Recently, the idea of becoming an entrepreneur increasingly takes hold of people's minds, but finding money to open one's own business is not an easy task. Therefore, when choosing a direction, the size of initial investments is increasingly coming to the fore. And on this point one of the leading positions is occupied by the vending business. In how to open your own business and what moments require special attention, we will try to figure it out.
What is vending?
The phrase "vending business" is not familiar to everyone, but in fact, its examples have long surrounded us. Old Soviet vending machines with soda, modern coffee machines and machines selling chocolates and chips are all an example of a business organized with the help of vending machines. And the very first businessman, who decided to sell goods without a seller, lived in Ancient Egypt. His idea was to sell holy water in the temples with the help of an automaton, the simplest mechanism of which triggered the water supply when the coin was lowered into the slot. In 1076, China came up with the idea of selling pencils with a machine. This idea has not spread around the world, about automatic devices were recalled in the early 20th century in the US, first they were adapted to the sale of cigarettes and then beverages. We have machines with soda appeared in 1980, but at the end of the century they disappeared for a long time from the streets. Today, machine guns again began to appear in public places, which gives hope for further development of this direction.
How to open a vending business?
First of all, of course, you need to determine the type of vending machine. Now coffee, machines with snacks and soda have become very popular. But the ideas of the vending business are constantly updated, for example, there are machines with sandwiches, fresh juices, toys, chewing gum, in Japan, with the help of automatic machines, even live rhinoceros are traded, and massage chairs have recently become popular. So the choice is huge, of course, not everyone will decide to use the novelties of the vending business, because of fears not to guess with the needs of customers, but every innovative idea is subject to such a risk.
After the type of activity is selected and the firm is registered, it will be possible to proceed with choosing a location. Naturally, the most visited places will be of interest: shopping centers, railway stations, business centers, educational institutions. In addition to patency, it is important to consider the demand for such services. The lack of automatic machines in a very good place can say that the popularity of selling goods through the devices here is not used. Although, perhaps, no one has had the courage to do vending, this also happens, since this market is not yet saturated with us. If you decide to open your business where vending machines are already installed, then special attention should be paid to the assortment. Think about what is missing in this place, there may be a large selection of sweet soda, but there is no ordinary water or a good choice of coffee, but there is absolutely no tea. Of course, the needs of all can not be taken into account, and it is not necessary, therefore, it is worth paying attention to the most popular positions. Also, pay attention to the configuration of the machine, the availability of the possibility of replacing the elements or installing additional ones. For example, in some cases it makes sense to equip the device with a bill acceptor, and some firms offer a terminal installation for non-cash settlement.
Disadvantages of the vending business
Apparatuses for the sale of goods or services have a number of advantages: they are mobile, they require a minimum of investment, they allow saving on rent and maintenance personnel. But there are also negative features.
- Vending is a network business, so that one machine has paid off and started to generate revenue, it is necessary to reduce costs as much as possible, which can affect the quality of service and products. Usually an employee is hired to refuel the machine, clean it and collect revenue, the salary of which is formed from the base rate and interest from the proceeds. With one device to allow the cost of such an employee will be problematic, so you have to think about the network, perhaps not immediately, but this does not go anywhere.
- Talk about the profitability of the vending business can only be in case of one-on-one possession of it, an attempt to take a share of a few friends, usually ends in ruin. Vending does not involve renting an office and hiring a large number of staff, usually it involves
two people - the owner of automatic devices and the employee who serves them. And in the case of multiple owners, this can not be avoided. - The mobility of automata can also become their negative side. There have been cases when they were stolen with all the contents, although the possibility of vandalism should not be ruled out.
Despite the shortcomings, vending is a developing direction, a great future is foretold to it. So if there is a desire to try your hand, then it certainly must be done.