Monday, February 22, 2010

Vending Most Sort after Business Option

Vending is one of the oldest business models that have been in existence for quite some time now. The use of these machines was restricted initially to few items. However, with growing number of users, these machines gained huge acceptance and also underwent lot of changes to keep pace with changing needs of customers. This resulted in development of several models of vending machines like coin operated machines, electrical vending machines, mechanical vending machines and glass front vending machines.

In this process several new products were designed to be dispensed in these machines. In the beginning when vending machines were first introduced, their use was just limited to dispensing few products like coffee, newspaper, snacks and beverages. However, with changing times, modern machines are able to dispense almost all kinds of products like DVD, CD, mobiles and even insurance.

What makes this business so popular? The main reason behind increasing popularity of this business is it’s easy of operation. The capital, floor space and other operational costs required for this business are quite low when compared to many other business models. Besides, vending also gives you flexibility in terms of working hours and mode of operation. You can take start this business either on a full time basis or a part time basis and the best part is that you can operate it from your own residence.

Why do we take up any business? The answer is quite simple, to make profits and become financially independent. Both these aspects are easily achieved in vending business. The profit margins are very high in vending and being a complete cash business, operators stand huge chances of making high profits. In case you are a novice to this business, you can minimise your risk by operating on a small scale with one or two machines and gradually expand over a period of time.

All these aspects make vending the most sort after business. For more information and statistics about the vending business get in touch with Planet Antares – The leaders in vending business.

Labels: ,

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Vending Business Expansion Tips

Every business is started with a view to expand further. Although most operators start their business with one or two machines initially, they come to a stage where they need to plan for further expansion. There are various methods in which a vending operator can expand his existing business. Some of the most common methods of expansion are:Adding more number of vending machines: Operators can increase the product length by adding similar kind of products. For instance, if you sell Coke, then add Pepsi to it.
  • You can also increase the product line i.e., if you are selling soda, then add sandwiches to it.
  • Identify areas that need vending services and offer to locate your machines there. You can also identify prospective locations in your existing vending route.
  • If the vending route is becoming too complicated to handle, then employ a worker if required.
  • Try to advertise by distributing brochures or pamphlets. These direct channels of advertising can help in market penetrating.
  • Also try and utilize the indirect mode of advertising i.e., through word of mouth. Ensure that your customer is satisfied and suggests your product to ten other customers.
However if expansion process is not taken up properly, operators may incur huge expenses. Few factors that can help you in curtailing your costs while expansion are:Operator should always analyze his options by considering existing demand and future growth plans.
  • Ensure you have sufficient space to store additional stock keeping in mind future needs.
  • You also need to plan and have a clear cut idea about the space you would like to rent. Before renting the premises you also need to consider the time period for which you would like to rent it. This will directly affect the size of building and its associated costs.
  • In order to achieve your goals, you may also have to control your costs by managing your inventory efficiently and fix appropriate prices without forgoing your profits.
These aspects if borne in mind can bring you huge success in vending business. You can also get guidance from Planet Antares staff who have helped several entrepreneurs building their business.

Labels: ,

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Need of Branded Products in Vending Machine

It becomes mandatory to acquire thorough knowledge about the business you are about to take up. This helps in overcoming the intricacies associated with the business. Vending business is no exception to this. A proper market research is the only way for gathering detailed information about the business you are going to take up.

As more and more operators are resorting to vending business, competition is intensifying. To beat and sustain in this competitive market, operators need to come up with several new and attractive business strategies. Dispensing branded items is one such marketing strategy aimed at boosting individual sales.

What is a brand and how does it influence a business? Brand is a “name, sign, symbol or design or a combination of these intended to identify goods or services of one seller from those of the other. A good brand is successful in motivating customers, creating customer loyalty, gives clear message about the product and gains credibility.

Brand plays a crucial role in the success of your business. The main advantage of using branded items is faster and easier recognition across the globe which helps in stimulating instinct to purchase products and thus boost your sales. This holds good for retail industry where branded products get sold faster than the unbranded ones.

Being a Planet Antares vending operator, it is imperative that you place branded products in your machines. Since these products are popular nationally, they get sold easily and you need not take up any promotional activities for enhancing their sales. Customers will automatically purchase them as they are already familiar with them. Ideally glass front vending machines are appropriate for vending these branded products.

Moreover, it is easier to sell branded products as most customers prefer branded products since they are faster and cheaper. If you are selling unbranded products alone, you need to take up some promotional activities to boost your sales. So, a smart vending operator would offer both branded and unbranded products together.

