Cashing in from water and ice - Are you leaving money on the table?

The ongoing opportunity for operators that exists from point of use water system and ice machine rentals is no secret to experienced operators. Equipment innovation is further enhancing the revenue potential.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, the podcast for the convenience services industry – produced by Endeavor Business Media, a Division of EndeavorB2B, host Bob Tullio talked to several industry experts about at wonderful aspect of the OCS business – water, ice and filtration. This podcast is based on an article Tullio wrote for Vending Today – available on Vending Market Watch. Com and the newest issue of Automatic Merchandiser Magazine. This podcast takes a deeper dive.

Tullio shares with listeners about how he discovered the water and ice business.

"As an operator, I kind of stumbled into the point of use water, ice and filtration business – once considered to be a very ancillary part of the OCS industry. It reminded me of the days when I rented pool tables and juke boxes (the kind with 45’s and CD’s) not the internet versions we see today. As an operator, you would pick up $35 every week from the bar owner, change a few records to the delight of the daytime bar patrons, and be on your way. A slow drip of revenue - $1800 or so, for a juke box that cost about $1000 to begin with. Year after year – a steady return on investment," he explained.

"Much like the point of use water business. Steady revenue, it’s like a annuity. It may be the best thing going in the OCS business. But early on in my ocs sales career, I saw the power of filtered water when I convinced E Entertainment Television to switch from $6000 a month in bottled water to $600 a month in point of use water and they rewarded my brilliant idea by giving us the OCS business – quite an account for our growing company."

Eight industry experts who were interviewed on the podcast:

Orrin Huebner - Consultant

David Henchel - Corporate Coffee Systems

Joanna Choi - Bevi

Davin Wickstrom - Vivreau

Matt Dudley - Marco Beverage Systems

Steve Silha - F&B Innovation Group

Brian Zekesky - Follett Products

Gary Arwin - Gator Refresh