Hostess to Re-Launch Bakery

vending.comHearts all over the world were crushed several months ago when it became known that the Hostess brand would be shutting down key operations. In addition to job losses, snack enthusiasts were devastated at the thought that their beloved Twinkies might never see the light of day in their local snack machines. Well, Twinkie fans, time to rejoice! Under new ownership, Hostess Brands will be relaunching its Twinkie Bakery in Columbus, Georgia, which will help put the mega-popular, cream-filled delicacy back in the hands of the people who love it most.

According to Vending MarketWatch, Hostess will create 200 jobs to help support the Twinkies bakery re-launch, with more positions opening up over several years. The facility will begin operating again this summer, producing the ever-desired Twinkies along with other favorites such as HoHos and Ding Dongs. This new development has been made possible by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, who purchased select Hostess assets this April.

This will hopefully put these world-famous treats back in vending machines all over the area, bringing a smile to those who thought the products would be long gone. Twinkies and various other Hostess products have been a staple of the vending machine business for decades, so we are delighted to see them pop up more often than ever!

Vending Machines Help “World Hello Day”

Soda Vending MachineNovember 21st is World Hello Day. The goal of this holiday is to promote world peace by getting people to say hello to each other and break down the barriers that are created when we do not know someone else well enough. Introducing yourself, or even just saying “hello” to someone can create a positive and friendly atmosphere that will carry on throughout the entire day.

At Vending.com, we love this idea. People have always talked about “meeting at the water cooler” or the modern day equivalent, drink vending machine. To celebrate this holiday in your office, what places could you meet someone new or say “hello” to someone? Food and drinks are the perfect way to bring people together and casual settings like cafes, dining areas or vending machine areas function perfectly as social gather places.

We challenge you to use this entire week as a time to meet new people and create a more positive environment at your workplace just by saying hello and acknowledging the people around you. Who knows, you might meet a new best friend or learn something you would have never known!

Diet Coke Reveals World’s Most Slim & Skinny Vending Machine

Vending.comWe all know that, in general, vending machines for sale are getting leaner in terms of caloric content, but what about the actual size and shape of the product? While Coca-Cola has been promoting slim sodas with their Diet Coke brand for decades, they are now taking a more literal approach with their brand-new skinny drink vending machine.

Appropriately dubbed “The Slender Vender,” this ultra-slim Coke soda vending machine has been popping up in a variety of locations around the United States. A vending product this small was sure to get big reactions, and Coca-Cola was wise enough to capture some of the best ones in the YouTube video below:

The clip not only spotlights the construction of this one-of-a-kind Coke soda machine, it also shows the versatility of a truly slim vending machine. The “Slender Vender” can be seen hiding between larger vending machines, standing amongst treadmills at a gym, and in-between bowling lanes at an alley. It’s certainly a smart way to market the calorie-conscious Diet Coke product, and is unique enough to make many stop in their tracks and grab a cola. In an age where vending machines seem to always aim bigger, it will be interesting to see if the “Slender Vender” encourages vending machine manufacturers to create smaller, more versatile devices.

Eco-Friendly Customers and Coffee

Coffee Vending MachineVending.com has learned that what makes a cup of coffee delicious might depend on more than just the beans used and the coffee and hot beverage vending machine it’s made in. According to an article by the Los Angeles Times, a research team ran an experiment in which participants were presented two cups of coffee, one that was “eco-friendly” and one that was just a regular cup of coffee. What the participants did not know was that both cups of coffee were made from the same beans and in the same standard coffee maker.

While the phrase “eco-friendly vending machine” might not make all coffee consumers crave more environmentally conscious coffee, participants were also surveyed on various issues before the study and the results showed that the majority of participants that were concerned about the environment preferred the eco-friendly brew. Those same participants were also willing to pay about 25 percent more for a coffee they believed shared their views on the environment.

When it comes to coffee or drink vending machines, you might not need to change your product offering to continue to be successful, but this is a good example of how knowing your customers and what their preferences are can help your vending machines, eco-friendly or otherwise, become even more profitable.

Act Fast for Free Water!

Few things go together like bottled water and vending machines. Almost any drink vending machine on the street has a supply of fresh water, and earth’s natural beverage is a healthy, universally-loved refreshment. If you are looking to get your own vending business moving and supply fresh water to all of your clientele, our current promotion makes it easier than ever!

