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New USDA Snacking Regulations Almost Here

June 12th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Small vending machines | Snack machine | Snack Machines - (Comments Off on New USDA Snacking Regulations Almost Here)

July 1 brings a significant change to vending machine companies that service schools. The new “Smart Snacks in School” rules affect any schools receiving assistance from the National School Lunch program.

 

According to the new rules, all snacks sold in schools must:

 

  • Be whole-grain rich
  • Have the first ingredient a veggie, fruit, dairy product or other protein-rich food if not a whole grain rich food
  • Have a combination of these and naturally contain 10 percent of the daily value of calcium, vitamin D, potassium or dietary fiber
  • Contain 200 or fewer calories for snacks
  • Contain 350 or fewer calories for a la carte entrees
  • Contain no more than 35% sugar by weight
  • Contain no more than 230 mg of sodium
  • Contain no more than 35% calories from fat

 

In addition, the rules require elementary schools to limit beverages to 8 fluid ounces, with a 12-fluid-ounce limit for older grades. Vending machines in elementary and high schools cannot offer beverages that have caffeine.

 

Vending machine companies that service schools need to understand the Smart Snacks in School rules, and start transitioning to offering items that fit these rules.

Are Consumers Cutting Down on Spending?

June 10th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Vending machines - (Comments Off on Are Consumers Cutting Down on Spending?)

According to recently released figures by the Commerce Department in Washington, household purchases fell 0.1 percent in April. Once the figure was adjusted to account for inflation, the number looked even worse as it revealed spending had dropped by the biggest margin since September 2009.

Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Pierpoint Securities LLC, predicted this decline and stated “the risk at this point is that the consumer is falling back into a pattern of mediocre spending growth.” Stanley places the blame for the curbed spending on the fact that incomes have not risen to meet the increased cost of living.

What does this mean for the vending machine companies?
Unfortunately, whenever discretionary spending is hindered, the vending machine and other similar industries do feel the squeeze. There isn’t much that company owners can do, however, except wait on the economy to right itself, which will lead to consumers spending their extra money on candy bars and sodas once again.

The economy is always dipping and rising, seemingly at random. However, the vending machine business has held strong throughout all the turmoil and will indeed persevere through this latest downturn in spending.

How One Grandma Started a Vending Business to Make Extra Cash

May 26th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Vending machine business - (Comments Off on How One Grandma Started a Vending Business to Make Extra Cash)

When grandmother Karen Bailey heard that her son wanted to give away his vending machines, she asked if he’d give them to her. She used her combo drink and snack vending machines to open her own small business in Great Falls, Montana. Since September, 2014, she’s supplemented her fixed income with proceeds from 11 machines in nine locations. Besides the cash, Bailey enjoys meeting customers and getting to know what they like.

She advises others who are considering vending machines for sale to prioritize location. At least 20 people regular congregate around her favorite vending machine locations. Additionally, she suggests supplementing healthy beef jerky, granola bars and pistachios with candy bars, cookies and chips. Her snack machines experience has proven that people like to treat themselves sometimes with traditional snack foods. No matter what’s in her vending machines, Bailey looks forward to many more years of business ownership.

If you’re interested in starting a vending machine business, check out our selection of eVending table-top and combo vending machines. Want a free quote? Give us a call at 1800-944-5524.

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Eating Healthy is Easier Thanks to Tweeting Vending Machine

May 19th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Snack vending machines - (Comments Off on Eating Healthy is Easier Thanks to Tweeting Vending Machine)

For health-conscious consumers or those trying to break a bad candy habit, a hacked vending machine tweets all purchases. Unlike regular snack machines, this one tells members of a private social media account about all the purchases made by the group’s members.

The tweeting vending machine originates in the UK. A group of hackers and programmers bought a vending machine off eBay, modified it to send tweets and use it to encourage purchasers to make healthier snack choices.

Users of the tweeting machine initially showed amusement at it. However, they soon became annoyed with the exposure of their snack purchases. Thus, the machine has been shut down for now.

