Vending Machines Blog

Cigarette Vending Machine Ban

Cigarette vending machines in England, Northern Ireland and Wales are close to being banned, following recent legislation changes approved by MPs. While Scotland has their own bill regarding this situation, both systems share similarities in their details.

If passed, both intend to first remove cigarette machines from larger stores in 2011, while smaller shops will have until 2013; the decision to implement the changes so far in the future is a result of the current economic climate.

Although welcomed by many, this plan has faced opposition from the tobacco industry and some retailers, who deny the validity of the arguments against them and protest that it will result in substantial loss of sales.

Proposed by Ian McCartney, the former Labour minister, the ban on cigarette vending machines is largely a consequence of suggestions that they are partly responsible for the uptake of smoking by new generations. It is thought cigarette vending machines are too appealing and accessible for children and also help to normalise attitudes towards cigarettes and smoking through brand familiarity.

Posted in: Vending Machine News
Tags: cigarette vending machines, vending machine information, Vending Machine News

Top Quality Vending

Vending machines are fantastic products. Not only are they great for a business as they generate extra revenue, but they are also great from a customer’s perspective as they are convenient and easy to use.

There is a much wider range of goods available from vending machines today, than ever before. Not only are the products more diverse, there is a dramatic increase in vending machines stocked with higher quality items. A good vending company will advise on product choice and supplier and will guide you in the right direction for building your own vending machine success.

Industry experts know just how important it is for our customers to have flexibility in their vending and we aim to assist them in this wherever possible. Many of our customers have strong beliefs or preferences and these can be met in many different ways.

For example, many fair trade suppliers are now offering food and drink products for vending machines. Stocking fair trade products not only benefits the owner of the vending machine, but also the customers, as they are giving back a little from something which they would be purchasing anyway.

Many different types of products are now being stocked in vending machines, as the vending industry steers away from just offering food and drink. While this can be a great way to innovate and generate more profit, it is vitally important to ensure you research and comply with any health & safety or licensing requirements which may be applicable to the products, prior to making them available for sale from your vending machines.

At Intelligent Vending Ltd we have an expert team of customer service advisors to help you with all your vending needs, so no matter how weird or unusual your choice of product, there is a vending option for you.

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Help & Advice
Tags: Intelligent Vending, vending advice, vending machine information, vending machines

High-Traffic Public Site Vending: ‘Destination Leisure’

Vending machines thrive in public site locations. These highly populated areas are ideally suited for “free on-loan” high-royalty vending machine deals; typically catering for soft drinks, snacks and coffee-shop quality hot drinks machines (please note: we are unable to offer royalty-based deals for any other types of vending machine other than those previously mentioned).

Locations such as theme parks, safari parks and zoos, stadiums and arenas, airports and docks, transport interchanges and stations (train, bus, coach, etc.) and shopping centres and retail chains/parks often experience great success with vending machines due to the large number of people who visit and pass through them on a daily basis.

We take pride at Intelligent Vending Ltd in the products and services we provide. Our public site vending package is perfect for high footfall public areas which have the potential to generate significant product unit sales. The reliable vending machines supplied are stocked with market leading branded products. These are regularly reviewed based on current market trends and updated as appropriate to help ensure the highest possible sales are achieved for our clients (increased sales = increased royalties).

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Posted in: Public Vending, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: Intelligent Vending, public site vending, vending advice, vending machine information, vending machines

Change Machines

Anywhere bank notes are not accepted or specific denominations of coins are required – such as near parking meters or in games arcades – change machines are the solution.

Change machines come in 3 main variations:

* note to coin (note in -> coin(s) out)
* coin to coin (coin in -> coin(s) out)
* note and coin to coin (note and coin in -> coin(s) out)

When considering the purchase of change machines, deciding on the machine variation and the required coin denomination configuration should be the first step (for example: changing banknotes to just £1 coins and/or 20 pence pieces, etc.). We can provide change machines which dispense up to 3 different denominations of coin.

Intelligent Vending Ltd supply a variety of change machines suitable for a wide range of locations. Whether you are looking for coin to coin or note to coin dispensing, wall mounted or floor standing, we aim to provide a secure solution that you can rely on.

Change machines are probably most commonly seen in arcades and casinos, but they are used in many other locations such as airports, train & bus stations, libraries, colleges & universities, bars & restaurants, staff canteens or just near other vending machines for the consumers’ convenience.

Change machines are not just limited to changing money from one denomination to another; we also offer token change machines for self-service businesses. Laundrettes are a good example of a useful application for token vending machines.

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Posted in: Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: change machines, coin machines, Intelligent Vending, vending advice, vending machine information

Snacks to Stop the Hunger Pains

Snack vending machines have crept into the heart of our society. You can find them almost everywhere – wherever hungry people walk and work. You may think that snack vending is simply a matter of filling a machine with snack foods and placing it a hall or room. On the surface that is true, however, getting the most from snack machines takes time and requires tactical thought.

If you think it is mere coincidence that the snack machines near you just happen to stock some of your favourite crisps and treats, think again; they have most likely been carefully selected based on the buying habits of its customers.

The key to successful snack vending

Stocking and positioning snack food vending machines is a skill to be developed. Sales from snack vending machines can be significantly boosted by monitoring stock levels and consumer purchase choices to better cater to the target market with more suitable products and advertising. Try and make it as hard as possible for the people who frequent that hallway or room to resist your vending efforts.

This can be helped by strategically placing your snack vending machine in the most tempting spot available and where it will be seen by as many people as possible. Next, fill it with all the snacks and confectionery your target market favour and enjoy the rewards.

You might consider doing research to discover more about the likes, dislikes, wants and desires of your target audience. It involves a little more work but can really help speed up the process of optimising profits through refined product selection and enhanced marketing.

