Planet Antares Guide | Planet Antares | Planet Antares Vending

Identifying New Vending Locations – Planet Antares Tips

2010-04-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

One of the unique features of vending machine business is that it has no area restrictions. A vending operator is free to start and operator his business almost in any location. When it comes to choosing the right kind of location, it’s quite challenging. Operator’s choice of location is influenced by several factors like financial ability, kind of product and target audience.

Besides these, operators also need to consider visibility and accessibility to their machines while locating them. Schools, offices, shopping malls, recreation centres, parks, hospitals, health clubs are some of the most preferred locations for installing Planet Antares vending machines. How to identify a right location or which one to choose among them? These are the most common questions before every vending operator.

There are several methods of locating new and high customer traffic localities. You may do it all by yourself or even take the support and guidance of a locator. To start with, you can make use of flyers that carry information about the various services offered and contact details. Flyers is the best method hen it comes to collecting information related to existing operators in the locality, most commonly used models of vending machines, their prices, services offered and similar information that impacts the success of your business.

Another way of identifying new locations is by advertising. With the prospects of success being very high, several operators are spending huge money on various modes of advertising. However, operators need to be choosy when it comes to investing their hard earned money and be very cautious so that they do not get carried away by any misleading information.

Once you collect leads, it is up to the operator to close the deal on location. Operators also need to be aware of the various local and state regulations relating to placement of vending machine. For instance: there are few states that do not allow vending machines to be placed outdoor. A thorough knowledge of all these would enable you to run your business smoothly without any operational hiccups.

How To Deal With Vending Myths- Planet Antares Tips

2010-03-17T03:47:00.001-07:00

With increase in number of vending operators and users, wide variety of products and services are being introduced in to the market. Hence choosing a product to be dispensed in your machine is quite challenging. Why that only few operators are is becoming successful? The answer is quite simple. As we all know vending is a customer based business. Those operators who realise this fact and offer product and services that meet customer requirements are becoming successful while others are washed away by severe competition in this industry.

Customer tastes and preferences are not standard. These keep changing with changing markets and changing times. An able operator is the one who keeps pace with customer requirements and makes modifications in the products and services he dispenses in his vending machine. Some of the common challenges faced by customers are:

There are few customers who still believe that products dispensed in vending machines are of poor quality. This is definitely a wrong notion and needs immediate attention. Operators should be able to deal with such issues in a very efficient manner. They need to educate their customers and make them believe that the best quality of products and services are being vended in their machines and that retail prices are in no way less that those found in vending machines. This is only possible when awareness is created in customers about the cheaper rates of vending products.

Today’s customers are not willing to compromise on the quality of products or services they purchase. In fact, they are even willing to spend little more in order to enjoy the benefits of high quality products. This credit goes to the stiff competition among the existing food service channels.

Every operator has to offer the best quality of products and services to sustain the competition and create good will among customers. Satisfied customers can be retained for a life time. This is the key to success for any business.

How To Identify Right Vending Location – Planet Antares tips

2010-03-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Vending is no doubt one of the most easiest and simple business that can be taken up by almost anyone. In fact this is the only business that does not ask for any specific skills or technical knowledge. However, success of this business is influenced to a great extent by Location in which these machines are installed.

Vending machines are generally located in high customer traffic areas like schools, shopping malls, hospitals, offices and any other place with huge customer gathering. The choice of location is in turn dependent on the kind of product you dispense and your target audience. Few tips that can help you in identifying right vending location are:

• Customer Traffic: Try to identify locations which are visited by maximum number of customers. For instance: if you are targeting kids, then try to identify places that are visited by maximum number of kids. It would be beneficial to locate your machine in schools or parks.

• Accessibility: Whenever you choose a location, make sure it is easily accessible to your target audience.

• Visibility: This is something operators need to keep in mind while locating vending machine. There should not be any problem in locating the machine. It is always better to place your machines in places where people wait for some time. For instance you can place your machines near rest rooms or entrance of a hotel or near the reception.

• Transport: You need to restock your machines at times so make sure that it is not too far from your regular vending route.

Operators can themselves identify locations. However, if you are not too sure about this, you can hire a professional locator. Operators can also use flyers for identifying locations. In fact flyers are short, informative pamphlets that spread information about your business and at the same time provides your contact details. Flyers have been proved to be the best methods for gathering information about existing operators, models used by them, products vended by them and other information that may impact the success of your business.

Vending Business Tips and Guidelines by Planet Antares

2010-03-04T09:53:00.001-08:00

All of us start a business with the sole aim of generating profits. But is there any business that guarantees returns right from day one? Yes. Vending is the only business which guarantees returns right form the day you install your machine.

In case you are a new entrant in vending industry, it is advisable that you start on a small scale with one or two machines and gradually expand over a period of time by reinvesting the returns generated in the business. Some tips or guidelines that help you succeed in this venture are mentioned below:

• Whenever you start a business, it is always advisable to establish contacts with few people who are already in similar field of operations. This is helpful to the operator in two ways. It is helpful in stating his business quickly and also in getting some valuable suggestions related to the business.

• Due to increasing demand for vending business, several manufacturers have come up with various models of vending machines. Combo machines from Planet Antares are one amongst them. This machine is capable of selling two products at a time. For instance: one section of the machine can sell drinks while the other section sells snacks. However there is a drawback with this machine when it comes to its maintenance. These machines break down continuously leading to customer dissatisfaction. So, it is advisable to purchase a full size machine with electronic eye. These machines come with a latest feature that detects if a product has been vended or not when a purchase is made.

• This is one of the marketing strategies that helps create awareness about the product among customers and thus creates an instinct to purchase it. Choice of advertising media depends upon your scale of operations. In case you have few machines, advertising in yellow pages would be ideal. On the contrary, if you have several machines located across several places, then you can resort to advertising over the internet.

Reasons behind Huge Success of Glass Front Vending Machines

2010-02-24T08:28:00.001-08:00

Modern men and women have been addicted to vending machines. Yes this is true. We can hardly imagine a single day in our life without the presence of a vending machine. Right from news paper to CD’s and DVD’s, vending machines are capable of dispensing all kinds of products and services.

All these developments have not resulted in one day. Vending industry has been through a lot of phases before reaching this present stage. During this journey several kinds and models of vending machines were introduced some of which succeed while others were washed away by competition.

Glass front vending machines from Planet Antares are latest entrants in vending industry when compared to coin operated or mechanical vending machines. These machines have been successful in grabbing both customer and operator attention. The set backs in earlier vending machines models have lead to the development of these trendy and spacious machines.

The major advantages of using glass front vending machines are mentioned below:

• Glass front vending machines are capable of generating more sales when compared to closed ones. The main reason being, customers can view the products they are about to purchase. This can stimulate impulsive buying.

• Glass front machines come with attractive features like LED illuminated motor, pull forward trays and refrigeration units.

• These machines are capable of selling more products in smaller shelf space when compared to the traditional drop shelf machines.

• There is more scope for customer interaction in glass front vending machine when compared to closed ones.

• Glass front vending machines come with advanced technology like electronic tracking. This prevents unnecessary wastage of stock.

• Customers have a wide variety of items to choose from.

• Glass front vending machines are best suited for vending branded products.

All these benefits are luring more and more operators towards glass front vending machines.

What Are The Advantages Of Using Vending Machines?

2010-02-04T11:10:00.001-08:00

Modern customer is mostly preoccupied with his professional and personal affairs. In this busy schedule, he hardly has any time for standing in long queues either for purchasing goods or for paying bills. In order to provide better services and convenience to customers, vending machines have been introduced.

The most popular among these is the one in which customer can deposit money and purchase the product of his choice. The product selected will automatically be dispensed in to the slot at the bottom of the machine. Another type of machine that is mostly seen is the one where money is deposited which will unlock a door so that customer can open it and collect the product. This kind of machine is generally used for dispensing newspapers.

There are several advantages associated with vending machines. For instance: customers will be able to purchase products of their choice like drinks and snacks on their way home or office. This will save them a lot of time. Another benefit of these vending machines is that they come in all shapes and sizes which make it very easy to be placed in offices and schools. So companies need not worry about setting up huge cafeteria or other eating establishments.

Operators also get benefited from vending machines. This is the only business venture that does not require huge capital or recruitment of employees. This simple business can even be operated from your residence. Besides this operators have a huge choice when it comes to selecting machines. They can select any machine right from one that accepts only cash to other forms like machines accepting only credit cards. All this would feature would only aid in boosting up your sales.

So, wait no further and start your vending machines business now! Contact Planet Antares and get detailed information on setting up your own business.

Advantages of Outdoor Vending Machine

2010-01-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

When we talk of vending, we are only reminded of machines situated within premises of crowded areas like shops, malls, schools, offices etc. Outdoor vending system has not gain prominence and is still under consideration. However, few operators have started experimenting with these machines by locating them outdoors. For instance: few vending machines are located in amusement parks and entertainment parks. The reason for installing these machines outdoor is because these machines generate huge sales when located outside. In spite of its advantages, location of vending machines is still restricted to indoors.

Vending machines located outdoors has its own set of benefits. The first and foremost benefit is easy visibility and wider reach. Some of the benefits are discussed below:

• Increase footage: Vending machines installed outdoors are capable of increasing footage in retail stores. This is a dual benefit of locating the machine outdoor. A customer who visits the retail store is automatically attracted towards the machine and vice versa with a customer who visits the vending machine. In both these cases, sales of both vending machine and retail stores can be boosted.

• Machines that are located outside parks have noticed that there has been an increase in the number of people visiting parks.

• National accounts of vending management companies that manage vending companies have advised vending operators to make better use of vending opportunities including outdoor sites.

The main benefit of outdoor machines over indoor ones is that operators need not face any maintenance issues or hassles with the condensers as is the case with most indoor machines. When it comes to profitability, there is a mixed reaction. Some people feel that outdoor and indoor machine generate the almost similar returns. While vending management companies are of the view that outdoor locations provide higher sales and revenue when compared to indoor ones.

However, if an operator is in lookout for new avenues, then outdoor vending deserves to be tried once. For more information on starting your own vending business contact Planet Antares staff.

Few Aspects That Need To Be Considered While Starting Vending Business

2010-01-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Vending business can make all your dreams come true if and only if you have proper planning. There are three important factors that play crucial role in making your business a big success. They are:

• Vending machines: There are several models of vending machines available in the market. Each of them varies in shape, size, features and technology. If you are stating business for the first time, make sure you purchase a brand new machine from a reputed company like Planet Antares with all latest features. It may not be surprising to say that customers get attracted by the looks of vending machine. Vending is an instinct based sales and hence looks of the machine plays crucial role in creating an instinct to purchase products.

• Location: Place or location undoubtedly influences your business. It is so powerful that it can either make or break your business. Choice of location should be such that it is easily accessible to all customers otherwise there is no use of that location. Locations with high customer traffic such as schools, colleges, restaurants, offices, shopping malls and convenience stores should be preferred. The location selected should also match with the products you are about to sell. For instance: if you are dispensing healthy food items, hospitals, health clubs and gyms would be ideal locations for placing your machines. In order to select the offer the best product, operator should understand the tastes and preferences of customers.

