 | A Pleasure To Touch: Advanced Human Machine Interfaces For Vending
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013
The general public's growing familiarity with touchscreen interaction, which has been driven by the spread of consumer electronics devices such as smartphones and tablet PCs, is leading to an expectation that other aspects of our everyday life should make use of similarly intuitive and easy-to-operate controls...by Ian Crosby
Author: By Ian Crosby
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| An Ounce Of Leak Prevention Saves A Ton Of Damage Claims
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013
It can be interesting to view the office coffee service business from the perspective that an operation ultimately is a utility company. If coffee is about 98% water, OCS operators are simply reselling the location's own utilities back to the location... by Matt Greenwald
Author: By Matt Greenwald
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| Coffee Supply Questions: Fungus Raises Production Costs For Central American Growers
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013
The coffee growing regions of Central America are in a state of concern as they deal with a fungal infestation known as roya, or more commonly, "coffee rust" ...by Brian Martell
Author: By Brian Martell
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| Eyes And Ears: Well Designed Forms Help CSR Identify Ways To Boost Profits
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013
In order to equip your customer service reps for success, you must design the proper forms to provide all the pertinent information that they will need in the field... by Len Rashkin
Author: By Len Rashkin
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| The Market Value History Of Vending Operations And How Technology Will Change Future Transactions
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 5, May 2013
After 20 years of negotiating and completing numerous vending and OCS company acquisitions, I have seen the market value for the companies in our industry go from good to bad to excellent. Where are we presently, and what does the future hold? First, let's look at some history...by Marc Rosset
Author: by Marc Rosset
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| Conquering The Estate Tax Monster Takes More Than A Local Lawyer
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2013
What’s the problem? The tax law. It’s complicated. When it comes to estate planning, tax complexity is over the top. So much, it’s impossible for any one person to know it all. Therein lies the problem. Most estate planning advisors even when they admit not knowing it all, attempt to do it all (the entire estate plan)... by Irv Blackman
Author: by Irving L. Blackman
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| Adding A Customer Service Rep Boosts Client Retention
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013
In some of my past articles I have covered customer service in the context of providing better equipment and products...by Len Rashkin
Author: By Len Rashkin
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| Considering Options: When And How To Increase Prices
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013
For many vending operators who have not done so already, price increases might be inevitable this year. Operators can go about raising prices several ways, but they should also take a close look at how margins can be improved at current pricing levels... by Tom Britten
Author: By Tom Britten
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| Honesty Might Be The Best Policy, But Suspicion Is A Valuable Adjunct
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013
This little parable might serve as advice to any young salesperson involved in demonstrating a product. You just can't be too careful... by Kevin Daw
Author: By Kevin Daw
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| Water Usually Needs Work To Deliver Quality Beverages
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 4, April 2013
Regardless of the method of delivering a beverage -- fresh ground, capsules, espresso, instant, you name it -- the common denominator among them all is water. While the process of water purification is very complex, it's important for OCS and vending operators to understand some basics... by Matt Greenwald
Author: By Matt Greenwald
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| Win Reception's Attention, And Win The Cold-Call War
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 3, March 2013
Those of you who have been reading my articles over the past 20 years are familiar with my belief that in order to be effective in sales, you have to be different from your competition... by Len Rashkin
Author: by Len Rashkin
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| Greatly Improved Decaf Is Tool For Upping Daily Consumption
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 3, March 2013
My main job at Heritage Coffee is coffee buyer and cupper. Once while tasting a line of decaf offerings I realized that the quality of decaf coffees, in particular methylene chloride processed, had really improved... by Kevin Daw
Author: by Kevin Daw
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| Reasons To Buy: Detailed, Distinctive Proposal Ups Chances Of Making The Sale
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2013
Sometimes, after making your presentation to a prospect, the decision-maker will ask you to put your proposal in writing. So, how do you write a coffee service proposal that will sell your products, services and equipment? by Len Rashkin
Author: by Len Rashkin
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| The Coming Attraction For Vending: Mobile Is Next Step In Cashless Revolution
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2013
