10% Off Any Order - CYBER Monday Starts Now!

10% Off Any Order – CYBER Monday Starts Now!

March 2 – 4, 2010 Booth Numbers: 687-786 [...]]]> Make sure you join candymachines.com at the 2010 International Pizza Expo! We look forward to seeing everyone at the Las Vegas Convention Center (March 2 – 4, 2010). We will have two booths there (687-786) with all sorts of goodies , so stop by and say hello!

March 2 – 4, 2010
Booth Numbers: 687-786 – side by side end cap, so we are visible on 3 sides!
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada

If you’re a pizzeria operator looking to improve your business or if your business provides equipment or services to the pizza industry, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find networking, learning, great deals, and just plain fun at International Pizza Expo® – the World”s Largest and Oldest Pizza Tradeshow.

Designed for pizzeria owners and operators, there’s something for everyone at International Pizza Expo®, whether you’re a veteran or just opening your first store. When the show closes on Thursday afternoon, you will have had the opportunity to visit nearly 1,000 exhibits and attend your choice of more than 70 educational sessions. Rounding out the experience are numerous culinary competitions, contests, demonstrations and other special events. And, you’ll find more pizza to sample than you can imagine.

Here is a quick video of our very own Harris, V.P. Sales & Marketing, at last year’s International Pizza Expo:

Starting a Vending Machine Business

Starting a vending machine business

When I first started out in the vending machine business I really didn’t know what to expect. I thought choosing the machines I wanted was the hard part. Little did I realize that there is a science to picking the right places to put my new [...]]]>

Starting a Vending Machine Business

Starting a vending machine business

When I first started out in the vending machine business I really didn’t know what to expect. I thought choosing the machines I wanted was the hard part. Little did I realize that there is a science to picking the right places to put my new machines. Then there’s the sales part of the business, convincing the business owner that having a machine would increase their sales and make their customers want to return over and over again.

I thought that locations with the most foot traffic would always be the most profitable, but I’ve found that with few exceptions it’s the employees of a business who are the ones who use the candy machines the most. It doesn’t make sense, but it’s true.

However this doesn’t apply to sticker, tattoo and capsules machines. Those seem to do better in high traffic locations like supermarkets and convenience stores. I’ve found that the only real way to tell if a location is good or bad is by trial and error. I leave my machines at a business for a few months and then I know whether it’s the right place based on the amount of money the machine generates.

Then there’s the issue of where in the business the machine would be best located. You don’t want it hidden in a dark back corner where there’s no traffic. I had one convenience store owner whose only available space was in a dark hall by the restrooms. After three months I had only made $5.00, so I took the machine out and placed it in another business. It was a big waste of my machine.

That brings me to the selling part of the business. I’ve found selling a business owner on having a vending machine in their business can be easy if you approach the owner by just starting a conversation. I’ve found you really don’t need a script, the most important thing is being honest, confident, genuine and look the person in the eye. If the business owner says no, there’s always the option of offering to pay the owner a percentage of the sales. I’ve found that 10 percent sometimes changes the owner’s mind about having a machine in their location.

Placing machines is just like any other sales job. It’s a numbers game. There are always going to be a percentage of business owners who will say yes. If you talk to enough people you will get all your machines out in the world.

For more information about machines and the best locations to place them do like I did and contact the experts at candymachines.com.

Sea Mania Pencil Toppers are In Stock!

Because you don’t have to police your machines, and indeed, will likely sell more if you don’t stand near them, there is a certain risk in leaving your machines all [...]]]> Operating a vending machine business has its rewards: high profit margins, and relatively little to do but refill machines and make sure they’re in good condition.

Because you don’t have to police your machines, and indeed, will likely sell more if you don’t stand near them, there is a certain risk in leaving your machines all alone to be vandalized or damaged by inconsiderate customers. The best way to prevent this from occurring is to take care in placement of the machines. Placing them outside or in areas with little foot traffic or with high incidences of gangs or crime will almost certainly result in damage to your machines, so it is recommended to heavily research all areas where you are considering placing your machines.
When picking out your machines, you should also take care to choose ones with a shatterproof globe (often made of polycarbonate or lexan), tamper-proof all-metal coin mechanism, and security locks to attach them to the location. You can also have an alarm set to go off if the machine is pushed or opened without the proper security.

With research and common sense, you can prevent most potential thieves or vandalizers from targeting your machines.

For help choosing the smartest machine for your route, visit Candymachines.com or call us at 800-853-3941 or 760-734-1414.