Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Planet Antares Vending Increasing Customer Preference

The old vending adage, “no cash, no purchase” is being replaced with “no cash, no problem!”
Along with the increasing attraction of common people towards self service technologies and online applications, there is a growing interest in the implementation of alternative payment options for traditional cash based transactions.

Some parts of the vending industry have already accepted the card payment systems. Nowadays, innovative payment technologies that are designed to redesign vending transactions are being adopted at an extraordinary rate.

In the past years, there was a slow adaptation rate for cashless vending. This can be attributed to customer reluctance to use cards for low value dollar transactions, a lack of operator experience with new technology, and its perceived high costs. This is changing as more and more Planet Antares vending operators become aware of the impact that cashless transactions have on vending operations.

Consisting of more than 8 million machines, the vending industry can be said to be the largest cash business in America and certainly the most pervasive retail in terms of number of locations.

From the perspective of a Planet Antares vending operator, the cost of hardware, software and transaction procession have declined to render cashless a much more appealing payment option. This has also drawn the attention of full-line vendors like Planet Antares vending operators.

Over the years, there has been a steady increase in the performance for credit cards as a method of payment. Economists have pointed out the fact that credit card transaction volumes had doubled between 1992 and 1998.

It has been proven that cashless vending systems can be quite profitable for your Planet Antares vending business. That implies that if you implement it in your Planet Antares vending operations, it can be the greatest thing you do!

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Planet Antares Vending Machines Popularity

In America, vending machines are immensely popular. Look around and you will find them almost everywhere. They have been in existence in America since 1888 and have come a long way. These machines are not just popular but amazing as well.

From its modest origin, the vending machine investment has seen rapid growth over recent years. Every year, Americans spend a lot of money on buying vending machines and products such as those provided by Planet Antares Corporation, and now it is a 40 billion dollar industry.
You can find vending machines in various kinds of locations like:

• Schools
• Hospitals
• Factories
• Business offices
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Doctor clinics
• Subway stations
• Airports
Think of any place and you can find a vending machine placed there. This is the kind of popularity they enjoy. At least one thing is clear. Whenever you feel like having a snack or beverage, you can just insert money in the vending machine and get it. No need for any lengthy procedures when a vending machine is close by. It won’t be hard to spot one near your workplace or home these days.

Planet Antares vending machines have become so popular that they are not just vending conventional products but also dispensing tampons, cigarettes, beer and recently, even digital items like i-pods. Most of the things that you can think of easily can be found in a vending machine. The variety of products in vending machines will only diversify and increase in the future.

The success of the vending industry can be attributed to the combined use of technology and mechanism in different vending machines. Technology has made the vending machine easy to use and access. A customer will prefer not the waste any time in getting a cold drink, when he is feeling thirsty. This is what vending machines like Planet Antares machines can do for you. You don’t need to put in too much capital for starting a Planet Antares vending business. They offer great programs wherein payment for equipment can be made in easy installments while you setup and run a successful vending business.

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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Efficiency In Planet Antares Vending

The concept of operating dedicated beverage route will be very beneficial for a Planet Antares vending operator. They just need to do enough business to keep at least one full time route person busy. There are several benefits that come with this.

A well designed beverage truck, with outside, roll up doors on the sidea can be filled by the pallet with a forklift truck. This will take lesser time than you would have, had you been loading a mixed-product route vehicle. In such circumstances, you will have to load one case at a time.

Due to space limitations on a mixed product truck, Planet Antares operators may not be able offer all the brands they could proftably sell. Although many customers will opt for an alternate brand or flavor if their first choice is not available. Some may even decide to walk away and lead to loss of sale. A well designed truck allows you to stock all the items that are demanded by customers of your business.

New beverage route people will have to learn how to fill one type of machine and thus, have one less type of machine to learn. This would cut down on the amount of time taken for training a new route personnel and bringing him closer to the point where he is capable of running a Planet Antares vending route on his own.

To enhance business efficiency, specialization is essential. When an employee only handles one product, he will learn how to handle the product with very few wasted motions. The machines will be filled at a faster pace since he will be more efficient. Mixed product route will also benefit. They would have one less product to worry about, and no longer have any chances of tripping over beverage cases in the vehicle.

After removing the beverage trucks from the vehicle and removing the beverage services from the route, the driver will be able to reach more locations to service perishable product machines.

If you try to run a dedictaed beverage route for your Planet Antares vending business, using a typical step or cube van, it will probably be too much work. It’s best to go for a truck that can be loaded with a forklift.

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Friday, May 8, 2009

Planet Antares Vending And Nutritional Trends

Today, consumers are focusing more attention on the popularity of low carbohydrate diets, organic foods and general nutrition and health. You will find a greater variety of nutritional products these days.

In fact, several leading snack manufacturing companies have announced a commitment to healthier product alternatives. Nutritional trends will allow you to stock only healthy foods in your Planet Antares vending machine so that you will continue to have a profitable vending business.

For many people, vending machines are a key source of meals. With your Planet Antares vending machines, you can cater to the health conscious population by vending healthy foods. This will result in higher sales from these customers.

According to The Institute for Food Technology, the top five trends for the move to healthier food are:

1. Better eating habits
A lot of consumers are eating better to promote a healthier lifestyle and longer life.

2. Carb count
Nowadays, consumers are seeking vending products that are low on carbohydrates and calories and high in protein.

3. Healthier children
The public concern for child obesity has led families, school officials and legislators to look for healthier vending options to fight against child obesity which has become a major problem.

