If you are thinking about a vending machine Burnaby location, here is the short answer. The buildings that benefit most are the ones where people spend several hours at a time and can't easily step out to a store. Offices, gyms, campuses, clinics, hotels and residential towers all fit that description. With a free placement model, the host does not buy or lease anything. The operator supplies, stocks and services the machine, and the location earns a share of the sales. Below is how to tell whether your site is a good fit, how free placement works, and what to ask before you agree to anything.
Which Burnaby locations benefit most
Burnaby has a mix of office towers, business parks, light industrial sites, campuses and high-rise residential buildings. Many of them share the same gap: people are on site for long stretches, and the nearest coffee shop or convenience store is a drive, an elevator ride and a walk, or simply closed when they need it.
Offices and workplaces
Staff want a cold drink or a snack without leaving the building. A machine in a break room or near the elevators saves them a trip and keeps them close to their desks. Sites with shift work, such as warehouses and production floors, often benefit the most because staff on evening or overnight shifts have few other options.
Gyms and studios
Members finishing a workout want water, a sports drink or a protein-style snack right away. A machine near the front desk or the change rooms lets the gym offer that without staffing a counter or managing stock.
Schools and campuses
Students and staff keep irregular hours, and cafeterias have set opening times. A machine in a common area or study space covers the hours in between. Product choices for schools usually need extra thought, so check what your school or district allows.
Clinics, hotels and residential buildings
Waiting rooms, hotel lobbies and condo or rental buildings all have people who need something small and quick. In a hotel, a lobby machine serves guests arriving late. In a residential building, it gives residents a convenience option without leaving home.
Public and retail spaces
Locations with steady foot traffic, such as recreation areas or shopping spaces, can support a machine as long as there is a safe, visible spot for it. You can see more examples on our locations page.
Signs your site is a good fit
Before you contact any operator, run through this quick checklist:
- Regular traffic: people pass the spot every day, not just occasionally. Busier locations tend to sell more.
- Long stays: people spend hours on site, through shifts, classes, workouts or appointments.
- Limited nearby options: the closest store or café is a walk away, or closed during some of your hours.
- A suitable spot: an indoor area with a standard power outlet, a level floor and room for people to stand in front of the machine.
- Approval in place: you own the space, or you can get permission from your landlord, property manager or strata.
If you can tick most of these, your site is worth a conversation with a Burnaby vending company.
Free vending machine Burnaby placement: how it works
Free placement is the most common question we hear, so here is how it works with Smartec Vending, which has been operating for over three years and currently serves Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey:
- You request a machine. Fill in the contact form with your location details.
- The location is reviewed. We look at the spot, the traffic and who will be using the machine.
- The product mix is chosen. The selection is customised for your site from more than 250 products, including cold drinks, chips, chocolate bars, candy, cookies, pastries, nuts, healthy snacks, and gum and mints. You can browse the range on our products page, and registered locations can save a list of preferred items.
- Delivery and installation are free. There is no purchase, no lease and no monthly fee.
- The machine is fully managed. Stocking, restocking, servicing and repairs are handled for you.
- You earn a share of the revenue. The host location earns a share of every sale. The share is discussed for each location rather than set as one published figure.
The details of our vending services in Burnaby are on the solutions page.
What smart vending adds over an older machine
Smart vending in Burnaby means more than a newer cabinet. Our machines have a large HD touchscreen that makes browsing easy and can show video or promotions. Payment is cashless, with cards, mobile wallets and contactless tap-to-pay, so nobody has to hunt for coins. Vend sensors confirm that a product actually dropped, which cuts down on the frustration of a stuck snack. Cellular connectivity and remote inventory monitoring let the operator see what is selling and what is running low without waiting for someone to report it. The steel, locking cabinet is built for shared spaces, and the machine can be branded to suit your location.
Questions to ask any Burnaby vending company
Whoever you talk to, these questions will help you compare offers:
- Is there any cost to me, now or later, for the machine, delivery or installation?
- How is the revenue share worked out for my location?
- How often will the machine be restocked, and how do I report a problem?
- Can the product mix be changed if staff or residents ask for different items?
- What payment methods does the machine accept?
- What are the terms if I want the machine removed?
Get the answers in writing, and be cautious of any operator who promises a specific sales figure, since sales depend on the location.
Check with your landlord or strata first
Leases and strata rules can limit what goes in common areas, and some sites have their own rules about food or equipment. Check with your landlord, property manager, strata council or the City of Burnaby before you commit. It is a quick step that avoids problems later.
Outside Burnaby, New Westminster or Surrey?
Smartec is expanding across the Lower Mainland. If your building is elsewhere in BC, you are still welcome to ask about your location.
If your Burnaby, New Westminster or Surrey site fits the checklist above, request a free machine through the contact form and tell us a little about your space. We will follow up to talk through the location, the product mix and your revenue share.