• Positioning: Once you have chosen a location for your Planet Antares vending machine, the next step is to decide its position in the premises. There is no use in placing your machine in some corner of a busy store where most people do not even notice it. You are selling a product and so when you are placing it, it should be located in such a place where everyone can easily locate the machine. The position of your vending machine no doubt depends on the kind of place you have installed your machine. If you are catering to needs of offices, pantry or lunch rooms would be a perfect choice.

These three points if kept in mind while starting your vending business can make it a big success.

Vending Machine Benefits

2010-01-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

It may be quite surprising to know that Americans spend almost $22 billion dollars every year on vending machines. Even though vending machines are in use across the globe, they have been biggest success in US. This is the only reason why more and more operators are lured towards this money minting industry.

The benefit offered by this business is the main cause of increasing popularity for this business among various classes of people. These machines offer a wide range of benefits not only for the operators but the customers in general. Some of them are mentioned below:

• Healthy products: Obesity is growing problem among all age groups. This is one reason why most organisations are encouraging healthy vending. Schools and offices use vending machines in order to have a complete control over their employees or children’s eating habits. By stocking healthy food products, healthy eating habits can be encouraged among children and employees.

• Accessibility: Modern lifestyle keeps people too busy and preoccupied that they hardly find time to cook or go out for lunch. Thanks to vending machines since they provide easy access to customers by allowing them to get quick snack whenever they want.

• Profits: From an operators point of view this business is very profitable. The initial cost for setting up a vending business is low when compared to any other business. Moreover, this is a complete cash business and hence returns start pouring in right from the day of installation.

• Technology: Thanks to technological advancements, vending machines are no more restricted to selected food items. Modern vending machines are used to vend almost all products including DVD’s, mobiles, cell phones etc.

• Storage: Recent past has witnessed several machines that have been designed specifically to serve hot or cold food. For instance, some vending machines are used to vend pizzas while others are used for vending cold ice creams.

• Profits: This is in fact the only business that allows the operator to make profits right from day one of its installation.

How to Purchase the Right Kind of Vending Machine?

2010-01-08T02:43:00.001-08:00

Vending business is undoubtedly one of the greatest business opportunities. Once these machines are set up and running, they are a great way to earn with minimal to no maintenance.

Few tips that aid in purchasing the right kind of vending machine:

• Decide where you want to place your vending machine. Try to identify locations with high foot traffic. If required, you can hire a vending machine locator to assist you in your search for a right location. You can also get advice from Planet Antares staff on all aspects of vending business.

• Determine which type of machine you would like to place in each location. Basically there are three kinds of machines- mechanical, electronic and snack and soda machine. Each of them has its own set of merits and demerits. Hence it is for the operator to decide which machine he would like to locate.

• Identify the kind of products you would like to dispense in your machine. This is also influenced by the location in which you have placed your machine and your target audience. For instance: if you have located your vending machine in a high school, consider dispensing snacks which would lure kids.

• Set a growth plan for your business even before you purchase your first vending machine. Decide on how you would like to start the business ie whether you would like to have few machines or large number of machines situated in variety of locations. This would give you a clear picture of what you would like to achieve.

• Plan your purchasing options: Some vending companies offer financing that can help you purchase a number of machines in one single go. Few vending companies also assist you in finding financers for their vending machines while others allow you to purchase machines outright using credit cards. The final choice would be at your own discretion.

• Decide whether you want to go for a new vending machine or a used one. Although used machines tend to cost less, in the long run they turn out to be more expensive when compared to a new machine. Moreover, new machines come with warranty and are highly efficient.

These tips if followed carefully can help you in purchasing the most appropriate kind of machine.

Dont ignore Cleanliness

2009-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

Cleanliness and Regular Servicing is significant in the vending business. It is difficult but one needs to learn this with time for the proper working of your vending business. Cleanliness is important because it directly affects your sales and eventually your survival in the vending industry. It is imperative to keep a check on the employees you have employed for the cleaning purpose of the vending machines and other related things. And if you have not employed anyone then it becomes your responsibility to take care of the vending machine and products that they are clean and hygienic.

If cleanliness is not taken care of it can adversely affect the health as unhygienic food may lead to many food borne diseases including food poisoning.

These days’ customers are very concerned about cleanliness and hygiene in the food items. A well maintained, clean and tidy vending machine attracts more customers. There should be proper hand wash facility available and check must be kept on the sewerage so that water drains properly, keeping the surroundings clean. It is important to disperse the empty cans and other leftovers. You should regularly keep checking for any kind of leakage or any temperature problem like over condensation or low condensation.

It is very important to keep a check on the expiry date of the products. Expired food stuff must be replaced at the earliest. An expired or any product emitting foul smell can affect your vending business adversely.

There is more than one reason to keep cleanliness in and around your vending machine, the first and the foremost is that it can affect the sales of your business that directly shows its results on the profit of your business.

Contact Planet Antares staff to get more information on maintenance of your vending machines to reap more profits from your vending machines.

If you want to become a successful vending operator, opt for quality vending machines and keep them in top condition with frequent cleaning and servicing.

How can Planet Antares Help in Establishing your Vending Business?

2009-12-24T11:34:00.001-08:00

Planet Antares is one of the leading and the most trustworthy vending companies in US. It is one of the best vending machine manufacturers to start your business with. Planet Antares has grown since inception, and today it has captured the top position in the industry. Planet Antares has not only achieved this position but has also maintained the status of being no. 1. With an experience of more than 21 years into the vending business Planet Antares has successfully placed thousands of distributors in vending business. There are various reasons in starting up your business with Planet Antares which are: wider vision, better knowledge and up to date vending machines. With so many advantages, Planet Antares is definitely the best choice to begin and establish your vending business.

Planet Antares has distributors’ network spread across the country that enables it to provide contemporary vending machine to the vending operators. Planet Antares vending machines are robust and compact and come in attractive and lively colors. These machines are contemporary and equipped with the latest features and are loaded with state-of-the-art technology.

Though all the machines invented by Planet Antares are unique, but ‘Office Deli’, the latest vending machine invented by Planet Antares, is capable of vending multiple products—Liquid or solid.

Planet Antares provides complete guidance to the vending machine operators to ensure that they generate higher revenues. Planet Antares’ personal coaches are there to give guidance and solutions to various problems whenever they occur.

Planet Antares, is one of the largest and the most successful business opportunities in the United States and Canada and with outstanding ratings from Dunn & Bradstreet, it also holds the tag of being a world-class organization.

With features so enthralling, and benefits at every step, there comes no other name in the mind apart from Planet Antares while starting a vending business. Planet Antares not only guarantees profit in vending business but also assures your place in the industry.

Advantages of Vending Machines

2009-12-14T07:25:00.001-08:00

Apart from the amazing features that the vending machines possess, they even have several advantages to their credit. One of the foremost advantages of the vending machines is that it helps in saving precious time that can be utilized in any possible productive way.

Vending business, which is increasing at a very rapid rate, is capturing almost every possible location for better sales; hence giving beneficial returns. By the varied and unique vending solutions, vending machines have become an integral part of the offices’ and cafeterias. To meet necessities and requirements of the employees, that work round the clock, depend on vending machines. And there are more than common reasons for it.

1) The vending machines are convenient and easy to use; hence there remains no need of employing a separate operator.

2) It can be refilled easily keeping in mind the requirements or preferences of the employees making it easier for them to find their favorite food and beverages even at odd hours.

3) Vending machines deliver goods at a quicker rate so the employees don’t actually need to wait long for their order and can utilize the time well.

4) With the help of latest vending machines equipped with state-of-the-art technology like Planet Antares ‘Office Deli’, that vends both beverages and snacks at the same time, a bigger space is not at all required to install the machine.

5) Most of the favorite merchandizes can be provided 24x7 with much ease.

6) By using vending machines inside the campus, BPOs can ensure the safety of their employees.

7) It can help in improving the efficiency of the employees by making sure that they don’t need to move out of the campus to fulfill their hunger and thirst desires, which may increase the time spending, reducing the output.

8) In fact, by the help of vending machines the companies can ensure that the breaks don’t get extended.

In the present day scenario most of the offices are executing the idea of placing vending machines in the office premises to improve the productivity without hampering the employees’ potential.

Planet Antares

2009-12-11T11:01:00.000-08:00

Planet Antares, is the only vending machine manufacturer that can boast of their accomplishments and inventions. In fact it is the only manufacturer that holds the only Patent Pending application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for ‘Office Deli’ as it is the only vending machine of its kind. With more than 21 years into the vending machine manufacturing industry Planet Antares has acquired the top position by the work it has done in the vending machine manufacturing arena.

The invention of ‘Office Deli’ has definitely given Planet Antares a hand over their competitors. This state-of-the-art machine is equipped with technology that consists of multiple machines all based and connected to the same circuit board, allowing for more reliability and requiring much less space. Additional machines can be added to the same circuitry in order to serve large locations.

Vending, a $40-billion-dollar-a year industry, has the potential to give unbelievable interests and Planet Antares, through its programs, provides you the platform to make your dreams come true. Planet Antares provides professionals to the distributors who guide them in their business giving every necessary direction and support time to time.

Planet Antares even helps their distributors in purchasing the products at substantial discounts by providing them a coach who supplies them a local list of wholesalers for the best deals available in the wholesale market.

As location plays an important role in the sales of vending business, Planet Antares helps it’s distributors in dealing with this problem as well. Planet Antares has two methods— Pre-Qualified Direct Mail method and Self-Promotion method to curb this problem. With the help of these methods they provide support to the distributors in finding a location to place their machines. Both the methods are part of the Planet Antares Marketing Program.

Planet Antares definitely stands poles apart in the vending machine industry because some of these qualities makes it the best and stand tall among all its competitors.

How to Make Vending a Successful Business

2009-12-09T11:31:00.001-08:00

In order to be a successful entrepreneur, one should keep himself updated with the changing markets. The same holds good for a vending operator. He needs to gather information on various aspects, familiarize himself with customers, products and various kinds of vending machines that are available in the market.

Operating vending business is not as easy as it may appear. It’s quite challenging and needs lot of hard work, planning and strategic implementation of various plans. Develop a step wise action plan and do not make hasty decisions. To begin with identify sources that can provide you with some financial assistance. You have to do a lot of hard work before your business gets well established. This includes running a route, taking care of day to day activities like paying bills, purchasing stock and tallying cash.

The main advantage of vending business is that it caters to specific needs of every single customer. Once you have arranged for finance, purchase a new vending machine from a reputed company. Make sure you purchase a machine that can vend more than one product at a time. This will give you dual benefit in future course. Your next step would be to identify product depending on the customers you have target. Operators need to bear one thing in mind before finalizing on the products. Customers place their complete trust in you so make sure you offer them the best quality products.

The next most important step would be proper maintenance of vending machine. Whenever you get a service call, respond immediately and make sure that the machine does not remain in out of order state for a long time. If customers are unable to access machines for longer time periods, it can drastically affect your business and also create ill will among customers.

Proper service and customer service can give you an edge over your competitors. Try to visit at least few accounts personally once in a while and respond to customers calls while in office or otherwise. Quality products, satisfied clients and efficient equipment can make vending a successful business. So, make sure you incorporate all the right elements to make your business a huge success.

