This is an open ended question, so run with the idea if you can.

Could anyone help post a picture of vending machine please? ...So we are n the same page.

Now here is the picture.
[img]http://www.goldmedalvending.com/images/Snack%20Vending%20Machines/z-400%20meal%20&%20ice%20cream%20machine%20lg.jpg

[/img]




Vending Machines in Nigeria would be great, but If you install a vending machine in Nigeria, people would just want to try a way of getting free stuff from it. And thus vandalism comes into place. The ATMs in Nigeria speaks for itself, even with the armored design of atms, Nigerian banks still put Armed guards to guard them.

I think Nigeria is not matured for vending machines yet.

Walahi, if vending machines are made in NIgeria...it's not a course, but whoever owns that machines would be ripped-off. They'll definitely find a way to get free stuffs from it. Nigerian hasn't reached that stage yet [just like the guy above me said].
But it's a good idea though.

You would make a lot of money placing vending machines in high end traffic areas like airports, hotels, banks, etc. putting it in a marke place is a bad place because of hooligans, but places where people with cash will pass through a lot, like the ones i mentioned, would be a good idea.

it would have to take only cash though since nigeria has no coins

Hum I think Obong has a point there. Well but what about other factors, such as electricity supply ? Have you taught of that?


And yeah There are cash based Vending machines available. The problem with it, is just that it accepts exact fees only, it does not give change. Once I lost some money in one of the cash based ones, thinking it was going to give me change.


And the programming part is a bit complex i was told by a friend that runs a company providing such services. There where specialised in Reverse Osmosis Ice Cold Water Vending machiens, and it was impressive to note that some of this machines use pentium processors, rather than the normal processor to save cost.

Another alternative would be using call cards, but i have seen people tweak call cards in Nigeria, so I wouldnt really encourage that. Nitel would testify to that with their payphone cards.

There are many alternatives that can be employed, since they can be custom made.

But still a lot of issues really would arise, like products to sell, the kind of denomination to fit, location, electricity supply etc. I still dont think Nigeria is ready for vending machines.

Nigeria only becomes ready for vending machines when they are brought into the country. A good businessman finds a way to adapt it to the environement.

Like I said, keep in it high end places like the Ikoyi club, hospitals, banks (people in line [queues] will apprecate it) and so forth.

We are doing feasibility studies here Obong. ABi. wetin be adaptation strategy? Do you want them do be using batteries. Why should i buy from vending machines, when there are hawkers and kiosks selling at a cheaper price?

There are lot of issues man.

Yes, vending machines will work in Ikoyi or VI, and in bank premises. You want to choose:
- Areas where most of the residents are affluent.
- Locations with security guards in the direct line of site of the vending machines at all times.

Location is important in this business so that there is no competition with street hawkers. Didn't Lagos just banned street hawking in Marina and other places tagged "presidential routes"?

Power supply & cash machine- that will call for innovation. Batteries (dry, wet solar) may be the way to go. Cash-will pre-paid tokens work? Cash cards? The machines can easily be programmed to accept Naira though...

Products must be unbreakable. Then you have the issues of servicing of the machines also.

There are more to the topic than all these. If this is a challenge/competition; how would you make it work? What steps will you take?

Entrepreneurs, where are you?

ok now if you ask me , that how would i implement it if i am giving an opportunity with the alternatives as you stated well. I would have to do the cost analysis. This is because one, we have to consider the cost of running the machines, in ratio of the cost of the product, versus profit per cost price of the sale, in respect to the competitive alternative environment.

But there is still a big question and i would say it requires tackling it objectively. Because we need to really ask ourselves why Vending machines where introduced at the first place? What solutions where they supposed to solve. Do we have such problems currently in Nigeria?

Why would people prefer using vending machines? this I leave it to other forumers to answer.

I think my argument would still be tangible if I do consider a lot of factors, in terms of the profit per sale and margin of returns etc. Still it is really a difficult solution, I must confess.

I guess those that say it would work, can help out here.

I can only solve a problem, if the problem is really a problem that needs to be solved.

A lot of businesses in more affluent communities already use generating sets for their power supply, so it's not as serious an issue as you might think. And apart from special security considerations, most of the other things you need to consider must have been well-documented by implementors of vending machines in countries like the US.

one other thing, remember the quality of naira is nowhere near the same standard of other bank notes. Reading it would be extremely difficult.

kazey, hawkers arent in banks and hospitals and certainly not in hi end places. Start there. I think vending machines are pretty simply and dont need much adaptation.

they were designed to provide fast drinks, snacks, in closed quarters. so if you're indoors for a while, its pretty usefull

Isn't this a solution in search of a problem?

The reason why vending machines are popular in the West is that it is simply too expensive to employ people to do what a vending machine does. This may not be the case in Nigeria where you can pay someone N20,000 per month to do what a vending machine does. So you need to be certain that the cost of running the machine won't exceed that - and with power supply, vandalism and maintenance issues to deal with, that is by no means certain.

