Category: Micro-Market

A carefully planned and well-stocked micro-market is an employee benefit that isn’t fully appreciated until it is experienced. Employees have access to an inviting and relaxing space with a customizable menu full of products, from fresh food, coffee, healthy alternatives and cold beverages to everyone’s favorite snacks. 

Considering what types of food and beverages are available when and where is an important component for Jacksonville employers to consider when determining a break room’s design and menu. The reason why is related to recent research performed by Packaged Facts, an expert in research and expert analysis. 

According to David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, “There’s a surging fluidity to modern mealtimes. The reality is U.S. adults are increasingly eating differently.” The adults that Sprinkle is referring to are Gen Z (18- to 24-years-old) and Millennials (25- to 34-years-old). 

Not only did the research show that fewer adults are eating “breakfast before 9 a.m., lunch before 1 p.m., and dinner before 8 p.m.” but more participants are eating several smaller meals throughout the day instead of the traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Going back to Jacksonville break rooms and the micro-market; offering a variety of options in your micro-market can meet the needs of employees who consume various meals at both traditional and nontraditional times of the day. 

The first of several reasons why a micro-market is a great option is the overall look and feel of the break room. Each micro-market layout is custom designed to fit your unique space and offers an updated look and shopping experience. With open racks, shelves and glass door coolers, employees can browse and pick up items and read labels before deciding.

Access to the micro-market 24/7 is the second benefit. With modern technology, employees can access snacks, beverages and fresh food at any time of the day whether it’s 10:00 am or 10:00 pm. Self-checkout kiosks, mobile apps and security systems remove the need for additional employees to monitor the break room and keep track of product inventory levels.

The third benefit is that we take care of it all. With fully automated technology, we receive data about real-time product purchases. Using that information, we can rotate in more of the products your Jacksonville employees enjoy and add new products to keep things interesting.

A micro-market is truly a sought-after break room benefit. Access at any time of the day plus a variety of delicious refreshments equals happier employees and a boost in workplace morale. Are you ready to take the next step?

For more information about micro-markets or other break room refreshment options including office coffee service, please contact The Vending Station at (407) 891.7632.

Why should employers consider adding a micro-market to the break room? Because micro-markets have become an integral part of the Orlando and Central Florida break room experience. Not only are there more micro-markets today than there were a few years ago, but micro-markets are projected to continue to see impressive growth.

Many of the benefits enjoyed by Orlando and Central Florida employees and employers after using a micro-market are intangible. For example, a creative break room design with a micro-market is a must-have retention tool for current employees, and a high-value benefit that potential employees seek. Other benefits that are often seen include:

• a boost in employee morale and productivity
• an increase in efficiency because employees stay onsite, and the micro-market is open 24 hours per day
• meeting the needs of those employees who do not work traditional hours
• a bigger space that allows for additional healthy selections

Employees have a lot of options when it comes to choosing where to purchase something to eat or drink during the workday. A micro-market offers a wide selection of fresh food, snacks, and beverages, but as with any retail endeavor, the customers’ preferences, or in this case, your employees’ preferences, need to be considered. Take the time to research and customize a micro-market menu that will keep your Orlando and Central Florida employees coming back.

For example, pizza is a popular meal to include on the menu. A recent survey found that 86 percent of participants would be willing to give something up for a year to have free pizza whenever they want. Americans love pizza. For those employees who are in the mood for something different, a variety of sandwiches, burritos, soups and salads make excellent options. With the extra space available in a micro-market, employees can also enjoy a wide selection of traditional and healthy snacks and beverages, and office coffee service.

Keep your Orlando and Central Florida employees returning to the break room with a micro-market designed by The Vending Station. To learn more about micro-markets or to set up a consultation, please contact us at (407) 891.7632.

Why does is matter if an employer’s break room provides its employees only with services? Isn’t it good enough if the space just fulfills specific employee needs? For example, an employee is thirsty, so they go to the vending machine and purchase a cold beverage. The vending machine provided a service to the employee by delivering the purchased beverage.

The short answer to the previous questions is no, it isn’t enough, and because people or employees are more than just their thirst or hunger.

