Automatic Merchandiser - 18

to grow at the same rate micro markets
are," he said.
Josh Rosenberg, advisor, Accent
Food Services and CEO of PLNTSOP,
said that product diversification is the
No. 1 trend impacting micro markets.
"In order to get our share of the
consumers' wallet, we have to deliver
what they want, when they want it, how
they want it," he said. "And that diversification of product has put pressure
on the traditional supply chain and the
big box suppliers that dominate our
space. As we bring these new products
to market - whether it's fresh food,
perishable cold brews, kombucha or
perishable proteins - inventory, warehouse and trucking have become far
more complex and expensive. You have
to recapitalize your fleet in order to be
able to support it."
Managing inventory has grown
more complex as micro market clients
demand a wider variety of products.
Offering a wider variety of products
is only possible - and profitable - if
the operator is equipped to effectively
manage an increased number of SKUs.

their systems to ensure efficiency and
manage inventory.
"I started in the micro market space
back in 2010 and I have watched operators be hesitant to the concept, then
buy into the concept and then want
to make micro markets a part of their
growth strategy in their business," said
Elyssa Steiner, director of marketing
at USA Technologies. "In recent years,
with growth has come new challenges
for operators when their multiple technology platforms don't transfer data
from system to system."
Steiner said that she's seen a shift,
especially over the past year, where
operators aren't talking about if they
should integrate their market and vending systems, but rather how quickly
they can do it, especially if they're interested in scaling their business.
"I think it is making operators more
efficient and provides peace of mind
and control of their operations," she
said. "And, ultimately, it allows them to
track profitability across all lines of their
business in one place while streamlining processes for their people."

"

In order to get our share of the consumers' wallet, we have to
deliver what they want, when they want it, how they want it."
Josh Rosenberg, advisor, Accent Food Services and CEO of PLNTSOP

"Operators are being held more
responsible for professional product
management," Hessling added. "Having
product available is not enough anymore - effectively managing it is the
client expectation."
INTEGRATING SYSTEMS
IMPROVES MANAGEMENT

When vending operators started
expanding into micro markets, they
quickly realized the need to integrate

18

In order to help operators achieve
growth and overall success, USA
Technologies developed a solution that
integrates with most micro market
providers.
"We learned quickly that we
needed to integrate with all or as
many major micro market providers
as possible to support the business of
the operator," she said. "We worked to
achieve that throughout the early part
of 2019 and continue to look at ways to

Automatic Merchandiser * October/November 2019

optimize the workflows to help operators leverage the Seed platform for a
central management platform."
While operators certainly benefit
from a streamlined operation, the true
benefit is passed on to the end user.
"I think that the operator is truly
able to provide a better customer
experience ensuring the right product
is there at the right time when the consumer wants it," Steiner added.
MICRO MARKETS DESIGN
TAKES IT UP A NOTCH

Continued low unemployment and
a strong U.S. economy mean that
employers are willing to go the extra
mile to retain valuable workers. By
creating inviting spaces for their
employees to enjoy their snacks or
meals, employers can increase the
amount of time their workforce spends
in the office. Orlando said his clients
are interested in creating an elevated
experience for their employees.
Orlando said he often asks operators, "'If retail, coffee, and food establishments hire designers to create an
experience for their customers around
their brand that results in customer
and brand loyalty, why would your
micro market business be an exception?' The response is almost always,
'I see your point; I hadn't thought
about it like that before.'"
Orlando continued, "The micro
market is not vending. It's retail. Full
stop. The business is about creating a
new experience for the employee in
their break room. The most successful
micro markets are a destination, not
a last resort. Creating an exceptional
experience for customers creates a
stronger relationship between the location's decision-maker and the operator.
"I always say, 'If you design it and
it's cool, you've rooted yourself there,'"
Orlando added. "It's harder for them
to replace you. If you go bare-bones
basic, you're probably not going to sell
as much and employees probably aren't



Automatic Merchandiser

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automatic Merchandiser

Editor's Note: Changing Seasons, Changing Trends
Industry News
Classifieds
Social Hubs
Refreshing Advancements: Lincoln County Vending's ongoing commitment to innovation spells success
What's Trending in Micro Markets?: Seven Trends operators need to know to plan for a successful 2020
Rise and Shine: Breakfast in the workplace is growing more popular, presenting an opportunity for operators to increase revenue
The Evolution of OCS Equipment: From pourovers to cold brew, OCS equipment has changed how consumers enjoy coffee in the workplace
Start Thinking Macro in Your Micro Markets: If you're not seeing gains in revenue in your micro market, it's time to think bigger
Automatic Merchandiser - 1
Automatic Merchandiser - 2
Automatic Merchandiser - 3
Automatic Merchandiser - 4
Automatic Merchandiser - 5
Automatic Merchandiser - Editor's Note: Changing Seasons, Changing Trends
Automatic Merchandiser - 7
Automatic Merchandiser - Industry News
Automatic Merchandiser - 9
Automatic Merchandiser - 10
Automatic Merchandiser - 11
Automatic Merchandiser - 12
Automatic Merchandiser - 13
Automatic Merchandiser - 14
Automatic Merchandiser - 15
Automatic Merchandiser - What's Trending in Micro Markets?: Seven Trends operators need to know to plan for a successful 2020
Automatic Merchandiser - 17
Automatic Merchandiser - 18
Automatic Merchandiser - 19
Automatic Merchandiser - 20
Automatic Merchandiser - 21
Automatic Merchandiser - 22
Automatic Merchandiser - 23
Automatic Merchandiser - Rise and Shine: Breakfast in the workplace is growing more popular, presenting an opportunity for operators to increase revenue
Automatic Merchandiser - 25
Automatic Merchandiser - 26
Automatic Merchandiser - 27
Automatic Merchandiser - 28
Automatic Merchandiser - 29
Automatic Merchandiser - The Evolution of OCS Equipment: From pourovers to cold brew, OCS equipment has changed how consumers enjoy coffee in the workplace
Automatic Merchandiser - 31
Automatic Merchandiser - 32
Automatic Merchandiser - 33
Automatic Merchandiser - Refreshing Advancements: Lincoln County Vending's ongoing commitment to innovation spells success
Automatic Merchandiser - 35
Automatic Merchandiser - 36
Automatic Merchandiser - 37
Automatic Merchandiser - 38
Automatic Merchandiser - Start Thinking Macro in Your Micro Markets: If you're not seeing gains in revenue in your micro market, it's time to think bigger
Automatic Merchandiser - Classifieds
Automatic Merchandiser - 41
Automatic Merchandiser - Social Hubs
Automatic Merchandiser - 43
Automatic Merchandiser - 44
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/Automatic_Merchandiser_February-March_2020
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/junejuly2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/februarymarch2019
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