Thanks to our exciting bottled water offer, you can receive 18 free cases of 20 oz. water bottles with the purchase of a drink or combo vending machine. Not only will you gain one of the best products in the business by obtaining a GF19 CB300 Satellite, you will be treated to roughly $500 worth of free water! The profits will be coming in instantly thanks to the generous supply of extra product we are proudly providing. Whether you are looking to make your first foray into the vending industry or want to add to your growing suite of machines, this limited-time offer can help your business tremendously.

Click here to learn more about this special opportunity to save on one of our very best machines. Everyone needs a fresh bottle of water, and our promotion gives you a free head start on the products your customers love most!

About Vending.com

Vending.com brings together a multitude of vending expertise through our circle of services. Everything you need to start, grow, or manage your vending business is provided through our easy online access. We provide vending services, financing, vending industry news, technical repair, parts and much more. Vending.com is one of the companies under the Wittern Group umbrella. Whether you are an entrepreneur starting your own vending machine business or expanding your current business, Vending.com offers you a full-range of vending machines, financing, location assistance and other services to meet all of your vending needs. As a full-line vending sales company we provide customers nationwide with the right equipment for their client’s location. Our large selection of snack, soda machines, hot beverage, cold and frozen food and other quality vending machines can be configured and customized to fit any size location from small businesses to large factories. Let our network of vending machine companies go to work for you.

3 Ways to Find the Perfect Vending Location

Whether you are new to the vending business or a veteran, you are likely open to suggestions on how to make your business more profitable. Since a huge part of a vending businesses success is the result of the machine’s location, learning where to put your vending machine is crucial. Read below for three tips from Vending.com on how to do just that:

Go where the people are:
As a vending machine owner, you want to find locations to put your vending machines where there is a great deal of foot traffic. Examples of such places include airports, malls or busy offices. It only stands to reason that the more people who walk by your machines each day, the better your sales will be.

Be the focus:
Although it is wise to put your vending machine where there is lots of foot traffic as listed above, you can also find success when placing your machine in a more subdued environment. Your machine will often times become a source of entertainment when people are bored. Great examples of these locations that are less busy yet highly profitable include doctors’ offices, nail salons, car repair centers or barber shops.

Don’t avoid competition:
Some vending machine owners do not want to place their machines near other peoples’ machines. However, that can be a mistake. If you place a well-stocked, attractive vending machine next to a machine that is poorly maintained or rarely stocked, you will end up doing well even with competition present.

By incorporating the three tips listed above and remembering to match the type of vending machine with your clientele, you can ensure you are placing your machine in the most profitable location possible. After all, just as in real estate, location, location, location is the means to success in the vending business.

NAMA OneShow Enjoys Unprecedented Attendance

Vending.comThe NAMA OneShow just wrapped up a few weeks ago in Las Vegas, giving all members of the vending machine industry a glimpse of what the future of the business is looking like. The annual big event was bigger than ever this year, as NAMA revealed that this year’s convention set a new record for show attendance.

According to Vending MarketWatch, this year’s OneShow broke records in both crowd attendance and exhibitor numbers.

“Our industry is on such an important growth trajectory and the NAMA OneShow certainly is reflective of that,” said OneShow Executive Director LyNae Schleyer in a statement. The show was met with tremendously positive feedback from new exhibitors and industry veterans alike, as the event allows both big and small brands to grow their businesses.

The NAMA OneShow is an annual celebration of all things vending and includes everything from speeches to product demonstrations from people all over the vending industry. This year’s event was headlined by keynote speeches from Newt Gingrich and Magic Johnson and had high-profile sponsors such as Kraft and Hershey’s.

We’re thrilled to know that the OneShow was a huge success, and we certainly are looking forward to next year’s event. If this year’s OneShow has you inspired to enter the business, our snack vending machines make a great place to start!

