If you’re looking to buy a vending machine for your business, one of the first decisions is where the machine will go and how much space you have available.
Traditional freestanding vending machines can be useful, but they can also take up a significant amount of valuable floor space. For businesses with limited room, a wall-mounted vending machine or table-top vending machine can provide another option.
At BoothStation, we design and manufacture vending machines around the space they’re going into, the products they need to dispense and the way customers want to pay.
Our machines are custom drawn, custom designed and custom built, with features including product-specific vending coils, removable shelves and a choice of payment options including Nayax, card and coin systems.
If you’re considering a vending machine for your business, you can also view our full range of BoothStation vending machines to compare the different formats available.
Here’s what to consider when choosing a vending machine for your business.
What is a wall-mounted vending machine?
A wall-mounted vending machine is a compact vending unit designed to be fixed to a suitable wall rather than standing on the floor.
This makes it particularly useful for businesses where floor space is limited.
Wall-mounted vending machines can be considered for locations such as:
- Gyms and fitness centres
- Hotels and accommodation
- Offices and workplaces
- Salons and barbershops
- Reception areas
- Leisure facilities
- Studios
- Staff rooms and canteens
- Small retail premises
- Other commercial spaces with suitable wall space
The advantage is simple: instead of giving up a large section of your floor, you can use wall space that may otherwise be unused.
For some businesses, that can make vending possible where a conventional freestanding machine simply wouldn’t fit.
Our 32-Inch Smart Wall-Mounted & Table Top Vending Machine has been designed specifically for businesses looking for a compact vending solution that can be wall mounted or used as a table-top machine.
What is a table-top vending machine?
A table-top vending machine uses the same basic vending concept but is designed to sit on a suitable counter, table or other stable surface.
This can work particularly well in reception areas, shops, hospitality environments, events and other locations where counter space is available but floor space is limited.
At BoothStation, our wall-mounted and table-top formats use the same core approach to vending, while allowing the machine to be configured around the location and products being sold.
For businesses looking for an even smaller vending solution, our Small Compact Digital Vending Machine is another option to consider where space is particularly limited.
Why choose a custom vending machine?
When buying a vending machine, it’s easy to focus on the headline specifications: screen size, capacity, payment system and power consumption.
Those specifications matter, but they don’t tell you everything.
A vending machine also needs to work with the products you actually intend to sell and the space where you intend to install it.
A machine designed around generic products may not be the best solution if you’re selling unusual sizes, heavier items or a mixture of different products.
That’s why we start with the application rather than simply selecting a machine from a catalogue.
Step 1: We custom draw your vending machine
Before manufacturing begins, we create drawings for the machine.
The design can take into account:
- Overall machine dimensions
- Wall mounting and fixing requirements
- Shelf positions
- Product dimensions
- Touchscreen position
- Payment hardware
- Door clearance
- Available installation space
- Internal product layout
This is particularly important with a wall-mounted vending machine because the available wall space and surrounding area need to be considered before anything is manufactured.
The position of a power socket, the height of the machine and the space required to open the door can all affect installation.
By designing the machine before manufacturing, we can identify these requirements early rather than trying to solve them after the machine has been built.
If you already know where your machine will be installed, our 32-Inch Smart Wall-Mounted & Table Top Vending Machine is a good example of the type of compact configuration that can be designed around a specific location.
Step 2: We design the machine around your products
The products you’re selling should influence the internal design of your vending machine.
For example, a machine selling protein bars and small fitness products may require a different configuration from one selling bottled drinks or a selection of snacks.
The shelf arrangement, product spacing and vending mechanism all need to work together.
We can design the internal layout around your intended product range, rather than expecting you to change your products to suit a standard configuration.
Removable shelves
Product ranges can change over time.
That’s why removable or reconfigurable shelves can be useful. Depending on the configuration, shelves can be removed to create additional space for taller products or changed as your product range develops.
This gives you more flexibility than a fixed internal layout.
If you’re looking for a machine that can be adapted to different products and locations, you can view the BoothStation wall-mounted and table-top vending machine and see the available configuration options.
Step 3: The vending coils are designed around the products
One of the most important parts of a coil-based vending machine is also one of the easiest to overlook: the vending coil.
The coil is the spiral mechanism that moves the product towards the dispensing area.
Its dimensions and configuration can affect how a product sits in the machine and how reliably it is dispensed.
A standard coil may work well for some products but be less suitable for others.
That’s why we look at the products being sold when specifying the coils.
Factors such as:
- Product width
- Product height
- Product depth
- Product weight
- Product shape
- Packaging
can all affect the appropriate configuration.
Rather than simply selecting a standard coil and asking you to work around it, we can specify coils around the products you’re planning to stock.
That can be particularly useful when vending products that don’t fit a conventional snack or drinks-machine format.
Why do vending machine coils matter?
A vending machine isn’t much use if the product doesn’t dispense reliably.
The relationship between the product, shelf and vending mechanism is therefore an important part of the machine design.
Getting this right can help reduce problems such as products becoming stuck, falling incorrectly or multiple products being dispensed.
For a business owner, reliable dispensing matters because every failed vend can potentially mean a refund, wasted stock and a poor customer experience.
That’s why we consider the products before finalising the vending configuration.
Choosing payment options for your vending machine
Payment is another important consideration when buying a commercial vending machine.
Different locations have different customer expectations.