The next big thing in vending won’t be a trendy new product or delivery system. Rather, it will appear when we figure out just how stationary vending systems will adapt to an increasingly mobile world. The rapid growth of electronic transactions, particularly in the mobile payments sector, has produced promising advances and not a few intriguing challenges for the vending industry...by Jason Oxman
Author: by Jason Oxman
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| New Law Opens New (Wow!) Opportunities For Successful Family Business Owners
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 2, February 2013
Enter a concept called "Spousal Access Trusts." The President signed a new tax law, avoiding the "fiscal cliff," on Jan. 2. The part of the law concerning estate taxes lowered the top rate to 40% (55% by old law) starting in 2013 and continues forever $5 million (tied to inflation) that is free of the gift or estate tax, effective Jan. 1. Because of inflation, the free amount rose to $5.125 million in 2012 and is $5.25 million in 2013. Are you married? That's times two or $10.5 million for 2013; and will grow in future years, boosted by inflation... by Irv Blackman
Author: by Irving L. Blackman
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| Where's The Industry Standard? Today's Vending Patrons Look For Datecodes On Single-Serve Products
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2013
Years ago, the public was satisfied with the convenience of having soda, snacks, hot beverages and cigarettes available to them through vending machines. That's no longer the case. With the multitude of products we now merchandise, the industry must consider a direction for standardization or consistency when it comes to the dating of the products... by Jim Brinton
Author: By Jim Brinton
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| New Year's Wishes For Improving The Coffee Service Business
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2013
Over the years, we all have had "wish lists" of the things affecting our vending and coffee businesses that we want our customers, staff, suppliers and even our competition to be, or to do differently. Here are some suggestions for 2013... by Len Rashkin
Author: By Len Rashkin
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| Upping Your Game Online: An Effective Site Is Steady Sales-Builder In OCS And Vending
Issue: Vol. 53, No. 1, January 2013
The sheer variety of available products can be overwhelming to someone who is assigned to purchasing office breakroom supplies. If you want to capture their attention in the harried office environment, you have to do it with your website... by Christine Grecco
Author: By Christine Grecco
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| Ask, Listen, Sell: Good Questions Invite Answers That Help To Land The Account
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 12, December 2012
The answers you get will let you know if there is any area of service, product or equipment that the buyer is unhappy or concerned about... by Len Rashkin
Author: By Len Rashkin
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| A Well-Guarded - High Rate Of Return - Investment Secret Is Now Available To Small Business Owners
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 12, December 2012
Small business owners have many legitimate complaints these days: taxes, regulations, competition (from home and abroad), can’t find good people. The list goes on and on. Always has. Always will. Say "hello" to life settlements -- an alternative to Wall Street risks... by Irv Blackman
Author: by Irv Blackman
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| Creating Value: Time To Stand Up For Business As Root Of Nation's Prosperity
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 11, November 2012
We are quickly nearing the end of the calendar year, and the Presidential election has been decided, so it's time to start putting our fiscal house in order... by Kevin Daw
Author: by Kevin Daw
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| Getting Through: Learn Techniques For Retaining Control Of Your Presentations
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 11, November 2012
Over the many years that I had been selling office coffee service, I had developed a combination of favorite statements or actions while presenting to a prospective buyer... by Len Rashkin
Author: by Len Rashkin
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| Could The Torrent Of Single-Cup Cartridges Rekindle The Romance Of Bean-To-Cup Brewers?
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 10, October 2012
Many seasoned OCS professionals remember when the biggest day-to-day sales challenges were whether to offer a 1.25-oz. or 1.5-oz. frac-pack and if an account justified the placement of an automatic Bunn VPLF or Bloomfield 8572, or if a VPR or Brewmatic Diplomat would suffice. Now let's fast forward 30 years... by Matt Greenwald
Author: By Matt Greenwald
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| Price Discipline: Emphasize Full Cost Of Sales To Hone Salesforce Performance
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 10, October 2012
The No. 1 argument that continually takes place between salespeople and sales management is caused by management's desire for higher gross profits and the reps' wish for the ability to reduce prices to meet the competition... by Len Rashkin
Author: by Len Rashkin
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| How Much Choice Is Enough? Customer Satisfaction Increases When Operators Clarify Choice
Issue: Vol. 52, No. 10, October 2012
Last month, I discussed the great increase in choices we as an industry have grown to offer our clientele, and what impact that may be having on customers. This month we'll take a look at the negatives of too many choices, and how they affect consumers...by Kevin Daw
Author: by Kevin Daw
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