If you would like more information, you can view our snacks vending machine page or call us on +44 (0) 1629 825555. For alternative ways to contact us, please follow this link: Contact Intelligent Vending Ltd.

Posted in: Product Help & Advice
Tags: food vending, snack vending machines, vending advice, vending machine information

Condom Vending Machines

We have just added a new page to our website: condom vending machines. Although we already have a page detailing our washroom vending machine service, we thought it might be helpful to add a stand-alone page dedicated to condom vending and condom vending machines to try and further assist our readers with more specific details including information regarding our most popular ‘off the shelf’ models.

On this page we have provided a basic overview of information relating to condom machines and the part they play in our business. We have explained about a couple of important aspects involved that should be considered by any prospective customer, and have also compiled a brief list of our most popular condom vending machines. Hopefully this will make things easier for those trying to decide on the best condom machine for their situation.  We also continue to supply more bespoke wall mounted vending machine solutions.  So, if a different model or new design condom vending machine is required, please don’t hesitate to call us and ask. We are always happy to help and advise.

Condom vending machines can often be a great source of income, especially thanks to product popularity and the potential for high profit margins. If you are considering a washroom vending machine purchase, we thoroughly recommend you take a look.

Related Links:

Condom Vending Machines

Washroom Vending Machines

Washroom Products

Posted in: Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Help & Advice, Vending Service
Tags: condom vending machines, vending machine information, vending machines, washroom machines, washroom vending

Perfect for a Quick Caffeine Fix

Seeing a vending machine in the office is not an unusual sight today. People love stopping off at a vending machine for a quick snack, or any of the other things that can be found in a vending machine these days. The answer is unanimous though about what vending machine people find the most popular.

Everyone loves the coffee vending machines. Speciality shops throw a spanner in the works though – they offer speciality coffee that attracts many customers. But….vending machine manufacturers are quick on the uptake. That is why today you get many coffee vending machines that offer speciality coffee of the highest quality and, most impressively, rivalling what the coffee shop can deliver.

Coffee at its best

Coffee vending machines are good business. Businesses are always keen to allow a coffee vending machine onto the premises as they know employees dash off for coffee. People want their regular caffeine fix during the day. It is good for morale if staff don’t have to run out in all types of weather for their needed cuppa, and it saves time to have coffee ‘on tap’.

A coffee vending machine is popular for small business premises as well. Owners of shops know that people will come inside to get a good cup of coffee. This means they are more amenable to spending money in the shop at the same time. Coffee vending machines that stock good quality coffee are popular not only on business premises, but also school staff rooms. Sometimes it seems as if the world runs on coffee and coffee vending machines can be a lucrative business.

If you build up a reputation for quality and reliance you can soon have a good business running. If you show clients that you are a responsible entrepreneur, they may ask for more. How far you go in the vending machine business is up to you.

Posted in: Vending Service
Tags: coffee machines, hot drinks vending machines, vending machine information, vending machines

The Flavia ® Way

We all know the importance of a nice hot drink. They help calm our mood, boost motivation and give us that extra nudge we need to work more effectively through the day. Not to mention they taste delicious – provided you use the right tools and ingredients, of course!

There are a vast number of hot drinks machines to choose from in today’s market – true to such an extent that choosing the right machine for the home or office can be a daunting experience.

It might help you to know that for us, Flavia ® machines and Flavia ® drinks are a favourite around our office. We use them on a daily basis, and have done for years. Flavia ® has spent over 25 years perfecting their vending systems to deliver one of the freshest, most delicious drinks around.

Flavia ® provides the ultimate hot drinks vending machine solution.

Quality is paramount throughout: the best ingredients are sourced from around the world, and served to you in highly reliable machines designed with simplicity in mind.

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Posted in: Flavia ®, Intelligent Vending Ltd, Vending Help & Advice
Tags: coffee machines, drink vending, flavia, vending advice, vending machine information

The Art Of Intelligent Vending

A new era has dawned, the rise of the vending machines, and what a brilliant money making opportunity it is for your business. Vending machines are popular with almost anyone who passes them, depends on them or uses them as a source of income.

The very real truth about people is that many are so busy with their full daily schedules that any convenience when it comes to food and drink is going to be favoured about putting effort in to achieve the same result.

That is why you would much rather zip down the hallway to the vending machine than down to the ground floor and down the street to the shop to get the same item for a for pence less.

Don’t just think vending, think smart vending

Just putting a vending machine into the corridor filled with your own personal favourite treats is not the way to go about your vending venture. You are not the only one who will be using it and not all the vending machines on your business premises, especially if it is a large one, are going to contain the exact same things.

Vending machines need to be placed in high traffic areas where they will receive the most exposure to prospective customers. Then you need to vary the contents of the machines according to the types of people who will be using them.

Putting the right products in the right machines in the right locations can lead to a very popular vending machine. Smart vending will lead to smart profits.

Posted in: Vending Help & Advice
Tags: Intelligent Vending, vending advice, vending machine information

Vending in Japan

The Japanese are famous for their high tech culture – always 2 steps ahead of the rest of the world and leading the way on the forefront of technology. A lesser known outcome of this is the effect this has had on their vending industry.

Extraordinarily, it is said that in Japan there is a vending machine population of around 1 to every 20 people! Though perhaps more surprising is the remarkably low rates of vandalism and damage done to the machines.

This attitude, combined with restricted city space and a general preference towards pedestrian-friendly transport has enabled them endless vending possibilities. A quick search on YouTube for vending in Japan will bring a whole host of results, most demonstrating the weird and wonderful vending contraptions to have sprung from this country in recent years.

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Posted in: Vending Overseas
Tags: vending, vending in japan, vending machine information, vending machines