Boosting your vending sales

2009-11-28T01:03:00.001-08:00

When you are in vending business, you should keep experimenting with the positioning of your vending machines so that the visibility of your machine to customers increases and an ordinary location changes to an excellent one. Following are some places where you can place your vending machine.
• Next to the entrance
• Next to the exit
• Next to the water fountain
• In front of the rest room
• In the break room
• By the coffee maker
• Next to the other vending machines
• By the receptionist
• Next to the cash register
• Next to the listening station at a music store
• Next to the change machine
• In the waiting area

Changing your product mix”

To know the right product mix in your vending machine can be a challenging task for any business owner. To maximize your profits you need to change your product mix according to the location and preferences of customers in a particular location. Give people what they want. Pay attention to which products are selling and which are not. Replace something which is not selling with other products that might boost your sales. You can also ask customers at a location what would they prefer as a replacement.

Move your underperforming machines to entirely new locations:

Sometimes in spite of best products and mixes the location doesn’t get profitable. In this case experimenting with the location would be a good idea. Just because you think the location is good does not actually mean that the location would be profitable. Some locations simply do not have enough customers or employees who will use a machine to make it worth your time. If changing the product mix doesn’t boost your sales to satisfactory level then it will be foolish to keep the machines at the same location.

Keep your machines clean. Clean them every time that you service them:

Clean vending machines will always sell more products than dirty looking vending machines. An unclean vending machine portrays a bad impression on customers who may think that the machine may have expired products. While a polished and well maintained will draw attention of consumers and the customers will be more confident buying products through such a machine.

Vending Is The Most Sort After Business-Why?

2009-11-13T21:37:00.001-08:00

The popularity of vending machines is only rising since its inception. Though these machines are being used across the globe, they have gained maximum popularity in US. There is hardly any place where you cannot find them. They are located in local stores, bus terminals, schools and colleges.

In the beginning vending machines were operated manually but with technological advancement, this industry has witnessed a make over. With changing times, automated vending machines have gained wide acceptance and are spread across the country like never before.

Every year, several hundreds of thousands of dollars are being put into the vending machines. These services of these machines are mostly preferred by those people who are too busy with their work and hardly have any time to visit restaurants or shopping malls. All this has paved way to the blooming vending industry.

Vending is most promising industry out of all that provide convenience, comfort and ensures guaranteed income for its operators. The high priority locations for setting up vending business are schools, colleges, offices, commercial complexes etc. Initially these machines were used for dispensing selected products. But with rising demand, they are used for vending almost all products now.

Though candy, snack, soda are common vending machines, you can also find Cigarettes, milk, bottled water, alcohol and even products like iPods that are being vending using these machines. With changing customer tastes and preferences, the products offered for sale are also undergoing constant modifications.

Success in vending business is possible if operator adopts right mix of product, place, price and promotion. Convenience and quick servicing are the two main reasons that is attracting more and more customers towards these machines. If you are a new entrant or an existing operator looking at expansions, remember to provide your customers with latest and best quality products. This can ensure you enhance results and increase in profitability.

Associating yourself with Planet Antares will benefit you a lot in vending industry as you will be able to get the best machines and the best guidance on running a ending business successfully.

Vending Machine Conflicts

2009-11-06T21:55:00.001-08:00

By this time, we all know that vending machines have been in existence even during 215 BC. During that period, these machines were capable of vending only one product at a time. However the significant evolution of these machines in the last 20 yrs has made our lives more convenient and also increased the scope for technological advancements. Modern machines are capable of offering up to 50 selections in one machine, thus providing customer with a wide range of choice.

In the earlier days, these machines were used as a medium of trade between different countries and regions. Once people realised the monetary benefits of using these machines, they started using these machines as a tool for economic growth. The last few years has witnessed enormous change in vending machines and products. With changing times, these products and machines have become more advanced and sophisticated.

The major conflict related to vending is whether or not to place these machines in schools. Schools have been the most preferred locations for setting up vending machines. However, with growing fear of obesity among children, parents and managements have imposed strict restrictions on the kind of products to be vended in schools. In order to inculcate healthy eating habits among children, junk and high calorie foods are being replaced by fresh juices and low fat snacks.

It has now been made imperative that only healthy products should be dispensed through vending machines in schools. Some states have gone to the extent of banning vending machines that vend junk food in schools while others are still pondering over the issue. So all you vending operators out there make sure you understand the policies of the state in which you are operating. Try to vend healthy products in your machines. This will not only help you in earning huge revenue but also provide customer satisfaction.

To get more information about the changing trends in the vending business contact Planet Antares staff.

How Do Vending Machines Work?

2009-11-02T03:52:00.001-08:00

Vending machines have been in existence since a long time. The easy and convenience offered by these machines is making them more and more popular across the globe. Although we all have been utilizing its services, how many of us have ever thought of how these machines actually work? What is the logic behind a vending business? How is it possible that when you insert coin into the machine, you get the product you coveted? Is this some sort of miracle? No, it’s something more than that.

Vending machines are designed in such a way that we get attracted by their design. These machines are so appealing that we cannot resist ourselves from purchasing. Most vendors have realized that maximum sales generated through these machines are due to spontaneous purchases made by customers.

Most of us do not go out with an intention of purchasing packaged snacks. But when we come across a stylish and attractive vending machine, we are forced to make a purchase. People these days lead a very busy and hectic lifestyle and have no time for visit a restaurant and wait for a meal. Vending machine culture is very popular among such people. They can now have a complete and healthy meal by visiting a vending machine.

The choices here are not just limited to meals alone, they are extensive. You can choose anything from newspaper, salads, sandwich, soft drink, juices, pastry, dessert and many more. But this is not it; you can also buy paperback books, contraceptives, cigarettes or even rent movies. Vending operators are smart enough that they know what you want and hence place these machines right where you cannot miss them. These machines are strategically placed in perfect places.

So if you are looking at starting a vending business, then try to understand what customers look for in a vending machine. And what is that which can attract them the most. For a detailed view on the vending business contact Planet Antares staff and learn how to get into this wonderful business opportunity.

Comparing Planet Antares With Other Vending Machine Manufacturers.

2009-10-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Vending is a fast growing business. Since its inception, vending industry has seen tremendous growth across US. As a result, a lot of vending machine manufacturing companies have mushroomed around. It is important to choose a reliable and reputed vending machine manufacturer for error free operations.

Planet Antares manufactures vending machines and supplies them to vending operators across US. Here we will compare Planet Antares with other vending machine suppliers.

1. Experience – Planet Antares Inc is manufacturing vending machines since 1980’s. Over the period of time, they have developed state of the art vending machines. Such an experience in comparison to other manufacturers gives Planet Antares a cutting edge.

2. Technology – Unlike most of the vending machine manufacturers, Planet Antares constantly invests in Research and Development for newer technologies in vending machines. As a result, Planet Antares’s vending machines are the latest products in its line.

3. Aesthetics – Vending machines manufactured by Planet Antares are sleek in design. They come up in vibrant colosr and can be placed at any location.

4. Sale Strategy – Planet Antares always sells brand new vending machines. There are many refurbished vending machine sellers, who after few modifications in old machines sell them off in the market.

5. After Sales Support – Planet Antares has an excellent after sales support. Unlike many sellers, Planet Antares provides complete support to rectify any faults that may occur.

6. Pricing – Planet Antares vending machines are reasonably priced. You get value for money when you buy a vending machine manufactured by Planet Antares.

7. Allied Support – Unlike most of the vending machine manufacturers, Planet Antares provides necessary guidance in setting up a vending business from scratch. After analyzing your vending location, customers targeted, and products you plan to vend, Planet Antares support staff guides entrepreneurs to establish their vending business to generate profits.

8. Nation Wide Network – Planet Antares has Pan-US operations. Planet Antares caters to vending operators across US.

In comparison to other vending machine manufacturing companies, Planet Antares has an edge over others in terms of technology, services, pricing, support, and experience. If you plan to start up a vending business then you need not look any further than Planet Antares Vending machines.

Healthy Vending Products

2009-10-12T02:18:00.001-07:00

Life is busy for Americans and probably for this reason most Americans eat on the run. They mostly have to do with junk food which is one of the main causes for the weight problems. Obesity has been a major concern for all in America as this has been affecting children the most. To make it worse people in America do not have the time to exercise because of their busy schedule.

The only way out for them is to change their eating habits and switch over to healthy eating. Vending machine owners have also started to stock their machines with products like energy bars, low fat snacks, low calorie drinks like diet coke etc. Most of the machines placed in schools and colleges vend such type of products for kids so that they do not have to eat unhealthy and fattening food out of compulsion.

Some of the products that promote healthy vending are

Soya Nuts
Mixed Fruit and Nut
Soya Chips
Omega Organic Fruit bar
Trail mixes
Honey Roasted Soy Nuts
Protein Cereals’
Calcium Chocolate s
Sports Drinks
Diet Coke

These are just few of the options to choose from. Vending operators can choose from large variety of items that can be stocked in vending machines. There are products specifically made for kids keeping in mind health and taste. It is advised to vending business owners to only stock branded products in their vending machines so that they are never worried about the quality of the products. Also these products are continuously advertised and are already popular amongst people.

Another point that cannot be ignored is the choice of vending machine. Choose only new vending machines and that too from a company of repute just like Planet Antares. They have been in the business for over 30 years and people trust these machines. Moreover they provide excellent support and their support staff can guide you through every step when you plan to start your own vending business.

Vending Business Benefits

2009-09-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

Vending machines have become part of our daily routine. Right from snacks and drinks machine in our offices to tissues in our bathrooms, we now a days depend on vending machines. With increase in convenience, more and more customers are getting attracted to the goods and services offered by these machines.

This multi billion dollar industry is the right market for a new entrant. The best way to start a vending business is by taking up few vending machines from reputed companies like Planet Antares. You can also seek guidance from Planet Antares about setting up your vending business. There are several kinds of vending machines to choose from, the most popular being refreshment vending machines.

As a vending operator, you will be expanding your vending business and managing your machines, servicing them, restocking and collecting cash on a regular basis. Restocking and maintenance would depend on the kind of product you offer for sale. Some benefits of vending business are mentioned below.

• Flexible opportunity: You need not take it up as a full time job as vending business can be run parallel to you regular job.

• Franchisors/ Sellers help you by taking up major repair works either by sending a third party or by doing it themselves.

• You need not require special qualification or previous work experience for starting up a vending business. This simple and straight forward task can be taken up by any one interested in business.

• No follow ups required: This is a hundred percent cash business and you need not follow up with people for paying cash. Cash is already deposited in the machine, ready for you to collect and deposit in your bank.

• Low overhead costs: You would not incur huge overhead costs except for minor amount that is required for regular maintenance.

• High income potential: Depending on whether you have taken up a part time or full time franchise, your income potential will vary slightly. Full time vending will give you much more income when compared to part time business.

• You are your own boss: You need not sit in an office stuck with your system and fearing that your boss might fire you any time. This business gives you the liberty of working at your own will and wish.

Planet Antares vending machines have been recognized as one of the best in the industry. Planet Antares is manufacturing latest technology vending machines since 1987. Find out complete range of vending machines available with Planet Antares today and get on path of financial freedom.

