april2024 - 37

OPERATION PROFILE
How First Class
Vending became an
With its forward-looking, customer-focused approach,
First Class Vending challenges what it means to be a
conventional vending company in the 21st century.
By Adrienne Klein, Contributing Editor
W
All images
courtesy of
First Class
Vending
HEN MATTHEW, RYAN
and Michelle Marsh started
First Class Vending in 1994,
they never envisioned what
it would become three decades later. In
just 30 years, First Class Vending has
grown from two employees to more than
300 employees; from one location and
warehouse to nine warehouses across
three states; from soda-only vending
machines to full-service vending, micro
markets, OCS and frictionless stores.
The company has been thriving in
the Southern California, Nevada and
now Arizona vending markets due to
the ownership's hard work, tenacity,
propensity for innovation, employeecentered
approach and its desire to
challenge the vending industry status quo.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
First Class Vending's story begins in
1994 when Matthew and Michelle
were in college. Matthew purchased
vending machines and placed them
in fraternity houses around campus,
" to earn extra money to take
Michelle on dates, " Matthew said with
a chuckle.
When the pair graduated college
and got married, they decided to take
out a loan and purchase a small momand-pop
vending operation. While
Michelle went on to work in the social
services field, Matthew ran the vending
company, with himself and one driver.
" I moved the first 600 machines
myself on the back of a 4x8 trailer, " he
recalled. " I put a vending machine on the
April 2024 * VendingMarketWatch.com 37

http://www.VendingMarketWatch.com

april2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of april2024

Editor's Note – Visit us at NAMA 2024 in Dallas
Industry News
OCS Update: How to use the simplest, most powerful business sales tool
2024 New Products of the Year
Small operators fuel the growth of vending as they chase the American dream
Dedication to excellence
Success Story – How First Class Vending became an industry disruptor
Social Hubs
april2024 - CoverTip1
april2024 - CoverTip2
april2024 - 1
april2024 - 2
april2024 - 3
april2024 - 4
april2024 - 5
april2024 - Editor's Note – Visit us at NAMA 2024 in Dallas
april2024 - 7
april2024 - Industry News
april2024 - 9
april2024 - OCS Update: How to use the simplest, most powerful business sales tool
april2024 - 11
april2024 - 12
april2024 - 13
april2024 - 2024 New Products of the Year
april2024 - 15
april2024 - 16
april2024 - 17
april2024 - 18
april2024 - 19
april2024 - 20
april2024 - 21
april2024 - 22
april2024 - 23
april2024 - Small operators fuel the growth of vending as they chase the American dream
april2024 - 25
april2024 - 26
april2024 - 27
april2024 - Dedication to excellence
april2024 - 29
april2024 - 30
april2024 - 31
april2024 - 32
april2024 - 33
april2024 - 34
april2024 - 35
april2024 - Success Story – How First Class Vending became an industry disruptor
april2024 - 37
april2024 - 38
april2024 - 39
april2024 - 40
april2024 - 41
april2024 - 42
april2024 - 43
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april2024 - Social Hubs
april2024 - 51
april2024 - 52
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