New and existing vending machine companies may not want to build a tweeting machine, but combo drink snack machines that provide healthy options do exist. They can feature anything from fresh salads, pre-packaged vegetables, flavored water and granola bars.

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The Convenience of Small Tabletop Vending Machines

May 12th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Small vending machines - (Comments Off on The Convenience of Small Tabletop Vending Machines)

Think you don’t have room for a vending machine on your property? Think again. Mini vending machines can fit into spaces where larger machines can’t. eVending’s compact models fit where full-sized machines would be impractical. Place these compact machines in the break room, in your office’s kitchen area or even on a hallway table.

Employees enjoy the convenience of having snacks and drinks on-site for those times that they can’t get away from the office. The small size means that the machines fit in most break rooms; this saves workers on time spent fetching snacks and gives them more time to relax during their breaks and return to work refreshed. Our machines are equipped with credit and debit card readers so that workers can grab a snack even if they left their cash at home.

Combo drink snack machines allow you to fit a surprisingly large selection of options to get them through midday hunger. Our tabletop vending machine model accommodates 14 products so that there is something everyone can enjoy. You can offer juices, sodas, candies and other snacks to combat mid-afternoon hunger and help people get back to work and feel more productive.

Full-sized machines often require a team and a hand truck or other equipment. eVending’s small machines are light and far easier to move than full-sized drink or snack machines. A single person could easily position or move a machine with little effort. Plus, smaller machines take less power. This makes them more eco-friendly and easier on your wallet.

When you are looking at vending machine options, consider the benefits of mini vending machines. eVending has a compact vending machines for sale on our site. Contact us to learn more about your vending options.

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Avoid the Angry Customer

May 5th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Vending machines - (Comments Off on Avoid the Angry Customer)

Customers and vending machines have a tricky relationship. If the snack machines take the customer’s money and then deliver the selected item, the customer is happy and the relationship is saved. If the snack machines take the money and refuse to deliver the selected product, you’ll have one angry customer on your hands.

Vending Machine Manufacturer

You can easily avoid the angry customer when you buy vending machines by looking for a machine that has Guaranteed Vend Technology. Available on select combo drink snack machines, this advanced technology ensures the customer either receives the selected item or credit to make another selection if the vending machine fails to deliver.

How It Works

Vending machines equipped with Guaranteed Vend Technology fhttp://www.evending.com/blog/wp-admin/edit.phpeature an infrared light sensor known as the Intelligent Vend Sensor, or iVend Sensor. Snacks or drinks must pass through iVend Sensor to confirm the transaction is complete. If items fail to pass through the sensor, the amount of the purchase shows up as credit on the machine, allowing the customer to pick something else.

Why You Need It

Avoiding the angry customer is essential in any business, but it’s particularly important when it comes to vending machines. Since machines are not always supervised, angry customers could end up taking their frustrations out on the machine. They may shake or knock the machine in an attempt to dislodge the product, damaging the machine as well as the floor beneath it.

Angry customers could also damage a vending machine company’s reputation. If irate consumers hold a grudge, they may steer clear of vending machines owned by the same company or, worse yet, take to the Internet to air their grievances and spread mistrust.

Combo drink snack machines equipped with Guaranteed Vend Technology takes care of problem before it can even start, keeping customers and vending machine owners happy.

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Vending Machines and Their Development Alongside Technology

April 28th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Combo vending machines - (Comments Off on Vending Machines and Their Development Alongside Technology)

Modern vending machines were first introduced to the world in London in the early 1880s as a means of dispensing post cards. Throughout the years, vending machines have evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of patrons. Read below for some of the changes that vending machines have undergone over the years:

Product: One major change in vending machines are the products that they dispense. Drinks, snacks and candy have been the standard fare in America for years. However, in the past, cigarettes, stamps and postcards, as mentioned above, were dispensed using vending machines. Today, vending machines offer healthy food options for individuals wishing to make better food choices. This could include mini vending machines that offers fruit or combo drink snack machines that offer healthy snacks and waters. In addition to the changes in the type of food being dispensed, there are now vending machines that provide access to office supplies, medical supplies and many other items that were never dispensed using a vending machine in the past.

cashless drink vending machinePayment type: In addition to product options, vending machines have also changed the way in which patrons can pay for products. In today’s cash-less society, many individuals do not carry dollar bills or change. To meet this need, vending companies have installed cashless payment applications that allow patrons to pay using their credit or debit card. The information above reveals how the vending machine industry has changed to keep up with products patrons want and to allow them to pay in ever-changing methods.

