Vending How Chris

When we say "service", we usually mean fill and otherwise check to make sure it's in good working order. Ideally you only service it once per service period. I think this is a great way to think about accounts! One addition I would make is that it's important to also think of locations together. So if you have a location with a lower cost to service next door, then it's important to think of the location's combined cost to service. What I mean by this is imagine you have a location that you have a shallow snack machine which has to be refilled every 3 weeks. This location alone is not really worth it. However, say you have a location nearby where the gas to get there is negligible and the cost to service is much lower. Now the combined value of both accounts makes the lower value account more valuable because of its proximity. This is also a good thing to keep in mind when getting new accounts. Ask locations that you service whether or not there are locations nearby. Chris

As some other users have said, there isn't a straight dichotomy between bottles and cans. Most can machines (Coke anyway) will also vend bottles. You just need to adjust the spacers inside and make sure the machine knows it's only vending one bottle (as opposed to two cans which take up the same space). This question is also completely location dependent. Some people only drink out of bottles and some people only out of cans. The key is to ask your customer which they prefer, and then give them their options. In my experience, non diet bottled soda lasts as long as can soda does, and the diets are about equivalent, so it's really based on preference and how the inventory fits with the rest of your business. Moving forward, however, its good to target locations which have a higher price point per customer and these necessitate the acquisition of speciality bottled sodas like your Fuzes, Snapples, and the like. Chris