Planet Antares Elaborates On Planogram Design

Usually, Planogram design is a part of category management. In case you are unaware of it’s meaning, the term category management stands for a system designed to enable you to take advantage of market research in selection of products fro your Planet Antares vending machines.
Three main steps are included in the design of Planogram, consisting of:

a) Identification of product categories
b) Space allocation to each category
c) Deciding on specific products for each category

It is better if you divide these categories into further sub-categories. Designing a Planogram becomes easier if there is lesser number of categories. Still the more categories identified, more the planogram will ensure variety.

Once this has been done, get ready to allocate space in the Planet Antares vending machine. At least one facing should be available for each category. The number of facings will depend on the category sales and how the products fit into the shelf.

You cannot forget the important step of product selection either. You need to consider several factors for this difficult task, such as:

Core products
These are items that sell consistently in all machines and represent 20% of the total product mix.

Cycle products
These are filled in each machine during the menu cycle but changed between such cycles. Majority of the products constitute cycle products.

Choice products
These are items that can be provided for a particular location to meet specific requirements. These are usually less than 20% of the product selection.

Certain vending operators prefer separate Planograms for different accounts according to their nature. On the whole, a Planogram gives you control over what products to be included in the Planet Antares vending machines.

Basics Of Planet Antares Vending Route

While setting up your Planet Antares vending business, you will have to understand and implement various factors. Such information is available on the internet, library or any other source of information.

Undoubtedly, vending operators form the best and first hand source of information about the vending business. They can give you input about any aspect of the vending business from their opinion and experience.

For a thorough insight into the basics of vending route management, you should go out on the vending route with other vending operators. Even vending operators in your neighborhood can help you gather information before starting your Planet Antares vending business.

Despite being your competitors, there are several vending operators who will share this information willingly and may even be ready take you out on a vending route. This allows you to find out about locations that are ideal for snack and beverage vending machines. Different locations are suitable for different vending machines.

If you plan to start a snack or beverage vending business, search for specific locations. As a Planet Antares vendor, you have the advantage of having vending machines that are always in demand in diverse locations.

Also, it is essential to understand how the vending operator relates with the location owner. You can understand the needs of a location only when you have good relations with the owner. Satisfying the location owner is a must for ensuring long term relations with a particular facility and building the image of your vending services.

By going out on a Planet Antares vending route, you can also meet the suppliers who provide the products needed for your vending machines. This way, you can gain knowledge of the products in demand and how they sell.

Moreover, you gain access to and can compare the prices of different products on the vending route. Purchases should be made from a supplier who offers products at a reasonable price so that you can make a decent profit in your Planet Antares vending business.

The secret to successful vending lies in providing quality vending services. This will also ensure the growth and profitability of your vending business. You will get an idea about the kind of servicing that a snack and beverage vending business needs by going out on a vending route. You may even learn how to do some minor repairs on the vending machines.

Product Pricing For Effective Vending

Planet Antares vending machine operators have started using new management tools such as handhelds and Plano grams for tracking product turns with the minimum amount of extra labor. As a result, pricing strategies are being reviewed by Planet Antares vending operators.

Since a few years now, Planet Antares vending operators have been complaining about the inability to raise prices to the same level as other retail channels. Basically, vending product prices are based on the amount of competition and customer contracts. According to many vending operators, a more scientific pricing strategy would improve sales and profits.

One theory suggests that savings should not be passed on to the customers so that you can keep the pricing simple and increase your Planet Antares business bottom line. By doing this, you can slash down prices of certain items without reducing the gross margin. For this, you must ensure that your vending machines are able to draw attention.

Till now, the ‘take out’ customer remains an unexplored option in the vending industry. This presents a huge opportunity for growth and profit maximisation. By procuring support from secondary suppliers, Planet Antares vending operators can lower their dependence on big manufacturers.

Undoubtedly, this is a great time for Planet Antares vending operators to experiment with value pricing. with increasing price consciousness among consumers and higher attention being paid to special offers. There cannot be any other ideal time to do so.

Downsizing has also ked to reduction in location sales. In short, it is the perfect time for vending operators to rethink their pricing strategies.

Building Blocks Of Vending Machines

Usually, there are four major kinds of raw materials that are used to create good quality vending machines such as those provided by Planet Antares Corporation. These include:

• Galvanized steel
• Lexan or other plastic
• Acrylic powder coatings
• Polyurethane insulation

In reality, the equipment is manufactured from galvanized steel ranging from 10 guages to 22 guages in thickness. The outside cabinets, external doors and internal tank are made with thicker gauges. These areas require internal guages for internal door and plates, can stacks and mechanisms such as coin validators and product trays.

On the other hand, the front panels are made with the help of a tough polycarbonate plastic called Lexan. When it comes to thickness, sheets of Lexan in the vending machine can range from 0.13 in to 0.25 in. Considering performance, laxen sheets provide good durability. It is very difficult to break, flame retadant, easy to shape and can be treated to restrict UV rays, light and heat transmission.

Silk screening of product logos, names and illustrations is done on lexan sheets. By reducing energy and replacement costs, you can save a lot of money and hence, improve the life of your Planet Antares vending machines.

Acrylic powder coating is used to paint the surface of the vending machines. It offers the best overall exterior durability and can be formulated into products with excellent chemical, detergent and stain resistance. Hardness and scratch resistance for your Planet Antares vending machines are the other benefits that you will enjoy. It also gives a smooth and high gloss finish for your machine.

For the interiors, Polyurethane foam is used for insulation of the Planet Antares vending machines. It creates a seamless, waterproof, durable covering layer. It also adds structural stability to both the cabinet and the tank of the machine.