Life in the UK is busy, and people increasingly expect to be able to grab a snack and drink while they’re on the go. When they’re at work, at leisure, at school, college, university, at a medical appointment or simply refuelling the car on a petrol forecourt – they’re looking for food and drink to refuel themselves when in a hurry, and vending machines are the answer.
Where vending machines work
So, the quick answer to “Where can I put a vending machine?” is… “Wherever people expect a vending machine to be”!
Where vending machines come into their own, is where you need to offer refreshments around the clock, cost-effectively and fuss-free. Many workplaces such as factories and warehouses as well as public buildings such as hospitals, operate around the clock. So do their staff and their visitors. However, it’s not always possible for them to offer a fully staffed canteen or coffee shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With fully serviced vending machine solutions you put vending machines in place and leave Options Management Services to look after the promotion, re-stocking, recycling, maintenance and servicing.
Complement canteens with vending machines
Many businesses and organisations look to complement their canteens with vending machines. This way, when people don’t have time to queue, chat to and pay a human they can simply select, swipe and go. And don’t just think about coffees, teas and snacks, modern vending offers fresh healthy foods and full meals from vending micro markets and even hot vended food like Rustlers beef and chicken burgers and all-day breakfast muffins.
Put a vending machine wherever there’s footfall.
It’s break time, people pause and congregate for a chat, the “water cooler” moments have become things of legend. So how about supplementing the water cooler with a snack machine? Placing vending machines side by side widens choice for users, opens up the chance of a food and beverage upsell, and increases revenue from vending machines. Tea and cake bars, water and fruit, fizzy drinks and crisps, coffee and kitkats. Lining up your vending machines in the workplace also creates places to congregate.
Bring the shops to your place
By introducing vending machines you’re bringing the coffee shop, tea stop, grocery store and more to your facility. Provide people with vending machines right where they are, so that they don’t have to waste time constantly travelling to and from, saving them from the constant dilemma of where to find their next snack, and having to dash off to the shops in their limited break times.
Think practically about vending machine power and plumbing
When positioning vending machines, you’ll need to ensure you have the power outlets in place for them to plug into. Vending machine specifications will outline the specific electricity requirements but to make double sure, Options Management will provide onsite vending machine survey and will provide power solutions for your vending machine. Some drinks vending machines are better plumbed directly into your mains water supply, and plumbing requirements need to be taken into account.
Vending machine access, ergonomics and user comfort
Think about vending machine users. What room will they need to comfortably use the machine. At peak times, will there a be a queue and can you accommodate that? Having good visibility of the vending machine is also important. Make sure the machine is eye-catching and create good flow around it. You want people to quickly get a bottle, not create a bottleneck! There should be plenty of space for users and passers by, particularly when vending machines are placed in corridors. Consider that some vending machines deliver the goods low to the floor so space to bend freely to collect is important. Areas that are accessible to the greatest number of users are ideal for vending machine placement.
Talk to us for the perfect vending machine placement.
Thanks for reading our blog about positioning vending machines for maximum effect. We love to talk about all things vending related, and help clients get great returns on vending machines. Please feel free to pick up the phone, drop us an email or complete a contact us form and we’ll do all we can to help you to answer the question where can I put a vending machine in the UK?