The vending machine world

2009-08-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

Vending machine industry has come a long way since its start in 1883 when the first vending machine was invented by Percival Everitt. This was basically a post card vending machine. In spite of its big size and heavy weight, this machine became very popular in the city of London and by 1888 there were more than 100 such mines installed and this surely became a reliable source of income. Soon after Thomas Adams followed the suit in America and produced gum vending machines and he too became successful and following that thousands of vending machines were produced and installed and this is how vending business became competitive.

Primarily, vending machine was designed to dispense a product on inserting a coin into it but with time and feedback from consumers vending machines kept getting better and now we have vending industry as a 40 billion dollar company. Planet Antares in USA is leading the way since 1986. It has been three decades and Planet Antares not only has excellent machines but excellent customer service as well which is a key in the vending business these days.

Vending machines these days are no more heavy boxes of machines but come in all shapes and sizes and can vend several products. However, snacks and beverage vending machines like those from Planet Antares are still the most sort after. Also now you can stock your machines with branded products which attract more customers to your vending machine. With technical advancement, vending machine has become a huge and competitive industry and vending machines can now be found everywhere, from school, college, to mall, theatres, office and any place that you can think of.

Apart from this vending business has helped many people to achieve their goal of getting financial independent. With more and more people getting into this business, it has now become a competitive market where the one who provides customer satisfaction is the one who will survive. Planet Antares is the name that you should look for to start your vending business and to gain financial freedom.

Smart vending business decisions

2009-08-06T05:22:00.001-07:00

Vending is certainly an all cash business and gives financial security to the vending business owner. You can start the vending business easily but only smart strategies and decisions by the vendor can make it a huge success and keep it running for a longer time. The returns on investment are high and benefits are numerous. There are many people who may misguide you or take advantage of your ignorance. It is better to be aware about the various aspects of this business while you start or expand your vending business.

The first decision has to be made regarding a vending machine company. You will come across numerous incredible offers as soon as you decide to enter the industry. Some of them will be genuine while others fake. Finding out an honest and ethical vending machine supplier or manufacturer is a task in itself. Be wise and don’t get carried away by luring schemes. Take a decision after conducting a thorough research in the vending market.

You must look for reliable and affordable equipment from a reputed company. Always remember that brand name makes a positive image of your business. Never buy cheap or refurbished vending machines. They may look a better option initially but the expenses of repair and maintenance of such machines will be many times more than the amount invested. Such machines are often faulty and don’t produce the required results. Buy state of the art, technologically advance, user friendly, stylish and attractive vending machines from Planet Antares.

Finding a suitable location is another important vending decision. Vending machines earn more at locations which have high foot traffic. In the beginning of your vending career, don’t take the risk of experimenting. Choose locations which are proven to be profitable. Before short listing a location find out the number of people and their spending capacity.

Once you have installed vending machines successfully, identify the customer’s you want to target. Based on these customers you have to choose the type of products you want in the vending machines. This can be done by conducting a small survey or by finding data pertaining to sales trend in the region.

Intelligent vending decisions will lead you on the road of success. Make a smart choice by selecting Planet Antares vending machines and get entitled to their expert services and excellent vending experience.

Planet Antares Vending Business Using DEX To Control Cash

2009-05-21T07:47:00.001-07:00

If you seek better control over cash shortages and product shrinkage in your Planet Antares vending business, you must install software management solutions and also utilize DEX. You can gain tremendous control with the help of software working with DEX data.

The conventional method used by vending operators to reconcile cash is comparing cash collected to product sold out of a vending machine. This method works but would require inventory of Planet Antares vending machine every time cash is collected. By hiring a driver who runs his own product through vending machines, you can completely circumvent this method.

Another method that can be used for cash control in your Planet Antares vending business is the use of a vend meter in a single price machine, or a cash meter in multi priced machines. Cash and vend meters always offer cumulative data that is compared to the previous reading to derive the difference. The success of this method depends on the accuracy of the meter readings recorded by the driver.

Most of the process can be tightened by capturing the cash meter reading electronically from a machine via a DEX reading during the service. A hired driver will never see the meter reading and it will be captured accurately using a tamper proof method. Of course, this may not solve all cash control problems instantly as capturing a cash meter via DEX goes a long way in avoiding many cash control issues.

Usually, vending operations average a 5% variance between cash expected to cash actually accounted for. Using DEX CASH – audit, you can cut down on the variance to less than 2%. By applying tamper proof DEX cash control in your Planet Antares vending business, you can recover 3% more cash. DEX CASH provides the exact amount of bills in the acceptor and the coins dropped in the collection box. In short, DEX offers a more accurate accountability process.

Variance In Planet Antares Vending Machines

2009-05-19T22:18:00.001-07:00

Vending machines have been into existence since long and have had a rich history to speak about. Vending machines have made life easier for many who are always on the rush and have little time to sit and eat.. vending machines can be operated easily , quickly, wirelessly and can be placed anywhere

Earlier vending machines could only dispense one product per machine but now with technical advancement they can store and dispense up to 50 products. Machines from Planet Antares come in large variety to select from.

Initially, vending machines were responsible for trade between different countries and regions. This resulted in the increase of food product selection. As societies realized the potential of monetary gain in vending, they began using this unique opportunity as a tool for economic growth. Recent times have seen vending machines and products become more advanced and sophisticated.

With the increase in knowledge about health and people getting inclined towards health products, vending machines have started storing healthy products like low calorie snacks and beverages. The demand of such snacks has been growing and the new vending machines are focused on storing such products.

You can find thousands of school children suffering from obesity because of wrong eating habbits. Planet Antares offers machines which store only healthy products and these can be beneficial for children who are into compulsive eating habbits.

Route Commission Systems: Planet Antares Vendors

2009-04-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

To make Route Commission Systems successful, it is important for the employee to have great control over factors like the rate of production, based on his ability to work harder, smarter, faster and longer.

A route person who is paid on a commission basis knows that he will earn more by collecting more money on his route. So it is a good thing to give him total control of production as he will work harder and be more time effective as this will help hime earn more moolah.

Planet Antares Inc ensures that vending route drivers learn how to refill and clean the vending machines at a fast pace. He will also be trained to reduce the amount of time spent at every location on the vending route, with the hope of saving more time to service machines and collect money on each trip.

You should opt to pay drivers some incentive and not a straight salary. While some pay only commission, others pay a combination of commission and salary.

Apart from the advantages, there are several drawbacks of the commission systems as well. In the haste for servicing more number of machines, a Planet Antares vending route driver should not:

1) drive too fast
2) perform less than complete sanitation operations to meet the mahcine’s requirements
3) ignore simple, mechanical issues like removing a paper clip from a coin acceptor
4) ignore the activity of making sure that the mahcine works after refilling and servicing

All these factors can create conditions that lead to serious problems than the problem the commission system was designed to solve in the first place.

High-Profile Vending Locations

2009-03-26T23:28:00.000-07:00

Once you have found good vending machines and right products, its time to start looking for effective locations. That’s when your business prowess and vending business decisions play a major role.

Some of the best vending programs are offered by Planet Antares Inc for newcomers as well as existing vending operators. You get to choose from a variety of vending machine models. These come in different sizes, shapes and colors. Bulk vending machines are available for small spaces. You can even mount them on the wall to save the floor space. The most popular Planet Antares vending machines are the large soda and snack vending machines.

After selecting the required kind of vending machines, you need to get ready to place them at strategic locations. Not every place is a good location for your equipment. Also, get ready to face a few rejections. This is a part of every vending business and should be treated as a lesson for future.

Planet Antares Inc offers professional locator service that will help in saving your time and effort. This includes searching and acquiring good locations for your vending machines. Of course, it is best if you accompany the locator and learn the tricks of convincing and negotiating with the location owner.

On the other hand, you can locate the vending machines on your own. However, that will require a lot of input in terms of time, money and effort from you. When you have other priorities to serve, its best to find a locator service and use it to your advantage.

Usually, Planet Antares vending machines are accepted at most high-end locations. These are known for their reliability and customer-friendly operations. In fact, their soda and snack vending machines can be placed within no time if you go about it in the right way!

While searching for good locations, use your creativity to find the right ones. Too much dependence on the locator alone is not a good practice. You are the business owner and nobody knows better than its requirements. Planet Antares locators are courteous and helpful but they understand and appreciate your participation in the locating process.

Planet Antares Vendors Review Operations

2009-01-08T03:24:00.001-08:00

In view of the various changes in key supplier’s programs, Planet Antares vending operators have been forced to review their plans in the candy vending segment of the vending business.

Already, vending operators have suffered one round of price increases, only to be faced with another one currently.

Due to such circumstances, vending operators have had to revise their buying plans for candy products. In reality, many of them believe that they cannot raise prices more than they already have, due to the competitive pressure.

Keeping larger sized bars has been considered as an effective alternative by certain vending operators. These allow them to provide greater value for a higher price.

Eve though they are not sure about their plans, most Planet Antares vending operators agree that there could be more changes to the candy bar offerings in future since the introduction of the glass front Planet Antares snack/ candy vending machines.

In the meantime, they are waiting for price points to go up just a little more before they start offering large sized candy in their vending machines. One idea is to start selling lesser candy in your vending machines by decreasing the candy facings from two shelves to one and a half. If candy is not one of your vending machine bestsellers, this can work well for your Planet Antares vending business.

Some additional costs will be involved in changing candy spirals to larger snack spiral. In the long term, this cost will be worthwhile for your Planet Antares vending business. At the same time, some snack companies and suppliers are willing to offer incentives in exchange for guaranteed placements.

Over a period of time, you will realize that higher priced items will ensure that your profitability will not be compromised. No doubt, certain customers will complain about the rising prices of products.

In reality, a lot of vending operators have found the number of such customers to be less than expected, indicating a positive change in customer response towards rising prices.

Of course, you need to realize that all these changes will take time to find acceptance with customers who are used to the previous prices of candy. However, large sized candy is finding popularity and huge market share and shows potential for great growth and profitability. By taking advantage of this trend, your Planet Antares vending business will definitely generate higher returns and more sales.

Planet Antares Inc Offers Vending Wellness Programs

2008-12-19T03:45:00.003-08:00

Majority of the vending business owners having school accounts are familiar with the importance of delivering health and wellness products and messages, because the issue has been a topic of debate in the school market for several years now.

The aim of federally-moderated school wellness programs is to motivate schools to create new ways to address the issue. Planet Antares vending operators who carry these products will be perceived as valuable business partners working to be a part of the solution.

For many companies in the market, company-wide wellness programs such as those offered by Planet Antares Inc are the answer and bring a number of benefits. Wellness programs prove beneficial by reducing:

Absenteeism
On the job injuries
Workers compensation costs
Disability-management costs
Insurance premiums

Other than reduction in the above costs, wellness programs can help you in increasing productivity of your Planet Antares vending business.

Keep in mind that all wellness programs are not the same. Different accounts will most likely want to structure different Planet Antares vending programs that are based on the buying habits of their workforce.

Some companies may want a higher percentage of healthier choices while other companies might not have the internal support necessary to make such an ambitious plan financially feasible. You need to be flexible by conveying to your account that you are prepared to work towards achieivng a program that will work fot them.

