In today's fast-paced life, vending machines, as a convenient retail method, contain significant business opportunities for making money. But to truly achieve profitability through it, simply placing the machine in that direction is far from enough. It also requires mastering a series of practical operational skills. Today, I will share with you in detail, hoping to help those who are interested in mining in this field.
1、 Accurate site selection is key
Places with high foot traffic and matching demand
Office buildings: Office workers are a large and financially strong group. Placing vending machines in the lobby of office buildings, near the pantry on each floor, or at the elevator entrance can meet their needs for beverages (such as coffee, functional drinks to refresh the mind), snacks (to satisfy hunger and relieve fatigue), and some office supplies during work and breaks. After all, their daily work is busy, and the convenience of vending machines perfectly matches their pace.
School: Whether it is primary or secondary schools or universities, there are a large number of students and a high frequency of consumption. The locations inside the teaching building, next to the playground, downstairs from the dormitory, and around the cafeteria are all excellent choices. For the student population, affordable snacks and beverages can be sold, and in universities, some study supplies, daily necessities, and even electronic product accessories can be added. Based on the preferences of students of different age groups, products can be selected accurately, so there is no need to worry about a lack of sales.
Commercial street and shopping center: There is a huge flow of people here, and they are in a leisure shopping state, with long stays and high willingness to consume. Placing vending machines in prominent locations such as street sides, floor rest areas, entrances and exits, selling specialty snacks and trendy drinks, paired with local cultural and creative products, can attract passersby and customers who need to replenish energy or quench their thirst after shopping.
Transportation hubs (subway stations, bus stations, train stations, bus stations, etc.): There are a large number of passengers coming and going every day. Vending machines are set up near waiting halls and platforms to provide convenient snacks, bottled water, hot drinks (in cold seasons), and other goods. Seizing this part of the highly mobile but considerable customer base can generate considerable profits.
Consider the surrounding competition situation
When selecting a location, you should also consider the existing retail channels in the surrounding area and try to avoid places where convenience stores and small shops are clustered, unless you have unique product advantages or operating models. Choose areas with relatively less competition in the surrounding area, such as newly built parks, undeveloped campus corners, etc. This way, vending machines are more likely to attract customers and become the first choice to meet their immediate shopping needs.
2、 Clever selection determines success or failure
Select products based on the characteristics of the location and the crowd
Understand the target customer group: If the vending machine is placed in the gym, products that supplement energy and nutrition such as sports drinks, protein bars, nuts, etc. are the first choice, catering to the needs of the fitness population before and after exercise; In hospitals, more easily digestible and nutritious food should be prepared, such as nutritious Congee, biscuits, bottled water, etc., to facilitate the purchase of patients and their families.
Keeping up with trends and seasonal changes: Always pay attention to popular internet celebrity products and promptly include them in the vending machine's product list, such as the recently popular sparkling water, self heating hot pot, etc., which can attract customers who like to try new things. At the same time, adjust the products according to the season, providing sufficient ice drinks and ice cream in summer and hot milk tea and grilled sausages in winter to ensure that the products always meet the current needs of customers.
Product matching and combination
Introducing some combination packages can often increase customers' willingness to purchase and overall sales. For example, in office buildings, an "afternoon tea set" can be set up, selling beverages with snacks at a discounted price; On campus, combining stationery and notebooks into a study set can make customers feel more affordable and convenient, thereby increasing the likelihood of purchasing.
3、 Optimize the machine and payment experience
Ensure stable operation of the machine
Regular maintenance and inspection: Assign a dedicated person to conduct comprehensive maintenance on the vending machine on a regular basis, checking whether the internal circuit is normal, whether the cargo passage is smooth, and whether the cooling or heating equipment (if any) can work properly. Timely clean up the accumulated dust and debris inside the machine to avoid problems such as stuck goods, non shipment, or poor cooling and heating effects, ensuring that every shopping process can be completed smoothly.
Fault warning and quick handling: Equip vending machines with intelligent fault warning systems, which can promptly notify operators in case of potential faults. At the same time, the operator should establish a rapid response mechanism to repair faults as quickly as possible after receiving feedback, reducing the impact on customer shopping. By displaying information such as the progress of fault handling and estimated repair time on the machine, customers can have a sense of security and avoid feeling dissatisfied due to long waiting times.
Provide a variety of convenient payment methods
Ensure that the vending machine supports a variety of mainstream and convenient payment methods, such as code scanning payment (WeChat, Alipay), face swiping payment, etc. It should also be taken into account in specific places (such as schools can be compatible with campus card payment, and bus card payment is supported near bus stations), to meet the needs of people of different ages and different consumption habits, so that customers can easily complete shopping payment anytime and anywhere, and reduce the loss of customers due to inconvenient payment.
4、 Do a good job in marketing and service
Carry out marketing activities
Regular promotional activities: From time to time, promotions such as discounts on purchases, buy one get one free deals, and point redemption are launched to make customers feel that they can take advantage, which makes them more willing to visit and increases their repeat purchase rate. For example, setting a fixed day every week as "Member Day" allows members to enjoy additional discounts when shopping; Or launch corresponding themed promotional activities during holidays to attract more customers.
Publicity through social media: You can publicize the location of vending machines, special products, preferential activities and other information through social media platforms such as WeChat official account and Tiktok, so as to expand the influence, attract more potential customers around, and guide them to come and consume.
Provide high-quality services
Clear operating instructions: Post simple and easy to understand operating instructions in a prominent position of the vending machine, which can be quickly mastered by new customers or unfamiliar people to complete shopping smoothly. At the same time, a frequently asked questions section can be set up on the machine, making it convenient for customers to search for solutions on their own when encountering problems.
Timely handling of feedback: Establish an effective customer feedback mechanism, such as displaying customer service phone numbers, email addresses, or setting up an online feedback platform on the machine, to facilitate customers' opinions and suggestions on products, machines, and other aspects. Operators should promptly review and respond, actively adopt and improve reasonable suggestions, and make customers feel that their opinions are valued, enhancing their interaction and participation with the vending machine.
5、 Data analysis and adjustment
Collect and analyze data
With the help of the vending machine's built-in intelligent system or third-party data analysis tools, collect and analyze various types of data, such as sales performance of different products in different time periods, revenue comparison of vending machines in different locations, customer payment preferences, etc. By using these data to understand customers' consumption habits and changes in demand, we can provide strong basis for subsequent operational decisions.
Adjust operational strategy based on data
Based on data analysis results, adjust operational strategies such as product types, display locations, and marketing activities in a timely manner. If you find that the sales of a certain product have been consistently poor, consider taking it down for replacement; If customers purchase frequently during a certain period of time, then marketing efforts can be increased or replenishment frequency can be increased during this period. Through continuous optimization, the operation of vending machines can be made more in line with market demand and achieve sustained profitability.
In short, to make money from vending machines, it is necessary to operate and manage carefully from multiple aspects such as site selection, product selection, machine maintenance, marketing services, and data analysis. As long as you master these operational skills and persistently implement them, I believe you can reap full benefits in the field of vending machine operation. If you have any other tips or lessons learned, please feel free to share and exchange them in the comment section!
