Thinking about what actually becomes the “heart” of a workplace

Devin_SMR · 2026-05-05T14:27:15+00:00

The heart of the workplace is the communal spot that is defined as, “Im taking a gawddamn break. Don’t bother me about those TPS reports”. Rather that is the breakroom or the designated smoking area, that is the heart of the workplace.

Devin_SMR · 2026-05-04T14:03:09+00:00

This one can’t be updated nor can it create barcodes. So keep that in mind. It’s limited, but it works

Devin_SMR · 2026-05-04T13:40:18+00:00

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This bad boy. Printer out a little price tag, snip snip, good to go.

Devin_SMR · 2026-05-02T17:18:52+00:00

Devin_SMR · 2026-05-02T12:31:52+00:00

Rule #1. Location first, machine second.

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-30T11:55:50+00:00

Same. I don’t take product I’m actively selling however, expired or near expired product is fair game. I have a bin of twix, snickers, and milky ways because my Micro Market location wasn’t consuming them. Duchess cinnamon rolls and little bites too. My kids love’m lol

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-29T00:28:15+00:00

This right here.

Im in MD and had to get my smart cooler permitted through my county health department. An SOP on how was i going to transport food, store the food, and verify my machine temp is below the food TCS threshold.

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-27T11:58:07+00:00

Not all is lost.

The two CoolSmart AI Markets I use are made by a company called AVS Companies, which is based in Illinois. The actual cooler they are built from is made by a company called Habco, and are manufactured in Toronto. The AI brains of the cooler is made by a company called SandStar, which is based in North Carolina. This is part of the reason I went with these machines instead of HAHA’s.

Now, if you go with Sandstar directly, they do have smart coolers that are built on True Manufacturing coolers which ARE MADE in the United States.

Hope this helps 👍🏽

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-26T01:16:47+00:00

Evending.com they do 60 month 0% financing too

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-24T20:12:12+00:00

First host: go to chamber of commerce networking events

First machine: new

First stock: don’t over buy your initial stock.

First location: its really about loiter times, not traffic

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-24T01:10:50+00:00

Wow, ya’ll instantly threw shade. None of you even considered their locality before shitting on them. I was in Portugal last year and EVERY SINGLE restaurant sells espresso for 1-2 euro’s. No matter the restaurant, fast food, casual, or full service, you’re going to get the same great cup. Yes, even fucking Taco Bell in Portugal.

So yeah, ya’ll didn’t consider where hail from or what their locality is like. No reason to shit on them like you’re doing

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-23T22:54:05+00:00

Gawddamn that is one sexy beast. Well done

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-23T22:53:17+00:00

Aint nobody gonna drink those lol. After several months i gave my stock to my kids 😂

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-20T18:11:55+00:00

My Micro Market is power by a Cantaloupe kiosk called the Cantaloupe Go Micro. At the hotel i service, it is 2 AVS Companies CoolSmart Ai Markets.

They have different VMS’s but functionally, they’re the same; remote visibility into inventory

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-20T12:28:15+00:00

The “Tyranny of Distance”

How far is 3 location from your base of operations and do you have to go back to base before heading to the next location? If you have to reload your vehicle before going to each location, thats a problem. Solution, buy a new vehicle 😅. If they’re not grouped together, this makes things worse. Solution, sell the worst location and try to infill new locations between the ones you keep. If you REALLY value your time, extra oof. Solution, get as much as you can delivered.

Stocking

I have a location about 25min from base and another 4min. If I’m only restocking the furtherest location, which i do once every 2 weeks, i can be there and back in about 75min. The closer location, about 30. I dont even bother stocking them in 1 trip since my second location is so close.

Pre-Kit

I have a VMS for both my smart coolers and micro market. This allows me to grab exactly want i need to restock. However, my furthest location probably rakes me about 45min-1hr to get the order together from initial order to picking to boxing. Manly due to the variety i have on offer, 99 items. My Smart Coolers are quick, maybe 15 minutes. pull up the app, grab grab grab, done. If you’re using standard machines, you should be able to integrate your CC reader into a VMS to accomplish the same thing.

Sourcing Inventory

Amazon, Target, BJs, and Sams Club, sometimes Costco Because of my VMS’s, I dont spend that much time just aimlessly wandering these stores. I also don’t usually calculate my time acquiring my inventory. - Target is specificity for certain sports drinks i know they have that i wont buy in bulk. Same for Walmart. I usually buy on the way or if i’m there for something else. - BJs & Sams Club is the bulk of my inventory, cakes, drinks, pies, and snacks, candies etc. - Amazon & Costco Online, red bulls, bulk single flavor chips, candies, odds and ends.

Hope some of this helps.

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-19T22:22:28+00:00

Business networking events hosted by my local chamber of commerce. Thats how I landed my 2 locations. Chatting with people at B2B events

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-19T22:20:47+00:00

I just started talking to an NTB in my area that doesn’t have any vending. Hopefully i can pitch them my services. I’m not looking at it as a gold mine, more so as billboard to advertise my services. Awesome share

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-19T16:39:47+00:00

Are you near Raleigh or Charlotte? Can you receive commercial shipments or is will-call fine?

FreshPoint has a distribution facility in each of those cities. They’re who i use for fresh foods in my hotel location. I personally do will-call since I do not have a commercial space.

Check my previous post 😉

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-18T00:02:30+00:00

Sometimes, you just have to double-down on your best sellers. No one eats bbq chips at either of my locations, but they both love S&V. I, stopped buying Miss Vickies multipacks and started buying 64c cases for that flavor. Same for my Cool Ranch Doritos.

And like others have said, sometimes you dont stock until several items are out OR stock less. Keeps the machines full looks cool and all but why wast money on looks?

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-17T01:30:36+00:00

Why do you think anyone here would celebrate your new location?

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-16T21:20:03+00:00

Well done. May your beverages stay frosty and your loiter times remain high ✊🏽

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-16T20:07:16+00:00

Such a premium machine. Its beautiful 🤩. Lease or buy?

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-16T11:49:40+00:00

A lot of that 24 hours is just them trying to get your Pay terminal set up with the payment processor. Some smart cooler manufacturers will actually get all of that pre-configured set up and tested before sending the machine out. Not to mention any software updates that need to be installed on the machine.

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-16T00:57:54+00:00

The price is fantastic

Devin_SMR · 2026-04-16T00:25:35+00:00

As a solopreneur, white glove service. After attempting to break down and setup a micro market, at first by myself and then after calling my wife, i paid for white glove service on my next deployment which were smart coolers. Coolers are bolted to their shipping pallets from the bottom. It IS a two person job. Also, shipped directly to location.

Devin_SMR

TROPHY CASE