Across the vending industry, manufacturers are coming together to offer a wider array of products that can help them meet their customer demands, and other resources are also provided to help them address this issue as well.

Planet Antares vending operators will thrive if they research the market and understand how to effectively adapt to the dynamic landscape. This means that the companies leading the way tomorrow will be the ones with the ability to recognize that health and wellness programs are here to stay.

Using a wellness program is bound to make your vending business all the more successful.

Planet Antares Inc Provides Branded Vending Products

2008-12-11T03:41:00.000-08:00

Building a sustainable brand image is an important part of every business. If you have branded products in your Planet Antares vending machines, you will find that these are always best sellers.

This happens due to quick recognition of branded items that makes their selling power much more than other products. In the retail industry, branded items are very popular and also in the vending industry.

Snacks and beverages are very popular among entrepreneurs as these are the products that the public loves buying. As the owner of Planet Antares vending business, it will be essential to place branded snacks and beverages in your vending machines.

You will not have any difficulty in selling these items since they are easily recognized. Usually, such products are advertised nationally on a large scale, so there is no need for you to promote them for your vending business.

Customers will purchase branded items from your Planet Antares vending machine because they already know about the products and they are familiar with everything about the product. They have trusted the brand name as it has national recognition and preference.

Planet Antares Inc offers glass front vending machines that work well for such branded items as the customers can view the products. To make maximum possible profits, you must place the right products in the right machine and in the right location.

By combining all these, you are sure to go in the right direction. Anyone would prefer to buy a branded product from your vending machines since these are faster and cheaper than c-stores.

As a vending business owner, you are not bound to sell branded products alone. For other items, you will have to do some promotion. The best thing to do will be to keep both branded as well as non branded items in your vending machines. Usually, branded products are more costly but they can generate more profits as well.

It is important to verify that the supplier used for obtaining supplies for your vending machines is reliable and good. The products to be kept in vending machines need to match the locations where the machines are placed.

Remember that branded products are the key to maximize business profits. All locations will need branded products and the supplier should offer a good rate for you to gain effective returns from selling branded products.

Planet Antares Bulk Vending Machine Route Manager

2008-12-01T02:26:00.001-08:00

Planet Antares vending operators, get ready for some great news!

The vending industry has been given another technological innovation in the form of a very useful and affordable tool called BULK VENDING MACHINE ROUTE MANAGER.

The basic aim of all vending operator is to achieve easier, faster and more organized route management. Also, it will be beneficial for business profits if you can find ways to cut down costs and increase efficiency.

Go online and you will come across a vending route manager at various reputable websites. This is available at quite reasonable prices and is transmitted to you over the email. As it is, this impressive and powerful tool allows you to:

1. Run a vending machine route with more than 100 vending machines
2. Print tickets that can be carried with you
3. Undertake automatic calculation for income generated by each vending location
4. Find locations easily and quickly through map code
5. Use location name
6. Use location address
7. Use location phone number
8. Use location hours of business
9. Specify the frequency of servicing each location
10. Add notes and comments
11. Record the date of service
12. Record the type pf products for every location on the vending route

After gathering all this information and using it for effective decisions, you are bound to witness a massive change in your business efficiency and the positive impact on business decisions. It will also become easier to form sound strategies for different locations and make future plans on the basis of objective assessment and not just vague assumptions.

Eventually, a vending route manager can help you attain higher sales and profitability of your Planet Antares vending business. After all, the main aim of every business is to maximize profits and using a route manager will surely help you achieve this aim.

Health Issues Faced By Vending Business Owners

2008-11-04T04:20:00.000-08:00

A lot of buzz surrounds the issues of obesity, health and wellness in the vending industry. Just about everyday, there are more and more studies and surveys that analyze, conclude and calculate just how much fatter our nation’s citizens are becoming every year.

Planet Antares vending operators with school accounts are quite familiar with the issue and have been forced to address it by offering a wider array of healthy products. If they fail to do so, they may end up losing the account.

Certain vending operators consider the issue to have no impact on them. However, the focus on health and wellness is becoming important to all types of accounts and Planet Antares vending operators interested in succeeding need to learn how to help them address this complex issue.

Due to several reasons, there has been increasing focus by employers and consumers on health and well ness than ever before, so simply sitting back and hoping for a solution will not help your business.

In spite of the issue being large in the school and college campus, it is just beginning to move into the workplace. Numerous studies have outlined the risks associated with obesity such as heart disease, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and stroke.

Planet Antares vending operators need to get up on speed on health and nutrition as one of the action steps needed for the vending industry to meet the needs of a changing consumer and new market forces.

The challenge of promoting healthy products needs to be taken in view of the demographic momentum of aging baby boomers and continued media focus on obesity are powerful forces.
Moreover, marketing programs that protect health of the workforce makes perfect sense. Enterprises with healthy employees will be successful in providing:

Higher employee morale
A better capability to attract and retain key people
A more alert and productive workforce

Cash Collection From Planet Antares Vending Machines

2008-10-23T07:08:00.001-07:00

One of the major attractions of vending business is that it has the power to generate all-cash income. From the moment you place them, the vending machines will start making money. All that needs to be done by customers is to insert coins or notes in the machine and the required products will be dispensed.

When you service your accounts, cash will have to be collected and deposited in the bank. By locating your vending machines in apt places and easily accessible by customers, you will have enough income to collect each time you visit your vending route.

Usually, vending machine operators have a regular job besides this business. Thus, cash collection can be done on weekly or monthly basis. Whenever you have time from your job, you can collect cash from equipment. You will have to empty the machine for cash when you want to repair the coin acceptor or the machine itself.

The performance of your vending machines at different places will determine the frequency of cash collection. Planet Antares vending machines are high quality, durable machines that allow you to make great profits without too much investment. When your vending machines are placed in a high traffic location with lots of customers, there will be need for collecting cash at regular intervals.

If more than one vending machine is placed at a location, it may not be easy or even safe to collect cash from them at a single day. In such a case, you can set a locked deposit box in the vending machine or get a sales outlet operator to deliver the cash. Another option is to use a night depository box.

Planet Antares vending machines are reliable and can increase the potential for earning great revenue. This enables you to achieve smoother operations, better customer service and higher sales. So, you will need to plan your visits frequently to collect cash from such high performing equipment.

I would recommend you to carry a money bag to the vending locations to keep the collected cash. You must also be alert while doing this task. People may be watching you and to avoid theft, you must keep changing the day of your visit to various vending locations for cash collection.

You must invest in sound security systems to ensure that your money remains safe along with the vending machines.

Filling Of Planet Antares Vending Machines

2008-08-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

It is much easier to fill Planet Antares vending machines if the product is stored properly before being dispensed. For instance, during the process of shipping and handling of soda cases, there may be the possibility of damage occurring. The damaged cases can lead to the cardboard, plastic wrap and cans in the adjacent cases to become wet for a long period of time. You must identify and remove these wet cases for prevention of further damage.

Before filling up your Planet Antares vending machines, you must go to each individual vending machine and count how many of each flavor you need to fill the vending machine. Make sure that everything you put in the machine is clean and free of damage. The merchandise must be placed in the right slot in the vending machine. After all, you don’t want the customers to push for their favorite brand and receive something else.

Make sure that you indicate how many sodas have been places in the machine by flavor while restocking the canned soda in your Planet Antares vending machines. After filling all the slots in the machine, check it for smooth operations. The coin changer has to be kept clean to prevent the contact surfaces from getting sticky and jamming the coins. Also, check whether the machine lights are in proper working order. This includes the sold out lights and correct change lights.

It is also important for you to place a sign on your Planet Antares vending machine stating the last time it was filled so that the customer will know how cold the beverages will be. If your vending machine is located in an office, it is best to fill the machine at least one hour before the work shift starts.

Try to fill your vending machine with branded products that are popular among customers and sell fast. By sticking to this strategy, you can never go wrong in ensuring a profitable vending business.

Another critical factor that needs to be considered is keeping a fixed schedule when refilling the vending machines so that there is regular supply of products and services. Ignoring this factor will result in empty vending machines and ultimately unsatisfied customers which will have a negative impact on your vending business.

Some of the basics of successful refilling of vending machines are:

Adjust your work schedule according to the weather and customer demands. For example, sodas sell more in summers when it is hot.
The machines tend to be empty on paydays so you need to refill the machines in advance.

Planet Antares IQ: Resistance To Change By Vendors

2008-07-31T00:56:00.000-07:00

Some vending operators may claim that cocoa and sugar costs have not been raised enough to justify the candy price rise. At retail stores, prices just keep reducing implying that other retail channels have not had to pay higher prices.

Planet Antares vending operators as well as other operators have simply chosen to reduce candy bars to the top selling standbys in order to cut down on costs. This raises questions about the utilization of the remaining candy slots. Historically, operators bought a wide range of candy SKUs where all the items from a specific manufacturer would fall under one rebate program.
Several vending operators have reduced their candy bar offerings to the main core sellers. They have decides not to increase prices on top sellers to avoid the risk of getting undersold by competitors. On the other hand, they are offering more of the larger size offerings.

Slowly, larger size confections (LSC) are gaining acceptance, especially since the last two years. Many of these offerings allow Planet Antares operators to make an acceptable profit margin of $1. Operators have witnessed significant success with these larger size products and are willing to use the larger size offerings in place of the regular size version. This strategy has proved to be very effective for large size snacks. Some operators are even opting for king size bars, which cost more and require a selling price higher than $1.

Hundred percent of the regular size versions have been sustained by the Large Size Candy, where the king size bars have delivered at 85 percent. All this will enhance the Planet Antares vending operations value to the customers as well as the consumers who are using the machines.
The rise in candy prices is reason enough to try some of the larger size products. It is still undetermined how much momentum there is behind the push to larger size candy. Some Planet Antares vending machine operators pointed out that this is contrary to the consumer demand for healthier offerings in vending machines. As it is, larger size candy means more sugar and calories.

Website Construction For Increasing Planet Antares Vending Business Sales

2008-05-21T12:27:00.000-07:00

Every day, more than 700 million searches are conducted on the World Wide Web. This means that there could be prospective customers searching for products to fuel and energize their employees workforce everyday, including snacks and beverages. Millions of people use the search engines to find what they are exactly looking for.

This makes it imperative for the name of your Planet Antares vending company to appear on the first page of the results from these targeted searches. In this competitive world, everyone needs to build a website.

As a vending operator, you will find that your website is your online pitch for internet users. Customers are internet users and the first stop for a consumer in need of a product or a service is an internet search engine, not the traditional phone book. Like all other marketing communication tools, websites should be oriented first and foremost to serve the need and interests of your current customers and your potential customers.

A website for your planet Antares vending business will enable you to increase the potential for obtaining more business. In other words, this is just another form of promoting your Planet Antares business. Potential customers can view your website at any time and that means that you gain a number of new accounts using the website.

As the competition for winning new business gains momentum, your website needs to stand apart from the crowd and at the same time it needs to be sophisticated and professional. It should attract potential customers and reflect your business.

The designing, development, scripting and overall management of the site can have a great impact on how easy it is for your company to land first among search engine results and how easy it is to succeed through online marketing. Your web promotion can make or break your planet Antares vending business. It is a crucial element of your marketing and communications strategy.

