Vending - what is it? Vending equipment, technology and feedback

Each of us probably noticed on the streets special vending machines for the sale of coffee and tea, payment terminals for replenishing mobile communications, photo printing systems and much more. All these devices belong to the category of "vending machines". And we will talk about them in this article.

I would like to note at once about vending that this is a "general" concept, which actually includes a whole sphere of trade. And, of course, one article does not even need to try and cover some details of this sphere. We will describe only the most elementary things in order to introduce the user into the course of the matter.

So, let's start with the definition of "vending". What is it, you might have heard, if not - remember: the term comes from the English "vend" ("to trade"). When this concept is used, it should immediately be clear that we are talking about automatic installations for trade. The term is a whole industry in business, based on offering goods to the public through automated systems. In our country, if compared with foreign indicators, this sphere is still practically undeveloped. Therefore, entrepreneurs have a real opportunity to "turn around" in this field.

Benefits

This type of business clearly has its significant "advantages", which are worth it to start to deal with it. First, there is no need for a large number of staff. Since the machine interacts directly with the client, you do not need to hire salesmen and consultants - you can write everything in a special instruction and attach it to the trading equipment. Secondly, vending (what it is - you already know) is a broad area in terms of subspecies of products, which you are ready to offer. Let's just say: with the help of automatic machines, everyone can distribute not only coffee drinks, but snacks, shoe covers and anything else. Plus, of course, you can also engage in the provision of services using mobile communication terminals. Everything that limits you in this area is only your imagination. Third, the vending market, as we mentioned above, is practically unoccupied today (about the vending reviews of those who already work here, this is confirmed), so there is still enough space for original ideas and solutions. Of course, having decided to install another terminal for replenishment, you will go to a highly competitive market where it will not be easy to fight for the customer. However, if you connect fantasy, you can come up with something original, and try to win its niche.

disadvantages

Of course, there is a lot of "minuses" in such a field of activity as vending (what is it, we already understood). First, the high cost of commercial equipment. Here everything is obvious: each device has a set of characteristics that allow it to perform the necessary functions. The more complex the machine, the more expensive it is. And in order to at least try yourself here, you need to purchase (or rent) at least one device. To the cost of "start" also add the cost of storage, transportation, installation and maintenance of your equipment, not to mention the lease. If in the case of transport and installation everything is clear, then servicing the same coffee machines is a whole science. You can find a lot of reviews about this business, which indicate the following: what kind of service you provide to your vending machines directly determines your future profit. Did not replenish the device with new products (or ingredients)? The customer could not make the purchase and left you. The same applies to the situation with dirty equipment, a power failure, which caused the machine to shut down, taking the buyer's money, etc. The situation may be the sea, and you need to predict at least the most difficult of them.

Secondly, the minus of this business is often a low margin and long payback periods. Roughly speaking, having spent 30-40 thousand rubles on the device, you will need to wait another 3-4 years to get them back. At the same time, it must be regularly refueled, checked, adjusted (depending on the specifics of the business). To make this all have any sense (in terms of profitability), you need to have at least 15-20 automatic machines. And their content is already a serious work. Vending is generally more complicated than it might seem at first glance.

Thirdly, there is a risk that consumers simply will not appreciate your device properly (or will not figure out how (why) it should be used). This can happen for the reason that the service may be new to the person, he will not know how such machines work and so on.

Benefit factors

If we are talking about such an area of entrepreneurial activity as vending, the business plan here is different from what we see in other categories. It depends on a number of factors that determine whether the whole undertaking will be beneficial or not. The entrepreneur needs to predict them, to predict how each of these and other factors will influence his business.

For example, one of them is the location of the device. We all understand that the machine should be installed where there is a maximum flow of people (potential customers). However, not always placing a point in a busy passage of the metro or near a major shopping center gives the expected fruits. The task of such a business is not just to "light" your point to the maximum number of people, but to find as many loyal customers as possible. Specificity of the sphere is that it can be a small office space, where virtually regular customers work.

Another factor is design. Agree, you would not have approached an inaccurate, ugly and not inspiring device. Instead, each of us would prefer a clean, colorful, modern machine (regardless of the category of product that he offers). Therefore, if you start to engage in such a business, know: trading devices (vending tools) should be attractive to the buyer.

Next - the price. You need to calculate not only the cost of goods and establish your margin in such a way that the goods are not too expensive for the buyer, but also to think about the bills that the person will pay, and, of course, to calculate how the delivery will be issued.

There are many nuances - advertisement of the machine, rent, provision of resources for trade, protection, collection and logistics ... All these processes somehow create additional problems. Vending machines (vending in general) have a wide range of settings that you need to manage in order to start making profits.