Labels: ,

Friday, February 12, 2010

Starting a Vending Business

How do I go about while starting a vending business? This is a very common question that keeps haunting the minds of every new and upcoming vending operator. There are few steps which you need to follow before starting a vending business. The first and most important of all is the objective behind taking up this business. How much are you willing to invest? And how long within what time span do you expect to see the results?

To start with an operator needs to think about the following:

Where are you going to locate your vending machine? Are you going to install it within a rented space or outside? When it comes to installation an operator has wide range of choices to choose from. Schools, offices, commercial complexes, shopping malls, amusement parks, and recreation clubs are some of the preferred locations you can choose from.

What kind of vending machine are you going to purchase? There are various models of vending machines available in various shapes, colors and sizes. It is at the discretion of the vending operator to choose. He can either go for a candy machine, gumball machine, toy vending machine, newspaper machine, snack and beverage machine or healthy food vending machine. It is always recommended to buy the best machines from reputed manufacturers like Planet Antares who have won trust of millions with great designs and robust performance.

What is the need for the product in that particular area? Is their any necessity of the product you are about to dispense? This is very crucial as the fate of your business is dependent on this question. The product you are about to dispense should be able to meet the requirements of the local residents in that particular area.

How much traffic do you expect in front of your vending machine? Vending is purely a customer centric business. The more the number of customers you are able to draw towards your machine, the greater the chances of its success. Hence operators should make sure that the locality in which you install your machine includes maximum number of your target audience.

One thing which every operator need to bear in mind is that vending is like any other business model and you need a proper plan, budget and marketing strategy to make it a grand success.

Labels: ,

Monday, February 08, 2010

Starting a Vending Business

Starting a vending business of your own is really very exciting. It is imperative that operator takes up thorough market research in order to become successful in your project. Never rush into any business opportunity without understanding its ins and outs.

It is mandatory that every operator looks at all the possibilities and checks with business bureau before taking up any business venture. An operator also needs to enquire about the existing state laws and regulations in which he would be operating. Since these laws vary from one state to another, operator needs to know them before hand.

The kind of machine you purchase also influences the success or failure of your business. Operators can either go for simple machines capable of dispensing one product at a time or go for machines that can dispense more than one product at a time. The make and technology included in the machine would be reflected in its cost. In case you are new to this profession, you can depend upon Planet Antares who can help you out while setting up your own vending business.

Your first step before starting a vending business would be to decide on which product you would like to dispense. Selecting a product is also quite challenging as there are various products available in the market. Operator can choose anything right from an ATM, DVD, propane, flowers, health food, games, personal hygiene products and many more.

Your next step in establishing this business would be to identify the best location for installing your machine. Schools, offices, shopping malls, recreation centers, gyms, health clubs, hospitals, railway stations, bus stations are some of the commonly used locations for placing your machines. The choice however, would depend on the kind of product you are dispensing and whom you are targeting at.

Besides these factors, operator also need to take proper care of maintenance and servicing of the machine in order to ensure smooth functioning of his machine.

Labels: ,

Monday, February 01, 2010

Benefits Of Starting Vending Business

Vending business is taken up by various new and upcoming entrepreneurs for various reasons. Some take up this business in order to make some additional income while others take up as their main source of income. One of the unique features of this business is that you do not need any special skill set or experience to get started.

Like other businesses vending is not a get rich soon kind of business. You need to put in a lot of hard work and dedication to succeed in this business. To begin with you need to do a thorough market research. This would help you in understanding the present market scenario, customer needs, their tastes and preferences and the products with maximum demand. It also helps you in understanding what vending business is all.

The key to successful vending is by installing right kind of machine in right location. This may sound very easy but locating the best site is really a tough challenge. Locating good sites takes lot of work, lot of sales calls and being rejected several times. You can take the support of your friends or prospective customers by asking them about the need for new machines in their work place. Try to gather leads and follow up each lead before closing the deal.

Each location has different set of customer needs and you need to place your machines accordingly. After installing your machine, you also need to strive to compete with other competitors in that particular area. By offering quality products and by keeping your machines well serviced and clean you can attract customers.

Owing a vending business is undoubtedly one of the best ways of making money without working for long strenuous hours. Proper planning and strategic implementation of plans can help you make huge profits. To implement such planning , you will need to take guidance of Planet Antares staff, who have experience and knowledge of vending business.

Labels: ,