Planet Antares Selection Tips For Choosing A Vending Machine Company

2008-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to start your own Planet Antares vending business, a vending machine company will be needed to supply the vending machines for the same. Selecting the right kind of vending equipment for your vending business is important to begin in the ideal manner. You need a company that will offer vending machines at the right price. Planet Antares Inc offers high quality vending machines as well as all vending information required to start your business on the right foot.

You will soon realize that the vending business is very different from any other business. You can do this from home and need to visit the vending route to service your vending machines on a regular basis. Usually, vending machine companies sell both new and used equipment to suit the requirements and budget of all sorts of vending operators. Planet Antares vending machines are created for all kinds of snacks and beverages.

A single individual can run a vending machine company from home or it may be a large enterprise with a staff prepared to take your order. Planet Antares Corporation is such a large company with experts who are ready to guide you from the very start of your business. All the information is easily accessible online. The company has a lot of experience and has countless satisfied vending operators who have set up well paying vending business.

In order to have long term relations, a vending machine company must treat you properly. It is imperative to do your homework and carry out thorough research about vending companies before making a commitment to purchase from them. After all, it will not be the sign of a good vending operator to switch vending machine companies’ right in the beginning of their operations.

Avoid vending machine companies that continuously put obstacle in your path to smooth operations. Such companies are perhaps taking you for a ride. It will be worthless to develop good relations with such companies.

Vending operators would want to set up a successful business and this will only happen when you start in the right way. Go for a reliable company like Planet Antares Inc to get best results.

Larger Sized Candy For Vending Machines

2008-05-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

In recent years, it has not been easy to find a great vending business opportunity. There has been rapid growth of expenses items like health insurance, product costs, commission and vehicle expenses, especially gas.

In order to counter this trend, there are several growth opportunities that can be considered. One of the easiest ones is to raise vending prices. For your Planet Antares vending business, this can be done without having a negative effect on the unit sales by providing different products to justify higher price points.

What is said to be the best revenue opportunity since large size snacks and 20 ounce beverages is now being pitched by major candy manufacturers to vending operators.

If there is a large scale movement towards larger sizes of vending products, there would be no need to worry about loosing sales. Sadly, collusion laws do not permit these things so you will have to work independently for your Planet Antares vending business. The only disadvantage of being the first one in the conversion process is that you may face competition that will invariably come in behind you and offer customers the old product at the old price. That can be an issue of great concern to you and your business.

Majority of the large size candy will fit into existing spirals and shelving placements in your Planet Antares vending machine. In spite of this, there will be certain products that will need some adjustments in the machines. If your purpose behind the conversion is to minimize expenses, you wouldn’t use incremental labor hours to get the job done.

For Planet Antares vending route drivers and service technicians, the conversion part will become apart of their daily duties. By doing this, they will be more focused on the conversion process and thus, may end up neglecting other areas of service. The competition could decide to exploit these lapses in efficiency and performance.

Moreover, you will also need to consider the commission paid to the drivers during the conversion process to the large size candy. The drivers will be paid more money to fill that same spiral as before.

Other that these factors, you will also need to consider the investment in equipment parts. Most vending machines have shelves that can be adjusted and won’t need any additional investment. The expenses can get costly but the key is to keep an eye on the profits that will be earned by your Planet Antares vending business later on.

Getting Familiar With The Vending Marketplace

2008-04-28T02:56:00.001-07:00

It may seem to be very obvious to understand changes in the vending industry. However, many companies misinterpret clues and end up at wrong conclusions most of the time. Despite all the talk about organizational agility and its importance, a large number of businesses continue to remain neutral when they need to implement new strategies.

More than any other industry, the vending marketplace is experiencing new changes. Today’s economic conditions and aggressive competition have resulted in an environment that is significantly different from that experienced in the past years.

You must ensure that your Planet Antares vending business is in tune with the changes taking place. For this, you need a solid strategy. Survival can only be ensured by making money at smaller accounts, achieving higher per capita sales, opening new markets, introducing new products, utilizing technology, selling new locations and most importantly, holding on to your existing business.

If you want to improve the efficiency of your vending business, you can look at cutting costs. However, this is not going to work in the long term. When revenue drops again, another round of costs cutting is implemented, then another, until you finally realize that the organization has been crippled. Theoretically, reducing costs shouldn’t be needed if good expense management is practiced on a regular basis.

Without strong controls and preventive measures in place, your Planet Antares vending business cannot afford to operate in the current circumstances. Smaller businesses are more vulnerable as they lack the secondary controls and procedures adopted by larger vending organizations.

In this situation, software has given vending operators, including Planet Antares vending operators, the opportunity for better control over route warehouse inventory than ever before. This can be easily lost when collection procedures are not followed and cash meters are recorded inconsistently.

What is required by all vending companies is a culture of excellence that incorporates cost controls and encourages outstanding employee performance. This is needed as the market place is changing for the vending industry and to be successful, you need to change as well.

Vending Tips For Protection Against Food Borne Diseases

2008-04-17T02:42:00.000-07:00

It is essential for customers to purchase safe products from vending machines. To do this, you will have to take careful steps to protect against products that could pose as a threat to the consumer’s health. It has been revealed that 76 million Americans experience food borne illnesses every year.

As a Planet Antares vending operator, you are part of the food service business and not in the food industry itself. That implies that you and your company are responsible for the safety of the food sold in the vending machine. The vending industry sells around $2 billion per year in commissary prepared food or purchased food from outside companies. This makes food safety a primary concern for you. Planet Antares vending machines sell snacks and cold drinks, which means that the food safety concerns are not as high as those machines that sell perishable, high risk foods like sandwiches.

Safe food handling procedures must be followed at all times to ensure that the food products you receive are safe for putting in your vending machines. Here are a few steps for the same:

#1: Clean hands
Always wash your hands before you start servicing your Planet Antares vending machines at any location. They tend to get dirty while unloading the truck. If you keep your hands clean, customers will realize that you are concerned about the way you handle food.

#2: Replace outdated items
Outdated products must always be removed from vending machines so that you do not mix it with the new items. Before loading the new products, make sure that all of the trays are clean and in case there is food package that is torn, place it with the expired products.

#3: Clean the condenser
Once in a month, you should brush the condenser. Cleaning of the interior glass is also an important part of maintaining the vending machines. After all this, you can clean the exterior of the vending machine.

Cashless Payment For Enhanced Vending Customer Service

2008-04-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

The vending industry has made great leaps and bounds in the recent years. Many people have joined the $40 billion vending industry with the aim of being their own boss and making a successful enterprise with all cash revenue.

With technological advancements, the vending machines and products are becoming more innovative and cater to diverse customer needs. This means that your Planet Antares vending business needs to be updated to keep up with the changing customer preferences as well as technological trends. After all, the aim of your vending business is to serve customers, keep them coming back and ultimately, have a profitable business.

One of the most popular technological changes in vending machines consists of cashless payment techniques. Planet Antares vending machines are fitted with bill validators and now, accept credit or debit cards that can be used to make payments for purchases by customers. When people have the option to pay through card, they will get rid of the ‘exact change’ phenomena. Not only does it encourage them to make more purchases but also allows you to enjoy greater sales and fix higher price points.

Another advantage of using cashless payment options in your vending machines is that collection becomes easier and more secure. No more counting and sorting of coins and dollar bills. Your headache days are gone forever!

You get to spend lesser time in collecting revenue from the vending route as the money is credited to your account. Also, the chances of vandalism and theft are reduced with the help of cashless payment facility in vending machines. That can go a long way in saving the cost of repairs and damage correction in the long run.

All in all, cashless payment technology is a great way to reduce the maintenance burden while increasing your customer base and getting higher priced products on the shelf. As more and more people run short of time in their busy schedules, cashless vending technology will only make it easier for them to obtain meal replacement snacks and beverages from Planet Antares vending machines.

Diversity In Vending Technology And Impact On Vending Industry

2008-04-03T03:18:00.001-07:00

Many of the vending operators have successfully adapted their vending machines to accept higher denomination currency. Recent reports show that nearly 10% of all bill validators offered dollar coin payout and nearly 25% of all vending operators shifted from the 3 tube coin tray to 4 and 5 tube coin trays. Evidently, investing in higher denomination bill acceptors have proved to be beneficial to vending operators.

In the year 2004, investment was made by vending operators in many technologies like cashless payment options and other techniques to make their Planet Antares vending business more profitable. State of the art tools such as DEX handhelds have allowed vending operators to account faster and more accurately for revenue.

Also, they gain more control over product placement and variety in location. This is extremely beneficial to Planet Antares vending business owners as customer preferences have become more diverse. This diversity can be attributed to the higher health concerns and awareness about nutrition among the public.

With the rising levels of obesity among Americans, they are not ready to eat high-calorie, fried snacks or beverages. Even school authorities have become very particular about the kind of products that can be dispensed by vending machines in their premises. All this has resulted in new changes in the vending industry, increased scope for innovations in products and technology as well as higher price points on nutritional items.

Even though there has been an increase in the restrictions imposed on products in vending machines, the trend and demand for nutritional vending has expanded to other accounts. Planet Antares vending operators have addressed the consumer demands for low carbohydrate products by placing healthier snacks and drinks in their vending machines. They also use sales tracking software to keep tab on the products selling well and the ones that are performing badly.

This technology has been able to provide vending operators’ great insight about the customer preferences. Vending customers have become more diverse in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, race, occupation, income and overall, culture. Vending operators can face this dynamic customer audience with the help of technology and effective strategies.

Vending Issues In Schools

2008-03-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

For quite some time now, vending machines have been a topic of great debate in schools. It is very essential to provide nutritious food to school children. Majority of the schools have vending machines in their campus or school premises. These vending machines are usually used to vend beverages, food items and snacks. A large number of young kids buy these products from vending machines in school.

As a Planet Antares vending operator, you can use this opportunity to your advantage by placing your vending equipment in schools to cater to the children. One thing to be considered will be to offer healthy products through your vending machines. With time, Americans have become very conscious about their health. That has made it imperative for vending machine operators to adjust to this growing trend towards healthier food options.

Contrary to previous trends, vending in schools has taken a new turn due to the increasing health concern among school authorities and public in general. One can consider it to be a new beginning. Vending machines have been a feature of schools since a long time but now, there is a new concern and all vending operators including Planet Antares vending operators need to notice it and make effective strategies for the same.

Child obesity is a serious issue of our times. There are several things that a vending operator can do about it. One of the good options will be to work with the local chapter of the American School Food Service Association and support a Nutrition Advisory Council (NAC). It serves as a link between administration, school foodservice personnel, students and the community by acting as a vehicle that spreads the word about the important role of nutrition in student life. Moreover, they get feedback from students about what they like or don’t like about their school foodservice program.

Planet Antares vending operators also have the opportunity to take part in local health fairs and school “wellness” nights, this helps them in keeping up with the health issues that are currently important.

In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on school vending with some schools even deciding to ban vending machines altogether. Other schools have recognized the necessity of vending machines that offer healthy products. By buying and installing Planet Antares vending machines, you can play a significant role in providing the solution to child obesity and nutritious eating.