Activities

Of course, in addition to the usual coffee machines and terminals, there are many other types of devices for automated trading. We can initially divide them into two categories - those that deal with the sale of goods, as well as those that provide services to the end customer.

The first group is divided into three more branches (in its specificity) - it is the realization of ready-made food or drinks (coffee, soda, popcorn and so on); Sale of snacks (products in packages - bars, biscuits), as well as the sale of any other product (flowers, shoe covers, etc.).

The second group, which consists of vending - coffee machines for the provision of services. It is difficult to conduct any sort of separation, because there is a huge list of types of services provided by terminals. The first thing that comes to mind in most cases - replenishing accounts of mobile phones, the Internet and other things. Also, through terminals you can pick up parcels (post-mobiles), pay for parking, take turns and so on.

Now let us briefly outline the features that each of the categories possesses.

Terminals

Perhaps the most busy industry in this area because of its profitability. If the terminal is at the level of 50-60 thousand rubles, then it is able to repel the invested funds quickly enough (you just need to pick the right operator with which you will be working and receive partner deductions). The main trick is to locate the device within reach of a large audience. And since today terminals appear as mushrooms, another nuance is competition. It is necessary to make sure that people around you do not use other terminals (which certainly are many), and this is already vending technology. What it is? These are all possible so-called chips. For example, set a minimum commission, or equip a more convenient place to work with the machine than the competition. Think about how to attract the attention of a passer-by, and yet make him replenish.

Coffee machines

In the coffee market, too, this is not very simple. Coffee machines appeared on our streets for a long time, and after them grew large networks of companies that serve several thousand units. As you understand, it is useless to confront them with regard to the cost of procurement - such structures can set lower prices, offering high service. Yes, and the price of a coffee machine is higher than at the same payment terminal. So be prepared for hard work and applying new original ideas to attract customers. Correctly choose coffee for vending (that it should be for a variety, you can find out only after carrying out some practical tests and experiments).

Snacks and other products

A less busy niche is the sale of bars and other packaged products. However, again, the cost of devices to trade them by an order higher than in the case of coffee machines and terminals. And it will not be necessary to compete with other vendors when launching such a business, but with cafes, canteens and buffets - depending on where the device will be installed and what it will sell.

You can earn money here, but only after applying a number of settings for the entire business. Yes, and think of what to trade (in addition to bars) is not so difficult. For example, you can engage in the implementation of contraceptives in places where young people gather (clubs, bars and pubs); Or offer disposable shoe covers on the first floors of hospitals. Each of these examples has been working for a long time, but if you do not have it in your city, you simply have to try it!

The services

The sphere of rendering services in such a business as automatic trading is simply an impeccable field (especially in Russia). All that you are stuck on is the idea and the corresponding vending equipment. And so you can come up with and design a project of any direction. From the most innovative one can recall, for example, the terminals for printing photos from the "Instagram": the user enters the account information, finds the desired picture and starts it in print.

Abroad, there are thousands of such cars on the streets, while in Russia there are only the first timid steps in this direction. Will they evolve enough for us to have a "revolution of commercial vehicles", it is difficult to say. The original installation (a vending machine) is tens of thousands of rubles for the release and, possibly, hundreds for the creation of designs and the development of various drawings. Not everyone is ready to allocate such funds to the experimental industry.

Profit calculation

We talked about the most common, basic concepts and categories that are used in the field of vending. Now we will give a little attention to how you should consider your possible income in this business. For this, you need to create a business-oriented business plan.

It should include: the approximate sales volume (per day), the number of workers for the device of the day, the cost of raw materials and machinery maintenance, the rental rate, the final cost of the finished product. Adding all these indicators, you get a sales plan for the next time. Following it, you will have the opportunity to recoup your investments for a certain period (which is also customary to specify in business plans).

For example, we have a coffee machine worth 120 thousand rubles. We put it in the business center, where the cost of rent is another 500 rubles. In addition, we take glasses, coffee, sugar and sticks for stirring - let it all cost in the cost of 4-5 rubles per glass; We plan to sell 20. The maintenance of the machine will be, say, 400 rubles a month. We consider: with 25 working days and 30 sales per day, we will be able to earn about 15 thousand rubles (total income). Of these, about 3750 rubles will be spent on raw materials, 500 - for rent and 400 for maintenance (there will be 10350 rubles). After deducting another 2,000 taxes, we will have about 12 years of payback for one machine. Increase sales, we are trying to reduce the purchase price - and the figures change significantly.

Prospects

Is there a future for the vending market? Certainly. The further, the more topical becomes the issue of automation, simplification of processes, attraction of less energy-intensive resources. With all this in mind, business in this area becomes an opportunity for everyone to show their ability to analyze and forecast and, thus, to begin to show their entrepreneurial abilities. And who knows, maybe your success in the field of vending machines is just around the corner!