In 2018, only delivering services in the break room is not enough. Today, the majority of Orlando and Central Florida employees want to feel confident that their employee benefits and perks will have a meaningful and positive impact of their quality of life. In other words, they want to experience that hospitality brings. These benefits and perks often include onsite gyms, dry cleaning, and in-office meal options such as pantry service, a micro-market, or gourmet cafe-style coffee service.

To elevate break room perks beyond being only a service, employers need to add the practice of hospitality into the mix. According to the Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, hospitality is

1. “[the] generous and friendly treatment of visitors and guests” and
2. “the activity of providing food, drinks, etc. for people who are the guests or customers of an organization.”

Jim Sullivan, author, and CEO and founder of Sullivision.com, recently described hospitality as “smiles, sincerity, warmth, [and] connection” and said that “hospitality fulfills people.” After blending hospitality with their Orlando and Central Florida break room, employees can experience an inviting atmosphere that boosts morale, encourages collaboration, and provides a variety of beverages, snacks, and food. But what does this mean in terms of the physical space?

The difference between service and hospitality in a physical space is subtle, but very important. Specific features including updated lighting, plants or other connections to nature, specialty coffee (ex. free-trade or a private label), high-end micro-market fixtures, and locally-made snacks or fresh food are added to the traditional, tangible items like vending machines, coffee equipment, and open racks and glass front coolers. Not only are the needs of thirsty and hungry employees being met, but Orlando and Central Florida employees’ desire for specialty coffee or snacks and a higher-end experience are being fulfilled — and that is hospitality in the break room.

To customize and upgrade the hospitality level in your office break room, call The Vending Station at (407) 891.7632. We look forward to hearing from you.

The micro-market is drawing more Orlando and Central Florida employees into their at-work break room than traditional vending ever has. This increase is great news for both employers and vending operators. Now, the biggest challenge is determining which beverages, snacks, and food options to offer to keep bringing those new customers back.

The solution—understand the mindset of the micro-market shopper.

Before getting to know your Orlando and Central Florida micro-market consumers, it is important to acknowledge the three types of shoppers: traditional, traditional-healthy, and healthy.

Traditional

The traditional consumer usually prefers products that are traditionally found in vending machines. Their go-to place for snacks and beverages, these employees have been making purchases from the break room vending machine since before the micro-market was available. The key to keeping traditional consumers coming back to the micro-market is to offer multiple flavors of their favorite snacks and beverages. 

Traditional-Healthy

The traditional-healthy consumer moves back and forth between the two sides. They express a desire for healthier items, but micro-market sales reports show that they still mostly purchase traditional items. One way to engage traditional-healthy consumers is to offer extensions of familiar items that meet new wellness trends, such as snack items with more protein or smaller calorie packs.

Healthy   

The healthy consumer seeks out snacks, beverages, and meals that are good-for-you or better-for-you. Offering an expanded variety of options, the Orlando and Central Florida micro-market is a viable option for the healthy consumer. The biggest challenge is ensuring that the healthy product offerings are customized enough and, at the same time, broad enough for the majority. Balancing healthy items with traditional ones needs to be done carefully to ensure that the micro-market is profitable.

To learn what your employees are looking for in a micro-market consider asking them the following questions.

• What types of snacks are most appealing? When would you consume them? Do they need to fulfill a purpose such as satisfy a sweet tooth or boost energy?
• What types of beverages would you purchase? When would you consume them? Do they need to fulfill a purpose such as hydration, a caffeine boost, or a meal replacement?
• What type of food would you buy?
• Are you looking for a space that is like a convenience store or a place to sit and interact with colleagues?

By surveying your Orlando and Central Florida employees about one or more topics, it is possible to have a better understanding about what they want. Identify common themes and overlapping results and choose products that meet the needs of at least two types of shopper. Considering why and when a specific item is chosen is another way to ensure that more employees will be able to enjoy it.

And don’t worry. The Vending Station is here to help you design a break room that fits exactly what your Orlando and Central Florida employees are looking for. Whether it’s a micro-market, healthy or traditional vending machines, or gourmet-style coffee service we have a solution for everyone. To learn more, contact us at (407) 891.7632. We look forward to hearing from you.