Some businesses may want a completely cashless vending machine, while others may still want customers to have the option of paying with coins or cash.
Our machines can be configured with payment options including Nayax and coin or cash systems, depending on the requirements of the installation.
Nayax and cashless vending
Nayax provides payment technology for unattended retail and vending, including contactless payment options.
For businesses looking to operate a cashless vending machine, card and mobile payment can make purchasing more convenient for customers.
Cashless payment can also be useful for operators who want greater visibility over transactions and machine activity, depending on the payment and management system being used.
Coin and cash payment
Cashless isn’t necessarily the right solution for every location.
Some environments still benefit from coin or cash payment options, so these can also be considered when specifying the machine.
The important thing is to choose the payment system based on the customers and location rather than treating payment as an afterthought.
How much electricity does a vending machine use?
Power consumption is another factor worth considering when buying a vending machine.
Our machines are designed around a 60W power draw.
At 60 watts, continuous operation would equate to approximately 1.44 kWh over 24 hours, although actual energy consumption can vary depending on how the machine operates and the equipment installed.
To calculate the approximate electricity cost for your location, multiply the machine’s energy consumption by your electricity tariff.
Considering power consumption before buying can help you understand the ongoing operating costs alongside stock, payment processing, servicing and other expenses.
Wall-mounted vs freestanding vending machines
A wall-mounted vending machine isn’t automatically the right choice for every location.
The best format depends on the available space, products, expected usage and installation requirements.
Wall-mounted vending machines
A wall-mounted format may be worth considering when:
- Floor space is limited
- Suitable wall space is available
- You want a compact installation
- You want vending in a reception or corridor area
- You need a machine designed around a particular location
Our 32-Inch Smart Wall-Mounted & Table Top Vending Machine is designed for businesses looking for this type of flexible, compact vending solution.
Table-top vending machines
A table-top format may be suitable when:
- Counter space is available
- Floor space is limited
- The machine needs to sit on a reception or retail counter
- You want a compact vending setup
- The location is temporary or changes regularly
If you need something particularly compact, the Small Compact Digital Vending Machine is another BoothStation option to explore.
Freestanding vending machines
Traditional floor-standing machines can still make sense where there is sufficient floor space and a larger product capacity is required.
The important thing is to choose the format based on the location and business requirements rather than assuming that one machine type suits every application.
Can you start a vending machine business with wall-mounted machines?
Yes, a wall-mounted vending machine can form part of a vending business, provided you have a suitable location and the machine is appropriate for the products and customers you intend to serve.
The machine itself is only one part of the business.
Before buying, consider:
- Location — Is there enough customer traffic to justify vending?
- Products — What are people likely to buy at that location?
- Pricing — What price can the market support?
- Stock — How frequently will you need to replenish the machine?
- Payment — Will customers expect card, mobile or cash payment?
- Power — Is a suitable power supply available?
- Installation — Is the wall or surface suitable for the machine?
- Maintenance — How will you deal with servicing and faults?
- Operating costs — Have you considered electricity, payment processing, stock and other ongoing costs?
There is no single vending-machine business model that works in every location. The economics depend heavily on the site, customer demand, product selection, pricing and operating costs.
If you’re researching different machines before starting a vending business, you can browse the full BoothStation vending machine range and compare the different formats.
What should you ask before buying a vending machine?
If you’re comparing vending machines for sale, don’t just compare the headline specifications.
Ask the manufacturer:
1. Can the machine be designed around my products?
Your product range should be compatible with the shelves and vending mechanisms.
2. Can I see the machine drawing before manufacture?
A drawing can help you understand how the machine will fit your space and how the internal layout will work.
3. Can the vending coils be specified for my products?
This is particularly important if you sell products with unusual dimensions or weights.
4. Can the shelves be removed or reconfigured?
Flexibility can become important as your product range changes.
5. What payment systems are available?
Find out whether the machine supports the payment methods your customers are likely to use.
6. What are the power requirements?
Make sure you understand the electrical requirements before installation.
7. What happens after the machine is installed?
Ask about warranty, servicing, technical support and replacement parts.
These questions can help you compare manufacturers on more than just price.
Other BoothStation vending machines
Not every business needs the same vending machine.
Alongside our wall-mounted and table-top option, BoothStation offers other vending formats for different applications.
For example, the BoothBlast LED Vending Machine provides a more visually distinctive vending format that can be considered where presentation and visibility are important.
You can also view the complete BoothStation vending machine range to see the different machines available.
Why BoothStation builds vending machines differently
At BoothStation, we don’t believe every business should have to adapt its products and premises to fit a standard vending machine.
We start with the application.
We look at where the machine is going, what you want to sell, how customers will pay and how the machine needs to be configured.
From there, we can custom draw and design the machine before manufacturing.
That includes the overall dimensions, product layout, shelves, payment hardware and vending mechanisms.
Our wall-mounted and table-top vending machines are designed to provide a compact vending solution for businesses that don’t necessarily have space for a traditional freestanding cabinet.
Looking to buy a wall-mounted or table-top vending machine?
If you’re considering buying a vending machine for your business, start with the products and location rather than simply choosing a machine from a catalogue.
Tell us:
- What products you want to sell
- Where the machine will be installed
- The approximate space available
- How customers will pay
- Any unusual product sizes or requirements
We’ll start with the design and work through the configuration with you.
A vending machine should fit your business — not the other way around.