No matter what type of location, the vending machines supplied by eVending are perfect for expanding the reach of your brand and bringing in additional revenue. Whether you are buying your first vending machine or are looking to widen your vending presence, our affordable vending machines will have you turning a profit in no time. As easy to operate as they are to maintain, our combo vending machines are ideal for all types of establishments, both large and small. From waiting rooms to break areas, our products provide the best in refreshment when it is needed most.

Failing to Service your Vending Machine
A broken or dirty vending machine will not gain the trust of your consumer. Keep your machines functioning properly by regularly scheduling service to them, so your consumer can rely on the efficacy of your vending business. It’s better to keep your machine up to date and running, than constantly running behind schedule trying to fix problems after they happen.

For all of your more realistic vending machine needs, eVending is here for you. Contact us today with any questions you may have.

Location, Location, Location! Maximize Profit From Your Combo Vending Machine

June 5th, 2018 | Posted by Jewels in Uncategorized - (Comments Off on Location, Location, Location! Maximize Profit From Your Combo Vending Machine)

When you are considering a vending business the first step to success is finding the right location to place your vending machine.
Choose a location that provides:
1. A lot of foot traffic
2. High visibility
3. A chance to work with an existing business
4. Work with a new business
When the area is a public place, it is great for potential customers to have the ability to vend snacks and drinks from a combo vending machine that provides a wide variety of options. The more people using the location the more potential profits rise. Your customer satisfaction will bring them back simply because it is a place used by many and they will have the convenience of the snack or drink combo vending machine.
The machine needs to be located somewhere easy for customers to see. If they can see it from a distance, the suggestion alone may draw attention to the combo vending machine to buy from you instead of waiting until they go to the store or get home. With the glass front of the Futura Combo Vending Machine, it makes popular products like snack, candy, food, cans, and bottled products grab their attention.
It is always a great idea to place a machine in front of a business that has at least 50 or more employees. That guarantees a potential steady clientele. Business in the service industry are a great choice as they will draw customers that may be waiting for a car to be fixed, a haircut, or even getting your dog groomed. Look for businesses with services everyone needs and visit frequently.
The choices are limitless when you look for the right combination of factors. Record all of your research and you are sure to come up with the right solution for making your combo vending machine business a success. Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.
Call today to change your future

1-888-982-8128