Vending machine Qs

[ReverendCounter]

Just an exploration rather than a project, but I've been looking online at 'washroom vending machines' to see what options there are for renting/buying a machine to fill with an own product, rather than the usual items the suppliers want to fill it with.

Can anyone shed any light on own product use/insertion please? Further, can anyone advise on what the costs are to have a machine in situ at a variety of locations, like a large shopping mall, a service station and a bar, by any chance, please?

Any info appreciated.

[Frimley111R]

Many years ago I had vending machines for kids sweets/toys. You supply the machine and stock and 20% of the revenue went to the location, 25% was the cost of the stock and the rest was profit although you did have to supply the machine and keep it stocked. Easiest money I ever made but also one that was very dull, just filling and emptying machines all day. it was amusing having 10's of thousands of bouncy balls stocked in the garage though!

I did see washroom toilet machines available too but never did them. I didn't want to be going round toilets all the time and suspect that stock turnover was much lower.

Like anywhere, location is key and you may find all the main locations are often chains with contracts with a national supplier. Vending is a great concept but you just need the right location, machines and products.

[ReverendCounter]

Frimley111R said:

Many years ago I had vending machines for kids sweets/toys. You supply the machine and stock and 20% of the revenue went to the location, 25% was the cost of the stock and the rest was profit although you did have to supply the machine and keep it stocked. ... Like anywhere, location is key and you may find all the main locations are often chains with contracts with a national supplier. Vending is a great concept but you just need the right location, machines and products.

Thanks for the informative response. Do you happen to know if the dispensing mechanism can be adjusted, to adapt to different product sizes/types?

[Frimley111R]

Sorry, no idea as i did not use those type of machines. TBH by now I think people will have worked out what sells and what doesn't. Also you need to be conscious of the value of the product and its security when its tucked away in a washroom. i don't know what you idea is but have you tried googling it to see if it has been done before and what the results were?

[miniman]

ReverendCounter said:

Thanks for the informative response. Do you happen to know if the dispensing mechanism can be adjusted, to adapt to different product sizes/types?

Yes. We have just installed a number of IT vending machines, which contain keyboards, mice, privacy screens, headphones, chargers and so forth.

Try Crane Merchandising Systems - www.cranems.co.uk

[ReverendCounter]

Frimley111R said:

i don't know what you idea is but have you tried googling it to see if it has been done before and what the results were?

It's a fairly new, low cost FMCG which isn't available 'offline' (so to speak) so I'm considering testing real-world take up through vending, in order to support online sales stats.

[ReverendCounter]

miniman said:

Yes. We have just installed a number of IT vending machines, which contain keyboards, mice, privacy screens, headphones, chargers and so forth.

Try Crane Merchandising Systems - www.cranems.co.uk

Ah, good to know, thanks for the link - my product is slim so hopefully I could get a good amount of stock in the machine when refilled. I'll take a look at Crane MS.