Mobile Apps to Help Your Vending Machine Business

Vending.com loves the following three apps for your vending machine business to help keep track of financials, inventory and more.. They each offer a different service that will be valuable to you in your day-to-day life:

Mint:
Mint.com, which was name one of TIME Magazine’s “Top 50 iPhone Apps” in 2011, is the perfect free mobile app for business owners on the go. Since your vending business keeps you out and about for hours each day, this app will help make your life a lot easier. The app allows you to set a financial budget for your vending machine business and enter transactions while on the go. You also can get real-time fund availability. In addition, in case you lose your phone, the app has a password to keep any unauthorized persons from viewing your financial information.

Evernote:
This handy app gives you the ability to instantly take notes on your mobile device no matter where you are. You can then easily access this information later. This app is ideal for making notes of vending machine inventory needs, writing yourself a daily to-do list or just jotting down your latest brainstorm for your business. Thanks to Evernote, you don’t have to worry about keeping a paper and pen handy at all times.

Dropbox:
This app is available on both mobile devices and tablets. It works by storing your business documents, photos, or videos to access on the go. Imagine being able to pull up all your vending machine business marketing materials on the app no matter where you are at the time. After all, potential clients are everywhere, so why shouldn’t your most impressive business information be as well.

Any of our recommended apps for vending machine businesses will help you take yours to the next level.

Welcome to the Vending.com Blog!

Vending.comHello and welcome to the Vending.com Blog! Here at our blog, we will keep you updated on our latest products and promotions, and we will suggest some great ways to utilize our acclaimed vending machines.

For those unfamiliar with Vending.com, we are a one-stop solution for vending machines, vending maintenance, machine financing, parts, news, and more. We sell a wide range of machines to meet the needs of all types of businesses. Whether you manage a busy office and want to keep your employees functioning with a coffee vending machine, or want to offer a wide variety of drinks and snacks in your establishment’s waiting area, we have something for you. You can purchase a food vending machine if you want your customers to be even more satisfied or stock up a drink machine with energy beverages at your fitness location. We also sell used vending machines for potential owners looking to save a little money. The possibilities are endless, and at Vending.com we are here with you every step of the way, from purchase to protection.

Interested in our services? Check out our website and browse around for something you like. And be sure to subscribe to our blog and stay in the loop for the latest and greatest in vending!

A Vending Machine Worth Remembering

While the upcoming Memorial Day weekend means different things to different people, there are two things on almost everyone’s minds: Food and drinks! People everywhere often take this three-day weekend as an opportunity to indulge in their favorite meals and beverages with close friends, whether they choose to do so at barbeques or dinner parties. However, just because the general workforce is off for Memorial Day doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be optimizing your vending machine business for the big holiday!

Sure, a large sum of people will be kicking back at home with their own stash of food and drinks, but many others will still be working hard on this national holiday. Everyone from retail workers to chefs will have a busy memorial day at work, so make sure your snack and drink vending machines are well-stocked with the products they love! Your customers will certainly appreciate having a well-stocked machine to turn to when working a holiday, so this is a chance to have your machine make a real impact.

No matter what your line of work is, we hope you have a safe and exciting Memorial Day weekend. And remember, a properly-stocked vending machine goes a long way for hungry customers on holidays!

The Dos of Coffee Vending

More and more customers recognize and appreciate quality coffee. That’s good news for those who own drink vending machines. An educated and enthusiastic clientele means a profitable business.

To ensure the best sales, always offer your customers the best products that you can afford in your coffee vending machine. In a recent survey, daily drink customers said that they know who their coffee comes from. Give them an excellent experience with quality brews and well-maintained machinery, and they will repay you with their loyalty.

The most profitable machines are those that offer specialty drinks. Over half of all respondents said that they’d consume more coffee from their office’s vending machine if they had options that included espresso and lattes.

And, don’t neglect your coffee customers other desires. In the afternoons, many customers prefer cold drinks to hot. One of the most requested options is cold bottled water. If you have space for a cold drink machine, your customers will enjoy having that option available to them during times when they would prefer a cold drink to a hot coffee. By recognizing opportunities to upsell, you can increase your profits while keeping your customers happy.

Brands You Love: Coca-Cola

Vending.comIf you have shopped with Vending.com before or have been reading our weekly blog, you are likely aware of our diverse line of affordable vending machines for sale. However, did you know that we are affiliated with some of the biggest drink and snack brands in the industry?