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Dollar Bill Frustration: Straightening a Dollar Bill at the Vending Machine

April 21st, 2014 | Posted by DT in Vending machine sales - (Comments Off on Dollar Bill Frustration: Straightening a Dollar Bill at the Vending Machine)

Have you ever been stuck at a vending machine, trying to feed your dollar bill into it over and over? Don’t just struggle with the machine. Most soda and snack vending machines won’t take a crumpled up dollar bill, no matter how many times you try to feed it in.

Vending Machine Cash Reader Frustrations

How Can You Straighten a Crumpled Dollar Bill?

Rather than struggle at the soda vending machine, take your dollar bill and find a corner to a wall or other flat object. Holding the dollar bill at either end, run the dollar bill firmly and slowly against the corner of the wall. Repeat this a few times until the dollar bill appears flattened. Pay attention to the corners at either end of the dollar bill to ensure that none are turned up. At this point, you should be able to feed the dollar bill into the machine without any issues.

Apart from straightening your crumpled dollar bills, you may want to avoid them entirely. Consider investing in a wallet and keeping all of your dollar bills organized neatly within it. Also avoid getting your dollar bills wet, as this can further crumple and damage them.

To accommodate credit and debit card users, cashless vending machines are becoming more commonly available. Keep an eye out for vending machines with electronic payment options everywhere you go. You’ll be surprised by how many you come across.

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Electronic Payment Options Preferred Over Cash in Most Cases

April 14th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Vending machines - (Comments Off on Electronic Payment Options Preferred Over Cash in Most Cases)

Vending machine companies are going increasingly digital, and a closer look at the benefits of digital payment options shows why.

Convenience for customers is one of the primary benefits of digital payment options. Carrying cash is becoming increasingly infrequent, as debit cards are small, secure and easy to use. The consumer between the ages of 18 and 34 uses a debit card 51 percent of the time, according to recent statistics. When today’s consumer visits combo drink snack machines, chances are high they have no spare change jingling around in their pocket. Machines that take digital payments cater to the needs of the average consumer. Cashless Vending

For the snack machine’s owner, digital payments also provide benefits. Since a high number of people prefer to use debit cards the majority of the time, this may lead to an increase in sales from vending machines. Also, combo drink snack machines that take credit cards are accessible to consumers who are out of cash when they want a snack.

Debit cards have not yet eliminated the need for cash, which is why vending machine companies are investing in machines that take both. To maximize their income, today’s investors who own drink and snack machines should consider both as well.

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NFC – The Future of Vending Machines

April 7th, 2014 | Posted by DT in Combo vending machines - (Comments Off on NFC – The Future of Vending Machines)

Cashless Vending Machine SoftwareImagine walking up to a bank of combo drink snack machines, keying in your selection and then, instead of hunting for change, simply tapping your smartphone against the machine. Sound far-fetched? It’s actually one major possibility of vending’s future.

NFC-enabled phones — that is, phones capable of near field communication — are increasingly used for swapping contacts, exchanging data, and, now in Japan, paying for items vended by new, NFC-compatible machines. The first NFC vending machines have been installed in Tokyo, and allow Android users to approach a kiosk to shop for exclusive free and paid apps.

The advance makes a lot of sense. With the rise of digital payment systems like credit cards, debit and direct deposit, fewer and fewer people carry cash. Vending machine companies are already adapting to this trend by offering machines with credit card readers. Since most people always carry their phones, why not take advantage of this new convenience?

Savvy vending machine owners are always looking for new ways to expand their income and simplify their business lives. The next time you are ready to buy vending machines, come to us for cutting-edge equipment.

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