april2024 - 49

For the team at First
Class Vending, only time
will tell if frictionless
stores are the next
evolution for the industry.
make it more affordable. " We've got
one foot in and the other foot will go
in soon as we see more sales and see
if the pricing goes down, " he said.
Despite the barrier to entry, he
believes the concept is working well
so far, and he sees a future in it.
" They are designed for honest people
to make a purchase and for dishonest
people to not be able to use them, " he
continued. " That part of it works. "
Another issue he has seen come
up is the label that these stores are
given. " We've had customers treat
this like vending and micro markets
and say we are good to launch the
concept, while others don't know
what to call it and then designate
it as retail, which requires extra
permits. So, it matters who you're
working with and what they consider
it, " continued Matthew. " Is it a retail
store? No. Is it vending? No. "
Another thing he has noticed is
that the software of the frictionless
store isn't integrating with traditional
vending software, which he believes
will need to happen before more
operators in the industry adopt this
new model.
VENDING OF THE FUTURE
Since 1994, First Class Vending
has shown a proclivity to succeed.
When Matthew first started
with soda machines, he doubled
his business by adding a snack
machine next to each one. When
micro markets were introduced, he
became an early adopter and still
believes in them today.
" Vending isn't just vending
anymore, " Matthew said. " It's
micro markets, locking coolers,
and walk-out technology such as
frictionless vending. "
Throughout its 30 years in
the industry, First Class Vending
has redefined and re-evaluated
the services it provides, all for
the benefit of the customer. " We
have been pivoting since day one, "
said Michelle. " We have been
re-evaluating on a continuous
basis because we don't want to be
on autopilot and we don't want to
become comfortable. " ■
READY TO SELL YET?
Mike Ferguson has over 34+ years Vending & OCS industry experience, as an
ex-operator and owner turned intermediary business broker to assist you in
selling your business. I speak fluent Vending and Office Coffee.
2020
All conversations
are confidential!
Contact Mike@VMACsolutions.com or 713-569-6463
April 2024 * VendingMarketWatch.com 49
2403AUTM_VMACSolutions.indd 1
1/30/24 4:23 PM

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
april2024 - 44
april2024 - 45
april2024 - 46
april2024 - 47
april2024 - 48
april2024 - 49
april2024 - Social Hubs
april2024 - 51
april2024 - 52
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/june-july-2023
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/february-march-2023
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/september-october-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/june-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/april_2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/february-march-2022
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/october-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/September_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/august2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/automatic_merchandiser_june-july_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/automatic_merchandiser_april_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/automatic_merchandiser_february-march_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/AUTM_1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/september2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/august2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/junejuly2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/Automatic_Merchandiser_February-March_2020
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https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/endeavor/automaticmerchandiser/februarymarch2019
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