Epileptic electricity supply and vandalism are all factors but i think in could work in high commercial buildings like banks

hmm none of the "Its going to be feasible guys" could really hit at it badly afterall.

Well ok today I decided to tackle it myself. First of all Vending Machines are normally targetted to areas where there is the least amount of shops for that specific product besides the large consistent patronage for that specific product, it might be drinks, snacks or even condoms.

Now in Nigeria, if I must implement it. All I have to do is target areas, that do not have problems with stable electricity Supply. The places I am going to mention have generators used consistently. And at the same time, has the potential of getting people to patronise it. Now where would that place be? A place like a golf course (for drinks), A high class sport club (for drinks), A condominium (For condoms and maybe drinks plus snacks), and not forgetting International schools especially places like BITS, Lasore etc (For Snack and Drinks). You don't find Vending machines in bank locations overseas.(Not here in malaysia atleast). Have you wondered why?


Now the price-tags of the products in this areas would be very competitive. To have a high patronage, Rich people in Nigeria, love expensive sophisticated stuff, and thus that would apply in such areas. Besides that, the vending machine would be accepting Nigerian brand new or well maintained currency notes. That shouldnt be a problem in that area too.


Battery wouldnt work efficiently because it would need re-charging, regular maintainance, and possible replacements after a year or so,because of the high usage. I am still wondering what kind of batteries would do the trick. How efficient are your rechargeable lanterns ? What is their batteries lifespan? Even though you only light them up at night? In a scenario where electricity supply goes down for 1 week, what happens?

You dont need armoured guards, to guard the vending machines, all you need is mature, responsible and comfortable or maybe rich people, to be the ones in access to such a service. I am not being discriminative here, this is just the way I see it.

The rest is just marketing to those, that might patronise the products in that area, using flyers etc. I guess thats all for now.

easy, Nigeria's a country that thrives off social class - Find a location(preferrably feel-among spots where everyone dey try claim level) and put it in there, matterfact, this is actually a good idea,. But vending machines in a country that's barely crawling, wont u be knocking the small kiosks and biscuit shops out of the loop here? bad enough they make small profits, now competing with a machine,. hmmm na them go personally vandelize am (provided say u no put am infront of their shop)

I have gone thru everybody's contribution and the only person who has said something positive about our beloved country is Obong. I agree that if these vending machine are put in areas where they will not be vandalized then there is an 80% chance of profit making, someone mentioned the almighty power failure at this age and time do we have to worry about power outage ;If pple are well fed why will they want to vandalized a pop or snack machine when they can afford it; I am not saying advanced countries do not go thru these kind of problems but it is very minimal. This makes me very sad , I do hope our leaders will see these things and make a change other than concentrating our resources on their selfish personal needs.

GOD HELP US!!!

There is a vending machine at the Island Maternity hospital, on Lagos Island. Its been there for about a year and its still working.

Good thinking but you did not mention the ratio of coverage. How many physical machines do you want to distribute? 10 or 10000 it makes a difference? who do you want to target, agegroup/class/proffession

The Whole nation or just one highclass spot. Well you are currently trying to solve "an old age problem" in Nigeria. That is, doing business with almost no human interaction. If the Mobile Phone industry has done it then you can. I mean people buy vouchers and credit their phones. When they do this, they are communicating with a V.machine, likewise your vending machine.

Now the business issue on profitability depends on the PPP. Price/Product/Place So this is what i believe your question is asking. The word Generating means how much can you make and not if it will work. Of course it will work as far as you look after your PPP. I must say that the main reason why the main brewers have not tried yet is b/c they have not yet researched it. It only takes someone to start and everybody will jump in.

As for Power Supply it will not be your problem. Please tell me does cocacola worry if you sell cold or hot coke.

Anyway let me make my suggestions on the PPP
Price --- less than 10% of local street traders
Product --- Scarce Canned Fruit Juices
Place --- Cyber Cafes (They will buy your franchise<machine> and you just
supply the drinks)

For those who don't know, the computers in cybercafes are all vending machines. You use it to visit internet sites e.t.c So please tell me does it take Naira (notes or coins) and have the "areaboys" seized it. NO! All you need is a password finish...

Currently I am trying to develope a Cybercafe network so that things like this can be Implemented easily. see my posting under internet -- cybercafe network. All The Best.....

i think vending machines will be gr8 back home but they'll have to be security 24/7

my dear i saw one on.

In the movie "black bra". There was a vending machine, i was like WHOAAAAAA!!! THAT'S TIGHT MEHN.

for real? i watched the movie before but i didn't it

u prolly weren't paying attention.

it was when two of the girls i think it was oge n some other girl, or her friends sha, they were coming out of the school place, the machine was by the left. I can still see the picture in my head now.

hello

checkout this vending machine

hello!
i'm new on this site; i'm about to set up a vending machine in Benin, state next to Nigeria state.
does it exist companies that operate in this business in Nigeria? can somebody help me to have their contact?
thanks

I know there are a lot of people having their own vending is a good business. Those machines are easy to use and really easy to buy. There will be no conversation will be made if the customer wants to buy some items in the machine.

... .ok