4. Change
Consumers want to make changes in their lives through food. They are looking for food that will reduce the risk of certain health issues.

5. Essential ingredients
Most of the American population recognizes that functional foods are beneficial to overall health.
Since vending machines will always be a better option for those who want a quick meal, rather than going to a store, vending operators should take up this opportunity to cater to the consumers who are interested in that.

As a Planet Antares vending operator, you should always pay attention to customer needs because this is exactly what enhances your business profitability. In the coming years, these nutritional trends will have more impact on the vending industry.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Tricks For Saving Fuel In Vending Operations

All over the United States, vending operators are struggling with the problem of high fuel costs. It appears that each and every time, there is a hike in the cost of fuel. Usually, a vending operation uses a vehicle to transport products from the base to the locations.

For home based vending business operators, it is common to use their personal vehicle. On the other hand, if you are running your business from a warehouse, a better option will be to use a vending truck since it is more spacious. Usually, such a vending business would be an established and most likely a medium sized or a large sized business.

Planet Antares vending business with large size will have to hire route drivers. It is common for them to waste the fuel of a vending truck by using it for personal reasons. As a result, there may be extra cost for your vending business. Using a vehicle that is not well maintained will result in even more fuel wastage. This makes it essential to look for new ways of saving fuel.

Technology
Technology offers new ways to save fuel, but these are long term and not short term solutions. Planet Antares vending machines that are technically advanced will require greater amount of upfront investment.

A growing trend among vending operators is the use of satellite-based fleet monitoring, known as Global Positioning Systems (GPS). This system can improve operating efficiencies and employee accountability.

This system allows saving of fuel in three distinct ways:
1) They allow you to know if there is any unauthorized use of the vehicle
2) They make it easier to determine more efficient routing
3) It allows you to monitor the speed of the drivers.

Alternative fuel
As a long term solution, you can try conversion to alternative fuels for your Planet Antares vending operation. Propane is less expensive than either diesel or gasoline. A gallon of propane gas costs less than half the price of gasoline. There are about 500 depots located all across the country.

Fuel saving tips for route drivers
1) Tires must always be properly inflated as under inflated tires can decrease fuel economy.
2) Drive at a steady pace. Unnecessary speed-ups, slowdowns and stops can decrease fuel economy.
3) Perform maintenance checks according to schedule.
4) Avoid lengthy engine idling. Turn the engine off when you are delayed for more then a couple of minutes.

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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Planet Antares Vending Machines Dispense PET Bottles

With the growing popularity of PET bottles in the vending industry, the case of dedicated beverage routes has gained considerable strength and popularity. As a result, it is easier to invest with a plan that phases in dedicated routes than any other form.

Now, the average vending operator faces greater complexities in life and business. Majority of the single service sales in the supermarkets are on account of plastic beverage bottles and for full line Planet Antares vending machines, they account for a smaller percentage. Hence, the products sold through vending machines will be determined by customer demands and not the products preferences of sellers.

As compared to 12 ounce cans, PET bottles sell for a higher price. This is a grand opportunity for enhancing business profits and gross margins in the long run. As a Planet Antares vending business owner, you must take advantage of this trend.

Certain vending operators claim that PET bottles have lower gross profit percentage as compared to the 12 ounce cans and also reduce the space in their route vehicles. What you need to understand is that your income is not measured in percentage but rather in dollars which you deposit in the bank.

In reality, utilization of larger capacity route vehicles and trucks can help in resolving the space problem. These last for about 8-10 years and make a worthwhile investment for vending operators. Planet Antares vending operators have been successful in achieving a huge amount of market penetration through PET bottles.

In view of the increasing competition among different brands for share in the snacks and beverages market rise, vending operators must purchase larger vehicles to provide for mixed product routes. Loading and unloading of dedicated beverage trucks will be recommended by Planet Antares Inc as it makes things quite simple.

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Friday, December 5, 2008

Planet Antares Inc As Vending Distributor

One of the most important steps in building a successful vending business is getting the vending machines from a good vending distributor. Vending machine distributors are companies which sell vending machines of various kinds.

The vending machine distributor may be a person or a company. Basically, they serve as a connection between vending machine manufacturers and vending operators. A vending machine distributor may offer a variety of services, depending on their size and experience.

While looking for vending machines, you must find out vending distributors who offer a wide range of machines as well as quality service like Planet Antares Inc. From the countless vendors claiming to be the best, it may not be easy to choose the right one in the first instance.

Planet Antares vending distributors recommend the type of vending machines which are best suited for your business aim and requirements. If you are trying to find a reliable vending machine manufacturer, vending distributors will help you to find persons having machines - rental, used or new - according to your needs and budget.

The internet is also a good source for finding reputable vending machine distributors. Compare various vending distributors and choose the best one. Planet Antares provides you with the best priced, good-quality machine as well as after sale services like repairing, location, shifting, refilling and maintenance of your vending machine.

Find a vending distributor who is in your area or near your city. This allows you to minimize purchasing cost as there will be lower transportation costs as compared to a distributor located in a faraway town. Benefits such as the ability to inspect new machines, visit his office and storage facility and enquire about his experience can also be enjoyed with a local distributor.

Check an online vending distributor’s website for updated information as well as contact information. Try to contact the selected distributor through the email or phone number given on their website. You must also read customer reviews about the vending machines used by them and find out about previous client’s experience through their contact info or forums, as provided.

Keep these things in mind and you can surely find the right vending distributor for your business.

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