The Coca-Cola brand represents many of America’s favorite sodas and is nearly unanimous with vending machines everywhere. In addition to Coca-Cola itself, Coke products such as Sprite, Dr. Pepper, and Fanta have been favorites in America’s household soda beverages for decades, and are just as common in vending products as they are in restaurants and refrigerators around the world. Stocking your drink vending machines with Coca-Cola products is a no-brainer no matter where you are located. In addition to providing your clientele with the classics, you can also dispense popular drinks such as Vitamin Water, Powerade, Minute Maid juices, and a plethora of other drinks that fall under the Coca-Cola umbrella. Whether you want to ignite customer nostalgia with a classic bottle of Coke or want to steer your machine in a health-conscious direction with Smart Water, Fresca, and Honest Tea, the Coca-Cola brand has something for you. You have likely stood behind this brand your entire life, so why not share Coca-Cola’s unforgettable beverage selection in your own drink vending machines? If this is your first time buy, be sure to check out our options for vending machine financing.

Optimizing Your Vending Machine Business for June

Optimizing Your Vending Machine Business for June

June is one of the busiest months of the entire year, and that goes double of you operate your own vending machine business. Between the start of summer and the plethora of of holidays and special events that are often celebrated, June is a time of year defined by big crowds and even bigger parties. What does this mean to the vending world? You better be ready to have your machine well-stocked at all times, as more people will be using your machines than ever!

If you are still in high school or simply have fond memories of those early times, June is the month to celebrate freedoms from the books. School is typically out towards the end of June, meaning students everywhere are enjoying their free time and ready to buy refreshments from your drink and snack vending machines! Summer makes its official start on June 21st, so it’s important to make sure your vending machine is full of all the drinks, snacks, and treats that consumers love to enjoy during sunny days. International Picnic Day also falls this month, making it a great opportunity for you to buy vending machines that provide a variety of picnic essentials.

We here at Vending.com wish you a sunny and prosperous summer, whether you’re stocking up your vending machine or just enjoying some well-deserved time at the beach!

Unexpected Benefits of Drinking Coffee

When considering vending machines for sale, opting for a coffee vending machine will automatically be passing along an array of potential health benefits. More than two dozen of those benefits were outlined by Complex City Guide , including coffee’s ability to reduce the risk of various health conditions and diseases. Three health benefits of drinking coffee especially stand out as big pluses for office workers who would be likely to encounter drink vending machines serving coffee.

Work pain relief

Sitting at a computer all day can wreak havoc on the shoulders and neck, but a cup of coffee before work can help alleviate common pains of the typical office job. A 2012 study out of Norway found 40 percent of folks who drank coffee enjoyed a lower level of pain than those who skipped the Joe.

Lower blood pressure

Although the initial effect of coffee’s caffeine is to give your blood pressure a short-term boost, it can actually help lower blood pressure for the long term. France’s Preventative and Clinical Investigations Center found those who regularly drink coffee can enjoy significantly lowered blood pressure than those who don’t. It also noted regular coffee drinkers have blood vessels that are more elastic in nature, which helps decrease the chances of developing high blood pressure.

Cavity prevention

Any candy vending machine manufacturer may want to consider adding coffee vending machines to their lineup. Certain elements found in coffee may reduce the formation of plaque, such as an element known as the tannins. This compound is found in coffee beans and has been shown to halt the plaque formation process, stopping plaque buildup before it even starts.

While most drink vending machines aim to serve up a refreshing beverage, drinking coffee can be especially refreshing for its health benefits: its ability to alleviate pain, lower blood pressure and leave you with fewer trips to the dentist.

Benefits of Drinking Coffee Regularly
(source: happytoserveyou.com.au)

Intel Shows Off New Machines at National Retail Federation Exhibit

Vending.com
Vending.com

The Intel Corporation took to the National Retail Federation trade show in New York City to show off a few of the exciting plans the vending machine business has made for 2013. As reported by the Vending Times, the machines on display ranged from new-age concepts to high-tech versions of classic drink and snack machines.

