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Check out A&A’s industry newsletter “Global Gazette” with information about products, account managers and vending-related news.
Read all about it online or download the .pdf from our website: www.aaglobal.com
A&A Open House:
The Best Thing to Happen to Your Business Since the Quarter!
A&A Global Industries is planning an open house event at their Baltimore, Maryland facility and inviting existing customers as well as other bulk vending operators from around the country to attend. This is the first-time ever event for the facility and A&A is pulling out all the stops to make this event an experience to remember.
“The event is designed to inform, educate and demonstrate how A&A supports our customers by giving them a unique never-before-offered behind the scenes how we operate.” said Brian Kovens, Executive Vice President and a principal of the company. Kovens added “We want to provide our customers with an understanding of where the bulk vending industry is going and how to prepare for success in the future”.
Company officials describe this event as a “mini tradeshow” including seminars, but will also provide tours of the company’s injection molding factory where capsules and other plastic parts are made, the powder coating factory and A&A’s state-of-the-art warehouse. In addition, each attendee will have the chance to have personal consultations with their Account Managers, individual instruction on mechanism conversion and repair with machinists, along with a host of show specials, door prizes, food and a gala event planned for that Thursday evening.
Ben Graham, National Sales Manager for the Bulk Vending Division has already instructed his team to book registrants, as the space may be limited. “If you’re in the bulk vending business, this is one event you do not want to miss’” said Graham. “We’re creating an event that is catered individually to each attendee so that they get the most – and what the specifically need- from the meetings and presentations.” concluded Graham.
Phil Brilliant, Vice President of A&A, along with his team, will be responsible for putting together the schedule, events, seminars and the Thursday night gala. “Aside from the cost of transportation and lodging, we’re providing this experience at no cost to our customers. What they spend will be a small investment that will payoff from the moment our doors open. In fact, what will be learned here will give the attendee an immediate competitive advantage,” said Phil.
Over the next few weeks the company will be advertising the event and setting up a web site where operators can learn more about the seminars, obtain hotel information with special rates and view an updated schedule. In addition, A&A’s Account Managers can keep their customers informed as the plans develop further.
Disinfect Your Machines!
Now that Fall is here and Winter is around the corner, it is important to help keep children from transmitting colds and flus. There are a few things you can do as a bulk vending operator to keep the germs away.
1. Whenever you service your machines, take disinfectant wipes with you and wipe down anywhere children would touch:
2. On a regular basis, take spray disinfectant and wipe down your entire machine rack. Not only will your rack be germ free, but it will look nice and clean!
These easy steps will help cut back on transmitting colds and flus and children will thank you for making the effort!
No matter how big or small your vending route is, you always want to protect yourself. The best way to do that is to make sure that you have all your bases covered particularly with insurance, taxes and business licenses. Regulations vary from state to state, but did you know they can vary within the state? In most states even the sales tax is different in every county. Most states offer helpful guides and publication either online or at your local government facility. Get familiar with the laws so you won’t have any problems down the road.
If you need insurance, then check with your agent. Umbrella and liability policies are very common and not that expensive.
1) Know your customers. Have a basic idea of who is buying from your machines. Are small children buying from your machines or are the machines located in an area with more teenagers?
2) Talk with your sales rep. Let your sales rep know what you need in your product and ask questions. Are you buying for boys and girls? What else is in your location that may be competing with your products?
To get the most out of all your machines make sure that when you service them they are filled to the top. It makes the machines look attractive and lets the customers know that the candy is the freshest and the toys are the latest.
Making sure that the machines are clean is also important. When servicing, make sure to clean the inside of the machine as well as the outside. The chutes, chute covers, globes and tops should be cleaned with a mild non-toxic cleaner. If you’ve got chrome tops make sure you shine them up.
Don’t let shabby equipment hurt your sales. Replace globes, panels, tops and chute covers whenever necessary. Clean machines not only bring more customers to them, but it makes the location happy and insures a long lasting business relationship with them.
Variety is the spice of life. Provide your customers a multitude of options and you are sure to draw the quarters out of their pockets. Mix licensed product with generic product, with stickers & tattoos and one or two gum and candy products and you will have something to offer everyone.
In most locations the same customers visit time and time again. This is especially true in supermarkets, laundromats, family fun centers and neighborhood restaurants. That’s why it is extremely important to rotate your stock so you can offer the same customers different products. By maximizing the location, you can increase sales without having to increase your customer base.
Rotating stock can be as simple as moving the heads of the machines around on the rack so it looks as though new products were introduced. If you have a motivator mix, simply change out the motivators and put in a new display. The machines will look updated and will attract the attention of everyday customers who may just casually ignore your machines.
