Do you own a business? If so, you know that it can be difficult to keep up with the competition. One way to stay ahead of the curve is by investing in a custom vending machine. A custom vending machine could transform your business and help you stand out from the crowd. Here are some of the benefits of owning a custom vending machine, and how it could help your business grow!
Staying creative and coming up with new ideas can be tough for business owners. It’s the part many business owners love most, but the day to day reality of running a business means there’s often less time for creativity than is ideal.
Something that you might not have thought about is investing in a custom vending machine. If you have a physical business that customers come to, or if you have an office that staff and customers visit, then the chances are a vending machine could make a difference to your company.
Here’s why.
Serve Customers Out of Hours
Some stores will put a vending machine outside their store, so even when they’re closed, customers can still buy essential items. The great thing about custom vending machines is that you can design them and stock them with anything you like, as long as it fits inside. If you run a convenience store, a vending machine with candy and drinks will probably be a winner for you. If you run a donut store, you could sell packaged up donuts from a vending machine. And if you’re a gift store, selling some generic cards and gifts will likely help many people who find themselves needing a last minute gift!
Extra Income Stream
A vending machine is a great way to make some extra income for your business. You can stock it with items that are popular among your customers, and you can set the price point so that it’s profitable for you. Many businesses make the mistake of thinking that they need to sell their products at a discount in order to get people to use the vending machine, but that’s not always the case. You can make a decent profit from selling items through a vending machine, and you can actually increase your prices if you’re using a vending machine as an out of hours service.
Another way that you could use a vending machine is to create an income stream in something that is unrelated to your business. For example, if you run an office superstore, your vending machine could sell drinks and snacks. It’s a great way to generate some extra income for your business.
Add Value For Customers
You could also have a custom made vending machine that customers can use to self serve, but you don’t actually charge them any money. This can be a great way to give customers extra perks when they interact with you. If you have an office, you could put a vending machine in the reception area and stock it with snacks and drinks for staff and visitors. If you run a gym or fitness facility, you could offer protein shakes from your vending machine, that customers either pay for, or it’s an added bonus of their membership. Think creatively and come up with some ideas of your own – you might just find that it drastically increases customer satisfaction.
Customers Love Convenience
Customers love convenience, and a vending machine can provide that. If you have a vending machine, customers can get what they want, when they want it. They don’t have to wait for someone to serve them, and they don’t have to go out of their way to find what they’re looking for.
A vending machine can be a great way to improve your customer service, and it can also help you to increase sales. If customers know they can get what they want quickly and easily from your vending machine, they’re more likely to use it, and they’re more likely to come back to your business in the future.
Add a Quirky Side to Your Business
A vending machine could also be a way to make your business stand out in your customers’ minds. This is especially true if you stock your vending machine with fun or unexpected items. They might even start coming into your store to see what you’re currently stocking in your vending machine. Think outside the box – you could sell anything from limited edition postcards, to candy bars you’ve sourced from a far flung country. You could even offer a prize every time someone buys from your vending machine.
You could just as easily have a vending machine like this in your clothes or shoe store, as you could in your creative design agency or restaurant.
Use it in Your Marketing
If you install a vending machine, this also gives you content that you can use in your marketing. You could take photos or videos of your customers using the vending machine, and you could use this content to generate interest in your business. You may even decide to have a hashtag for customers to use when they post content related to your vending machine on social media. You can also use the vending machine as a way to promote new products or services – if you’re launching a new product, put it in the vending machine and see how popular it is.
There are so many benefits to having a custom vending machine for your business. It’s a great way to increase sales, to improve customer service, and to add a fun side to your business. If you’re thinking of installing a vending machine, make sure you consider all of the ways it could benefit your business. You might just find that it transforms your business for the better.