A company’s break room is an integral part of the modern workplace. Employees spend a great deal of their waking hours in the office, and they need a place to go where they can clear their mind for a few moments after a stressful meeting or phone call.

When first getting a tour of a new workplace, the break room is one of the first places that an employee sees. Break rooms are where employees spend a large portion of their time when they’re not actively working. Some companies, like Google, have interactive games and relaxation rooms to help their employees get a break from hectic yet creative work schedules. We’ve compiled a list of what you can do to make your employees happier in their workspace:

Spruce up the decor

Decorating a break room can be affordable, a tip to keep the cost down is to find furniture from a second-hand store. There are plenty of second-hand stores such as Goodwill that have well-appointed furniture and accessories at a bargain price.

Offer free vending machines

Another low-cost option, vending machines provide employees with delicious snacks and beverages to your employees for enjoyment throughout the workday. As a vending machine distributor, we can help you make your break room better for your employees.

Set out interactive games

Providing games, such as board games, provides an opportunity for your employees to mingle and blow off some steam. In the age of electronics, our communication is spent online more often, board games and interactive games can help to boost employee interaction and overall morale.

Ultimately, your company culture determines the type of break rooms you have for your employees. These are just a few suggestions to help embody your company culture on a daily basis.

When you are ready to invest in a vending machine of your own, visit our website to explore the various types of machines available, as well as to learn more about how to maximize your vending machine business endeavor.

Vending machines are known to be a very lucrative industry with relatively low overhead costs. Whether as an independent operation or an additional revenue generator for your existing business, items can be sold with minimal or no staffing or facility rental costs. Another great quality of this type of venture is flexibility–you can move your machine to higher traffic areas as needed, as well as change the type and quantity of goods you sell from week to week, season to season, and year to year.

For individuals and businesses that are thinking about making an investment in a vending machine for sale for their business operation, there are some essential factors to consider. Before you purchase the machine itself, consider these important questions:

• Does my state or municipality require licensing to operate a vending machine?
• What tax regulations do I need to be aware of as a merchandiser?
• Where will my machine be located and what are the rent costs associated with that location?
• What time investment am I able to reasonably make in stocking, repairing, and maintaining the machine? Will there be a need to hire additional personnel?

Once these key issues are squared away, you can start to get specific on details such as what you will sell, how to price your goods, and who your supplier(s) will be. The possibilities with a vending machine venture are endless, and you can continually adapt as you learn what works for your business and what does not.

When you are ready to invest in a vending machine of your own, visit our website to explore the various types of machines available, as well as to learn more about how to get into and maximize your vending machine business endeavor.

 

Most food and drink items will have an expiration date on them. These are the dates you have to make sure to pay attention to when doing inventory of all your product to avoid selling expired vending machine food.

Keeping an eye on stales is a key component to maintaining your vending machine, and maintaining your customer satisfaction. You can gain a reputation with your repeat customers if you have products that are out of date for sale.

Shortest Coded Items

If you have a refrigerated cold food machine you know these items have the shortest code. Whether you’re selling sandwiches, or salads, these short coded meals need to be checked every single day, several times a day.

Keep Your Stales Under Control

Every time you open the door to your machine, check the dates for all your food and drink items. Once you turn this into a habit, you will be able to create an eagle eye for out of date items. If you have employees, you will have to train them to check the vending machine daily, several times a day for expired food to keep from selling it.

Handling Customer Complaints

Complaints can be a seen as an opportunity to make a bad situation good. Listen to your customer. Have they found repeated stale or expired food items that your vending machine has been selling? You may want to offer something to them that is of better value than a simple refund. Perhaps offer them a gift card to your store, or a free item along with their refund. For customers whose first time buying a stale item is now, definitely offer them a refund, and assure them you and your team will be more proactive in making sure all the items are completely fresh.

If you can help it, it is best to keep stale items out of your vending machine. Stay aware of what is in there, and once it becomes a habit, it will become way more easier.

Get in contact with us to explore your vending machine options!

Wall decals. Faux freckles. Roasted brussel sprouts. Tailor-made french fries. 2016 has already brought a wide array of trends, and the vending machine is no exception. It’s all about a mixture of personalization, creativity, and ease of access. Here’s what’s happening now, and what you can expect to see over the rest of the year.

• More Cash-Free Options. Technology relentlessly moves forward, and fewer and fewer consumers are carrying cash, let alone interested in getting coins as change from a purchase. Chip reading payment options, ubiquitous card swipe devices, and other digital payment options are projected to overtake ‘traditional’ payment methods by the end of this year.
• America’s Love Affair With Coffee Continues. With the new, fresh-grinding coffee vending machines, machine coffees are no longer being seen as lesser products. Instead, consumers recognize the value in freshly made and transparent production of their beverages, leading to an increase in demand for these machines.
• Continued Movement Away From High Fat Snacks. Snackers are routinely selecting options they perceive to be healthier, such as baked chips and products with added protein, rather than high carb or high fat choices. However, candy bars and other sweet treats remain consistently in demand, suggesting that the curious dichotomy of both healthful and comfort eating remains an American trait.
• Fresher Options. Packaged sliced fruits, salads and veggies, custom mashed potatoes, protein packs with nuts and cheeses–these are all hugely in demand currently and their popularity is expected to continue to grow. Even foods traditionally seen as less healthy, like french fries, are being offered ‘made to order.’ Whether it’s the perceived personalization or ideas about equating freshness to wellbeing, purchasers are selecting more and more of these items to fulfill their appetites.
• New Locations for Vending Machines. Pop Up vending machines are already appearing in major metropolitan areas. These shorter term sites will offer more complex options, and the novelty and variety will draw in consumers. In some cities, vending machines will be in cabs and buses as well.

Overall, the trends we’re seeing center around increased convenience, more individualized and flexible edible options, and more informed consumers enjoying healthier, customized foods. The savvy vending machine operator will look closely at his or her location to see where this future casting can be incorporated. Get in contact with us to explore your vending machine options!