A new coffee vending machine from Costa Coffee turned many heads at the event, as the product serves a coffee shop-sized assortment of hot drinks and uses facial recognition technology to “guess” what an incoming customer might like. The UK-based Costa Coffee company currently has 2,500 machines of this kind in operation. A mainstay in the vending world since the beginning, PepsiCo was also on hand to show off their latest and greatest. Pepsi’s interactive, social-media compatible drink machine was on display at the event, grabbing attention with its unique wireless purchasing options. Pepsi machine users can “gift” their friends a drink simply by texting a special gift code, which can be redeemed at any Pepsi machine that supports the technology. Patrons can also view nutritional information on the machine and play a random-chance game that can win them a free 20 oz. soft drink.

Here at Vending.com, we are constantly inspired by vending innovations such as the ones on display in New York City. If you feel the same, our affordable vending machines for sale are a great way to enter this exciting industry!

What Vending Machine is Right For You?

What Vending Machine is Right For YouPay vending.com a quick visit, and you’ll be treated to some of the best variety in the entire business. In fact, you may be overwhelmed at our wide selection, which spans everything from snack machines to custom vending machines for car parts and bowling accessories. Just like our vending units themselves, no two businessplaces are exactly the same. Here’s a list of some common establishments filled with vending machines, and what type of unit would suit them best:

Schools: Very few school buildings are without vending machines, and for good reason. Students are always seeking both snacks and drinks, as going from class to class with very short breaks can be rather hectic. A combo vending machine is ideal for a school, as students will enjoy maximum variety even when they don’t have time for lunch.

Offices: You can practically spell “coffee” out of the word office, and the two have been intertwined for decades. Coffee is practically the fuel that office workers run on, and having a coffee vending machine in the office will help everyone stay awake and productive for hours on end.

Specialty Areas: Looking to vend products outside of the realm of snacks and sodas? A custom vending machine is certainly for you. From maintenance products to retail goods, a custom machine will put just about any object at your customers’ fingertips.

Can the Coffee Help Fight the Signs of Aging?

Coffee Vending Machine | Vending.com

Surely you have heard the hype that coffee can help you look younger. You head to your favorite drink vending machines and stock up on the stuff to not only get a much needed boost of energy, but to watch your wrinkles dissipate. But it is really true? Can coffee really combat aging? It can! If you are hoping for a miracle in a cup, coffee is not your answer. In fact, there are not even real scientific studies on this claim. That being said, coffee is loaded with antioxidants, which are effective at fighting away many signs of aging, like fine lines and age spots. So in that regard, coffee may be contributing slightly to your cause.

Moderation is key. One of the reasons people believe coffee does slow aging and helps them appear younger is because the caffeine in it shrinks cells by dehydrating them. This is great for puffy eyes, but not so great for your body. So you should try to limit yourself to a couple of cups per day. If you go overboard, instead of the coffee helping your skin look smooth and supple, it will make your face look shriveled up and old. So when you are out and about and you pass by those drink vending machines at the office or the gas station, grab a coffee in the morning and perhaps one in the afternoon, but choose something else on your other stops. And if you are looking into buying vending machines for sale, or you are a vending machine manufacturer, considering adding a variety of both coffee drinks and non-coffee drinks to keep all of your customers happy.

In summary, when used in moderation, coffee can give you the energy you need to combat the day while helping your cause to slow aging, but if you overdo it, it will have the opposite effect on your skin.

Vending Professionals Meet to Discuss Micromarketing

Vending.comSeveral top names in the vending machine industry gathered recently in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to discuss how micromarketing can help reach a whole new base of customers. According to the Vending Times, these professionals met at the Atlantic Coast Exposition in hopes of learning more about the ever-evolving world of automated retail.

This discussion was moderated by Scott Denhard of Canteen, and included panelists such as Zed Bradley of Piedmont Vending, Terry Durling of Vendable Systems, and Scott Halloran of Trolley House Refreshment Services. The focal point of their discussion was modern micromarkets, which put all of the options of a retail store at a customer’s fingertips while providing individualized service to every user. What makes these point-of-sale systems stand out from the average drink or snack machine is the fact that they only reveal prices once a customer is done shopping, which Canteen’s Mike Coffey believes has a massive effect on shopping habits.

“Innovation is bringing customers back to shop from us,” said Coffey. “They’re focused on the quality and not the price point.”

Self-checkout micromarket services are certainly the way of the future, and many of them can already be seen in action in grocery and convenience stores all over the world. However, there is always a place for classic vending machines, and our vending machines for sale are an excellent entry way into this ever-growing industry!