Evolution And Growth Of Category Management In Vending

2008-02-05T05:37:00.000-08:00

One of the most important changes taking place in the vending industry is the growing popularity of category management. Many vending operators, including Planet Antares vending operators have already implemented category management in their business operations.

The pattern of using category management has been set by convenience stores, drug stores and supermarkets. Basically, it has become a standard operating procedure for many vending companies. Among the various benefits offered by it, the most important benefit of category management is the increase in creative power of the vending operators.

You will definitely see a change in the relationship between product manufacturers and operators when category management is adopted as a standard practice in your vending business. With the help of marketing data, Antares vending operators will be able to commit to larger volumes of selling products. Of course, they will expect more merchandising support and better prices from suppliers.

Category management has enabled convenience stores and supermarkets to become more organized and less confusing for people to shop in. the same goes for vending machines. Visual appeal is also being emphasized by keeping the top selling products within easy access of potential customers. Most of this is happening due to stronger retailer/manufacture partnerships.

This system will empower Planet Antares vending operators to take a lead role in a proactive and not reactive role in merchandising and marketing. This will set the goals got product suppliers instead of their determining the objectives.

We can expect to see new applications that go beyond the traditional venues with the improvement in reporting tools and technology for vending business. This means a new wave of techniques for the conventional snacks, food and beverages.

Adjusting To The Changing Vending Market

2008-01-28T02:00:00.000-08:00

The changes in vending business have aroused a new wave of interest and opportunities for the players. Most of the Planet Antares operators agree that there is need for better inventory control and accountability measures. Previously, it was possible to offset pilferage and operating inefficiencies with gross profit.

Savings can be made through category management in which the number of stock keeping units (SKU) inventory is reduced. This will result in higher sales due to frequent product rotations and better choices of production systems.

Line item accounting can increase the ability of vending operators to manage product selections efficiently. This is a great opportunity for Antares vending operators to take advantage of and enhance business profitability through cost control.

It may require considerable amount of time and money to be invested in your Antares vending business to enable changes in technology and mechanisms in an appropriate manner. Teaching drivers to use handheld computers will be a good idea that will pay off in the long run. Even the product selection process becomes efficient after implementing such technology.

After setting up the systems, there is need for someone to manage the operating systems that support a category management program. This task will not require too many inputs and involves some ongoing tasks to maintain it. Appoint a manager to analyze the data regularly and decide the product selections. Also, the support work will depend on the planograms. These are commonly organized according to the machine configuration and/or types of locations.

Make sure that you keep track of the frequency and amount of changes in planograms to determine the level of support work required. There are different types of vending machine products – core and cycle. While the core products remain the same, cycle products keep changing according to customer demand and Market variations. Mostly, planograms are on a monthly or quarterly basis.

Don’t forget to undertake another support task that involves input of data in the system and combining it with outside data. In certain cases, databases provided by the product suppliers are also found helpful for Planet Antares vending operators. There are others who depend on internal data alone, unlike the operators who receive regular updates from computer software providers.

Still, many vending operators continue to choose product selection according to sales and not profitability. There are some systems that can offer estimates of profit on individual products but have yet to be adopted on a wide scale and gain popularity. This challenge remains to be overcome for many vending companies.

Most operators choose products based on sales, not profitability. Even though there are some systems that provide profit information on individual products, this aspect of the system has been more challenging.

Vending Machine Front Customization

2008-01-14T02:53:00.000-08:00

Today, the vending industry is full of diverse players and participants such as vending machine manufacturers, distributors, operators and customers. With technological improvements and innovations, there has been a rapid increase in competition and this has led to the need for enhanced promotional strategies.

New options have become available with the improvement in printing techniques. Now, vending operators can dress up their machine fronts for attracting more and more customers and generating more sales revenue. These options are available for the entire vending area, not just a single location.

When you decide the front design of the vending machines, first observe its present state and try to analyze whether it is presentable or interesting enough to arouse customer interest. If it isn’t, you must take adequate measures to make it inviting and colorful.

People want to get a break from work or school classes when they use a vending machine. It is a source of refreshment and hunger-fix for them. If the vending machines placed in the break room or campus corridors fail to encourage them to obtain the products inside, your vending business will not be able to earn substantial returns. Not just revenue, but also character of your Antares vending machines is enhanced by adding customized designs to the front.

Employee break rooms are not dinghy, mundane places anymore. Design specialists are using new graphic designs to enhance the aesthetic appeal of such areas and increase customer usage of vending machines. As a vending machine operator, you need to be in touch with the latest trends. So, the services of such professionals can be used to improve business efficiency and vending machine attractiveness.

The design movement is gaining momentum as more and more vending operators realize and implement designs in their vending machine fronts along with the environment or location where it is situated. By using customized signs, machine parts and door fronts, Planet Antares vending operators can offer a unique experience to the customer. Moreover, you can change the image of your products from a commodity to a premium product that is superior to its competitors.

In the near future, aesthetics and machine part customization will only gain more popularity. The new graphic design technologies result in evolution and launch of more products in the market. As competition grows, so will the level of sophistication and innovation in designs.

Good Service Doesn’t Mean Frequent Service

2007-12-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Vending machines need regular servicing so that they are able to run smoothly and satisfy customer requirements continuously. Many operators service their vending machines only after it becomes 30% depleted or sold out one or more products.

You don’t have to wait till the machine becomes empty to keep the servicing costs low. Better service can be provided even with less frequent servicing of your Antares vending equipment. Given below are a few strategies to manage such efficiency:

#1. Increase the amount of the best selling products in your vending machine. Double up two or three such items that are rapidly selling out and on “space to sales” soda vending machines, give greater space to bestsellers.

#2. For the next few weeks, you need to monitor the sell outs so that you are able to recognize the products to be eliminated.

#3. Try to reschedule the Planet Antares vending machine for a 40-50% depletion level. For this, you will have to work towards scheduling it for service at a 30-60% longer interval.

For vending operators with mechanical vending equipment or less amount of time and technical support for gathering these metrics, there is the option for allowing the drivers to collect the data and making him prepare the service tickets. Such a ticket should include the following:

• How empty is the vending machine?

• Which products are selling best and the number of columns allocated to each?

• How many products have been sold out already?

Your drivers should focus on this information and get accurate figures for better servicing.
The manual route scheduling process can be automated with the help of software and latest technology. Your investment in such technology will enable higher efficiency and accurate results.

Two important types of vending route scheduling technology include the following:

a. Dynamic scheduling
This system allows you to automate the delivery schedule each day on the basis of various parameters like sell outs, number of days since last service and percent depletion. With dynamic scheduling, you can save company resources, driver’s time and fuel costs by avoiding any trips to locations that don’t require servicing of vending machines.

b. Remote monitoring
This system allows monitoring of real-time sales data. You will require other technology such as DEX, handheld, etc to remotely enable the machines. Servicing of vending machines in distant locations can be scheduled according to the information available.

These techniques will help you in not only reduced vending location visits but also in adding customers through better service without incurring more costs.

Basics Of Full Line Vending Business

2007-11-29T04:12:00.000-08:00

The trend of full line vending has recently gained a lot of popularity. Beginning in the late 1990s, large national retailers in the United States made contracts with national vending companies for a service called ‘full line vending’. However, they were unable to provide personalized service to the employees of companies or satisfy the demand for niche products.

In the 2000s, this trend saw a reversal with smaller enterprises taking up full line vending and catering to the needs of employees with personalized services. They are able to replace existing vendor’s equipment with their own by offering lower prices, better product selection including the manager’s favorite items and better servicing and maintenance.

If you are a vending operator, full line vending is a good option. The business will have various unique aspects that can be described as follows:

#1 The Antares soda/snack vending machines are willingly accepted by location owners for installation in their premises. Some may even take the initiative to call operators to request placement of vending equipment at their site.

#2 Once your vending machines have been setup at a location, it will be more or less a permanent fixture of that place. The business owners understand the difficulty involved in moving or shifting these large vending machines and won’t tell you to remove the vending machines unless you are giving low-grade service or performance.

#3 Vend counters enable tracking of vending product sales and makes it easier to keep accounts. There will be lesser chance of an employee stealing money. even the vending machines are so bulky and heavy that it is difficult to steal money from them without drawing attention of people.

#4 If you are just beginning in the vending industry, you may find that soda vending machines are quite expensive as compared to the bulk vending machines. Moreover, full line vending requires larger amount of time and effort in servicing, repair and maintenance. You will need the help of professional technical staff as the repairs may be complex in nature.

#5 When you start looking for full line vending machines, compare several vending companies and buy the equipment from a reliable source such as Planet Antares Inc. you may go for a single product or multiple product vending machine. However, a combo machine has the problem of not holding much of the products and will need frequent servicing. It is better to buy a separate soda and snack vending machine.

#6 Finding good locations is also a key factor for your vending business success. If the location owner demands a large amount of commission (upto 10%) or the vending locations are far away from one another, the cost of operations will be very high and profit earning potential will go down.

#7 You must keep an eye on new sites and places that are untapped as vending locations. Also, keep a check on the expiry date of products and ensure that only fresh, branded products are filled in your equipment.

All these things must be kept in mind while starting a full line vending business. you will also have to gather information about the tax legislations, business permits and other elements of starting a new business. do your homework and begin on the right foot for a rewarding vending machine business!

Flexibility In Products For Vending Machines

2007-11-13T05:54:00.000-08:00

With a vending machine business, you can be your own boss. All the decisions are under your control and you can choose the kind of vending machines, products and locations that suit your business requirements and objectives.

Most people start by looking for good quality vending machines from a reliable company like Planet Antares. This is essential for ensuring effective business operations, sales and overall performance. Once you have purchased or rented the vending equipment from a reputable source, make sure that you buy braded products to stock the vending machines.

For this, you have various options like buying the products from a wholesale supplier or going for bulk purchases from the vending machine supplier only. As a Planet Antares vending machine operator, you can place all the bestseller products in your vending machines. According to your budget, you may go for a specific range of products or a combination of two or more items that are demanded by customers.

In high-end locations, there will be a large number of potential customers who buy vending products. You must observe and analyze their needs to understand the right products for satisfying their needs and replacing the low performing items with popular ones.

A national survey indicates that personal preferences for cold drinks are classified as follows:
• Coke – 38.6%
• Pepsi – 27.4%
• Others – 34%

This means that it would be best to keep a combination of various vending products in your vending machines. If you stock the vending machines with a single kind of product, you will miss out on the other high selling products. So, keeping a variety of beverages will keep your customers happy and ensure profitability as well. Go for branded cold drinks that can be easily recognized by customers and enjoy a large brand following. These are also more durable, fresh and have superior quality as compared to any local items.

When choosing your vending products, check the merchandise for quality and freshness before making any purchases. There should be no expired products in your vending machines. This can harm the health of the customers as well as your business reputation. If you want repeat sales, you must ensure fresh, good quality products in your vending machines.

The locations chosen for your vending machines will also determine the amount of flexibility enjoyed by you in stocking vending products of diverse kinds. It is imperative to match the location with the products to be sold so that the target customers can get easy access to desired products and you can maximize sales.

