10 replies to this topic

[PremiumVend]

Just picked up a very large Snacktron 1 Snack machine for my small 10 person office. Should I be stocking this thing to its 100% capacity or test market the office to see what they like?

I was thinking about perhaps just fill a middle column to make the machine appear like it has variety as I do not want to get stuck with product that may not sell.

I am not in the vending business so I would like to ask for some profesional advice.

In order to maximize revenue here, should I just buy a few variety packs of product to start?

Any advice would be appreciated in terms of what inital and quantity of product to get for this snack machine.

Thanks!

Premium Vending

[RJT]

The machine is to large for that size office. Even setting par levels very low on each row you will still most likely have products that run out of date. Most offices this size is better suited using an honor box system.

Can I ask why you wanted to do the vending in your office? Why did you buy such a large machine?

[bcron]

You're kinda stuck in a hard place as far as chips are concerned. Buying the multipacks for a small office like this, I'm betting you will find that you will end up selling a lot of one type and none of others causing you to throw out the ones that don't sell. In buying the single variety larger boxes like you find at Sam's, you will probably find that the slower selling ones will probably not sell quickly enough for a small office environment before reaching their expiration date, therefore causing you to throw some of those away too. Chips, especially, have a relatively short expiration date.

I was going to suggest having a row or two reserved for putting in the products that are reaching their date at a reduced price, even at cost, so at least you recoup your cost, but I would think that people would catch on and just wait for the stuff to be stocked into those rows and not buy at the regular price.

[Steve Fischer]

If you have one machine at one small office, no matter how you slice it you will likely have products expiring.

Try making a list of selections and prices and passing it around the office and have people vote on what they want. Then you can figure out what works best.

[dogcow]

use wise chips, longer expiry date

[PremiumVend]

Just loaded my snacktron for the office. One thing I didnt mention was that the 10-15 person office is a call center with a demographic of indivuals who buy snacks 3 times day from the sandwich shop downstairs. There are no close stores or convienience shops in the area.

I am not sure what the revenue could be but to gie you an idea...Last week we installed a Flavio coffee machine. This is the one that makes expressos, cappucinos, etc. We charge $1.00/per coffee of $1.50/cappucino. Each day we were averaging $45-$55 in revenue

In the case of my Snacktron, should an item start closing in on its exipry date, I will start lowering the price with SALE tags on that item

Between the snack and the soda machine, which one would I be seeing more revenue come in?

[dogcow]

Between the snack and the soda machine, which one would I be seeing more revenue come in?

drink machine

[dloiselle]

Agree with DogCow, soda will blow away snack, and the dates are much less of an issue.

[dogcow]

I am not sure what the revenue could be but to gie you an idea...Last week we installed a Flavio coffee machine. This is the one that makes expressos, cappucinos, etc. We charge $1.00/per coffee of $1.50/cappucino. Each day we were averaging $45-$55 in revenue

with all due respect 1 week isnt really enough data to make any conclusions. with vending its always a question of locations that will surprise you but theres still only so many snacks 10 people can eat in a day and thats a big machine. i would suggest putting a lot of long dated items in it like wise chips, candy , peanuts, granola bars, lance crackers,nabisco cookies

id avoid any pastry, donuts and lays chips

to answer your original question no dont fill it to capacity

[bcron]

Before long, you will get an idea of what they like and what they don't. Some you might end up stocking to capacity to keep up with demand, others you may only stock a few.

[rogerdowling]

Great information and I also agree with PremiumVend and I think Soda Machine would be seeing more revenue come in.