Selection of vending products should be made carefully after evaluation of the potential locations and customer preferences. To get best results, study the market demand and supply factors and then decide upon the right product mix for your vending machines.

Servicing Tips For Your Planet Antares Vending Machines

2007-10-02T02:43:00.000-07:00

For best results, it is imperative to service your vending machines regularly. As a vending machine operator, you must clean, fill and maintain vending equipment. Set your route according to your business schedule and the locations of different machines.

Purchasing a van for servicing purposes is a good idea. This makes your task much simpler as all the necessary supplies, products and equipment can be carried easily from one location to another. While some operators service 10-15 machines per day, you can easily manage upto 5 locations a day in the beginning.

Servicing of vending machines can be undertaken by the vending machine provider. Usually, reputable vending companies like Planet Antares Inc offer refilling, repair and overall servicing of the vending machines as part of their full line vending contract. Moreover, they collect money deposited in the vending machine and fix any faults incurred by the equipment.

If you are undertaking the vending machine servicing yourself, read the maintenance instructions carefully. You must carry out equipment inspection, cleaning and product replacement according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Most soda and snack vending machines require cleaning up of spilled beverages both outside and inside the machine.

In case of major problems with the vending machine, you should call the vending machine supplier for technical support. So, it is necessary to purchase the machines from a good vending company with skilled and knowledgeable technical staff.

If you have employed personnel to carry out this task for you, make sure that they are adequately trained to handle all sorts of servicing issues. You don’t want lousy service and face customer dissatisfaction. Also, check the machines for any broken parts or malfunctioning processes. In such a case, you need to repair or replace them. Your vending machine warranty should cover such costs.

All these factors have a significant impact on the working condition of your vending machines. This in turn, determines the sales level and ultimately, business profits. To maintain a competitive edge, you must ensure that your equipment is in top condition. This is important from the point of view of getting high-end locations, which don’t want il-performing machines.
Don’t let your investment in vending machine business go to waste due to minor ignorance and carelessness.

What is Cashless Vending Machine Technology?

2007-09-17T05:07:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how a vending machine actually works?
Behind the product dispensing, cash generating vending machine lay the technical aspects which actually make it function. With time, there has been an increasing amount of attention being paid on innovations in the vending technology.

The visible parts include the coin acceptor and bill readers. These are at the front of the machine and used by customers to make payment for the desired products. The product dispenser is also at the front of the machine. The other parts inside the vending machine are the vending trays, channels, bins, rotors, sensors, etc. all these facilitate the customer to get the required items after they insert money and the currency detector verifies that such amount is sufficient to get the desired product.

With advances in vending machine technology, these machines have become more consistent and rewarding with reliable performance. A recent trend has been the increasing popularity of cashless vending machines which accept credit and debit cards. This has empowered people on the run to use vending machines without searching for change and wasting time. This technology results in faster transactions as well as higher profits for the vending operator. The price of products is higher, customers are more satisfied and as a result, vending business has become more financially rewarding.

A large number of good vending companies like Planet Antares Inc. have started supplying vending machines with this technology. This can be a profitable business opportunity if you are planning to start your own vending machine business.

Another benefit of cashless vending machines is the significant reduction in thefts and vandalism. Using cashless payment technology enables your vending machine to go cash-free and hence, prevent damage to your business.

You can also get rid of frequent repairs to your vending machine by using this technology. Coin receptacles and bill readers are commonly damaged with wear and tear as well as constant customer handling. Credit card acceptors are more durable in comparison and also minimize repair expenses for machines.

Remember that such technical innovations will make your vending business more effective and economical, after the initial investment in the machine. However, the success of cashless vending machines will depend on the location and products also. These are not a viable option for schools and children’s products. High priced products are more suitable for such type of vending.

Keep the pros and cons of cashless vending in mind before making a decision to buy such a machine or a more traditional one.

All About Full Line Planet Antares Vending

2007-09-07T04:10:00.000-07:00

Initially, full line vending business started with large retailers providing vending machines to all branches of large enterprises. However, this arrangement did not suit the companies which had different product preferences than the standard products offered by the vending company.

With time, the smaller, customized companies became more common as full line vending providers as they catered to the specific needs of the business owners and staff with lower prices and better service.

The most popular form of such machines is the soda/snack machines which are desired by most locations. Unlike other vending machines, business owners don’t need much convincing for keeping the machine in their premises and may even take the initiative to request such installation. This is an important benefit for the vending operators. Also, these machines are rarely asked to be removed from locations unless they are being well-maintained and serviced. This makes them like a permanent fixture which can generate consistent income.

Another feature of these machines is their large size which ensures lesser thefts. Moreover, vend counters help in avoiding cash embezzlement by employees or any other person. On the other hand, full line vending machines are bulkier and heavier and thus, difficult to move to a better location without the help of a third party. Servicing of such machines also takes more time as compared to bulk vending machines. The repair is more complicated and may often require professional support. Most importantly, these machines are expensive and may not be the right option for starters with a low budget.

If you have decided to start a full line vending business, you must choose the kind of machines you will buy from a vending machine supplier. It is important to find a superior-quality vending machine provider such as Planet Antares Inc. to get the best possible deal from a range of vending machines. These may be separate product vending machines like snack and soda machines or a combo machine which dispenses both these products. Check the capacity of such a machine as it may be less for each product. You don’t want to spend too much time in refilling products rather than forming strategies to improve your business. However, you must regularly change snacks or beverages with short expiry periods.

Finding a good location is another important aspect of successful vending business. You need to find locations which have not yet been explored, which is easier said than done. The locations should be such that you can easily keep track of vending operations as well as earn more than the location costs and commission paid to the business premise owner.

A full line vending business requires other kinds of considerations as well. These include bank arrangements, business license or permits, taxes, etc. make sure that you have knowledge of all these aspects before you say go!

Customization of Planet Antares Vending Machines

2007-08-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

How long do you take while using a vending machine? Most people won’t take more than a few seconds for buying vending products. Vending business is essentially based on the concept of impulse buying. Usually, customers buy whatever catches their eye first.

The vending machine is a source of satisfying one or the other craving of customers. This makes them popular amongst people of all age groups, income groups and cultures. The trick is to place it at an accessible location in an attractive, tempting way.

Apparently, the customer is playing an important role in deciding business strategies and marketing methods. Customization of vending machines is also one such way of satisfying the clients in a better manner. Companies providing custom vending machines offer the vending operators with options for base, color and canisters. This makes it very easy to start a vending route or combine vending machines with an existing business.

Allow Variations
Remember that change is the only thing which is permanent. It is important that your business is able to adapt to various changes in customer demands, product innovations. This can be achieved by using Planet Antares customized vending machines which allow you to change the color, style and products of the machines as and when required.

An updated store or office will definitely attract much more customers as compared to a standard, traditional one. You should keep reinvesting to update your office as well as the vending machines setup in the premises. Make sure that the equipment and machines are in top form to give a good impression to the clients.

Accessories Attract
Customized vending machines can help in creating an impressive ambience as these can be matched with the business office décor. This makes the surroundings even more attractive and pleasant. Obviously, this would not have been possible with a simple vending machine with fewer features.

If you have a large customer base and are running a full-fledged vending business, you can enhance your business profits and popularity by using customized vending machines. Reputable companies like Planet Antares Inc. offer such machines to help you offer higher level of personalization to the customers. After all, the ultimate goal of any business is to satisfy its customers and make profits, both of which can be achieved by means of customization of vending machines.

Technology and Vending

2007-08-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

Technology has brought about a transformation in the vending industry. These days vending machine come when they are equipped with the latest technology. This of course has made the vending business more efficient and thus more profitable. With the increase of competition from other vending operators, you need to find ways of staying on top of your game. When you are running a Planet Antares vending business, it means that you have a limited space to merchandise your products. With that limited space, you would need to maximize sales. Despite the fact that a vending business is very profitable, vending operators from time to time have difficulty achieving maximum profitability. To improve the efficiency of your Planet Antares vending business, you can implement some form of technology in your vending business.

Advances in technology, have changed the vending operations of many vending operators. The sales from these vending operations increased when they implemented technology. The operators were also able to keep track of the sales that were made from the vending machine. Category management helped the vending operators select the right products for the vending machines and they were also able to restock the vending machines on time. There are all forms of technology that can improve your Planet Antares vending business. The size of your vending business is what will determine which technology would be appropriate for your vending business.

Implementing technology in your Planet Antares vending business will allow you to sell more and spend less in your vending operation. You can end up saving up to two hours per day per route by employing technology. In addition to this, you will enjoy a higher percentage of sales increases from the same machines through a better understanding of location preferences. Shrinkage will be virtually eliminated by cash audit functionality. To implement technology, you just need to have sufficient capital to finance the innovation.

Using the Internet it in your vending operation would be beneficial for the smooth running of your business. The Internet will only continue to revolutionize the vending industry. With the technological changes that are occurring in the vending industry, it is important that you stay on top of all the new technologies that are coming up. With the speed in which technology is driving our world, understanding technology and applying it to your vending business may be the most important thing that you can do for your vending business.

The Benefits of Associating With a Reputable Vending Company

2007-08-09T00:48:00.000-07:00

When you are ready to start a vending business, it is important that you only associate with a reputable vending company like Planet Antares Inc. Associating yourself with the right vending company can make a difference in the way that your vending business will operate. Entrepreneurs that venture into the vending business usually have to research information on the vending business or they are provided information by the vending company that they associate themselves with. You will need to choose a vending machine company that you can work with for a long period of time. The company must be also able to provide you with the best vending machines at an affordable price. Planet Antares is a vending company that can provide you with the best vending machines.

A vending company does not only provide you with vending machines, they also provide you with information on the vending business and the industry as a whole. Planet Antares will provide you with strategies that you can use in your vending business. If you are new to the vending business, Planet Antares will provide you with the right vending machines and all the information necessary to start a vending business successfully. When looking for a vending company, the best place to find one would be online. Read about the company and their old and current clients. Vending companies usually have websites. A good sign of a reliable vending company would be one that updates its website on a regular basis. All the information on the website has to be current. Try to find a company that has both used and new vending machines in all different styles. This will help you get the best price for your set budget.

Planet Antares provides entrepreneurs with vending machines and they also provide vending services to businesses, offices and a number of other facilities. If you are looking for vending machines to start a vending business or if you are a business owner looking for vending services, you will find it all at a good vending company.

The right king of vending company would be one that has built up a good reputation by being reliable and providing the best kind of vending machines and services. When you decide to work with a reputed company, it would be wise for you to stick with the same company. Moving from one company to another can end up affecting your vending business. Once you have established a good relationship with a vending company, there is really no need to cut ties with that company. Working with the right vending company will help you achieve the goals that you have set. Planet Antares has built up a solid reputation over the years with entrepreneurs who are looking for vending opportunities and with businesses or other facilities that are looking for the right kind of vending service. A Planet Antares vending business can be very profitable, if you are able to manage your vending routes efficiently.

Planet Antares will provide you with a great vending program that will provide you with the right kind of strategies that you would need to use to make your vending business a success. These are some of the benefits that you will get from associating with a reputable vending company.

Welcome To Planet Antares

2007-08-07T02:39:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Welcome To Planet Antares Vending Business.

Thanks,
Daina