Freezer Give Away

Summertime is here!!! Vend X and Mrs. Freshley are giving customers a chance to win a brand new Chest Freezer in the month of June!! All you need to do is purchase 200 units of any Freshley product (not 200 cases...only 200units) and you will be entered to win a brand new Frigidaire freezer!! The actual freezer is in our Auburn warehouse location, so stop in buy some pastry and you will be entered to win!!!

Let's Succeed Together
   Curt Wokal
Curt@VendX.net

The unknown vendor

This guy was spotted filling vending machines in the Portland Or. Area!! Thanks for the props!! And keep your eyes open for exclusive Vend X products at your local vending machines!!

Need Repairs or Equipment?

Hey peeps, I wanted to give you a heads up on a local family owned vending equipment sales and repair company right here in Kent. Coin Tech Services is a dependable, honest company that goes out of their way to make sure that you are fully satisfied with anything that they do for your vending business. Len and Laura have been in the vending equipment and repair business for longer than ......well a very long time. Everyone that we have talked to about them have nothing but kind words about the services they provide. Vend X highly recommends that if you are in need or in the market for equipment or repairs these are the people that you need to contact! I'm sure that they would be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have and if they don't have the answer, they will surely point you in the right direction to find the answers you need. So stop by or give them a call today!! They are located at 8901 S 228th St Kent, WA 98031. Their phone number is 253.856.0879  They are open Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm. Remember any equipment your looking for or any repairs you may need, these guys are local and very reasonable. Have a super-fantastic vending day!!


Let's Succeed Together
     Curt Wokal
Curt@VendX.net

Hey Peeps I decided that I was going to start re-posting Inspirational stories of exceptional people or situations that I find threw out the web that inspire us here at Vend-X to be the best that we can possibly be. I do this quite a lot on my Twitter account and the response for more has been overwhelming so..........Here ya go. If you just read and find yourself in the same funk or circumstance as these exceptionally inspirational people/stories and take their message to heart there is no doubt that you will find the Panache within in you to be successful at whatever you do! Enjoy


Jill Blashack Strahan
Tastefully Simple

Blashack Strahan started her gourmet food company with $6,000 in savings, a backyard shed for storage, and a pool table as a packing station.
In her own words: “I remember sitting outside one day, thinking we were three months behind on our house payment, I had two employees I couldn’t pay, and I ought to get a real job. But then I thought, No, this is your dream. Recommit and get to work.”
She had the idea to sell at taste-testing parties, and sales began slowly picking up. In 12 years, Tastefully Simple has grown into a $120 million dollar business. ()

This Re-Post of the  story on Jill Blachack Strahan came from the website BusinessPundit.com.



Let's Succeed Together
        Curt Wokal
    Curt@VendX.net

New Cloverhill Minis

Available For shipping Feb 15th these little guys are sure to please your most finiky pastry eaters and with a cost of below .50 they are sure to please your customers wallets as well!! While using my lovely wife as my own personal guiney pig for taste testing. Her response was "yummy, they remind me of cookie dough" ! I looove cookie dough, how about you?

Let's Succeed Together
       Curt
Curt@VendX.net

A Brief Word From Mr. Cosby

"I'm 76 and I'm Tired" I'm 76 . Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard   since I was 17. Except for some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired. I'm tired   of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.          I'm tired   of being told that Islam is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honor"; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.    I'm tired   of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia , New Zealand , UK , America and Canada , while no one from these countries are allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance..   I'm tired   of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. I'm tired   of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?     I'm tired   of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor. I'm really tired   of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems. I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's be-deck themselves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government. Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 76.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and her children.   Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in. There is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on! This is your chance to make a difference. " I'm 76 and I'm tired.    If you don't forward this you are part of  the problem". Let's Succeed Together           Curt Curt@VendX.net

NOW CARRYING MRS.FRESHLEY PRODUCTS

Vend X is pleased to announce that we are now carrying several Mrs.Freshley products to help your machine pastry sales soar!!! We have everything from those yummy chocolate cupcakes to fruity cherry pies and at a normal book price of .54 a unit your profits are going to be as heavenly as those wonderful Golden creme cakes that we carry as well !! This month Mrs.Freshley is also giving all their customers .05 off a unit on their Variety pack mini donuts! That means when you buy your donuts from Vend X Distributing your cost will be less than .50 cents !! So come on in and taste, sample, purchase all of the Mrs.Freshley products your customers are feening for. We will see you soon and enjoy.


Let's Succeed Together
         Curt 
Curt@VendX.net                                                                   

The Hotel

One stormy night many years ago, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. Trying to get out of the rain, the couple approached the front desk hoping to get some shelter for the night.
"Could you possibly give us a room here?" the husband asked. The clerk, a friendly man with a winning smile, looked at the couple and explained that there were three conventions in town. "All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said. "But I can't send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o'clock in the morning.
Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not exactly a suite, but it will be good enough to make you folks comfortable for the night."
When the couple declined, the young man pressed on. "Don't worry about me; I'll make out just fine," the clerk told them. So the couple agreed. As he paid his bill the next morning, the elderly man said to the clerk, "You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one for you."
The clerk looked at them and smiled. The three of them had a good laugh.
As they drove away, the elderly couple agreed that the helpful clerk was indeed exceptional, as finding people who are both friendly and helpful isn't easy.
Two years passed. The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the old man. It recalled that stormy night and enclosed a round- trip ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay them a visit.
The old man met him in New York. He then pointed to a great new building there, a palace of reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky. "That," said the older man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage. "You must be joking," the young man said. "I can assure you I am not," said the older man, a sly smile playing around his mouth.
The older man's name was William Waldorf Astor, and the magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt. This young clerk never foresaw the turn of events that would lead him to become the manager of one of the world's most glamorous hotels.

This Holiday season it is more important than ever to have patience and show respect to those people that we come in contact with on an occasional basis. You never know what life has in store for them.....or you! God Bless and Merry Christmas

Foxes On Sale for December at Vend X

Hey guys, for the whole month of December all F&F foods products that Vend X carries is on sale for .15 cents a roll!! This includes 5 Flavor and peppermint and wintergreen Mints!! Come in and stock up while supplies last!!!  Merry Christmas from all of us here at Vend X !!!!


Let's Succeed Together
          Curt
Curt@VendX.net

Happy Wednesday peeps!! What are YOU doing for your customers today? Even if its not "saving" them money, you should at least be reaching out and telling them "Happy Wednesday" and offering your support for a prosperous and healthy rest of the week!! Keep smilin' and don't let them beat you up to bad!!



Let's Succeed Together
         Curt
Curt@VendX.net

SATURDAY AUGUST 20, 2011 NAVA ANNUAL MEETING

We just wanted to give an update on how the meeting is going here in Ska mania. Personally I feel that this has been one of the more informative Annual meetings that I have attended in the last 10 years. As you might have noticed from my previous post (s) that I haven't always been a real strong advocate of Nava but as also stated in my previous post things are changing, things are on the move. All for one for the greater good of the industry so....Kudo's to this years Nava Board for making this meeting a much needed breath of fresh air and positive growth experience. As NBC always says " The More You Know". Like I said before you guys let us know what more info that you guys would like to know about Nava and all the good that they are trying and succeeding in doing for our industry and also not only in the Northwest but they have a far reaching network of professionals in the industry that are always there to help you and your business.


Let's Succeed Together
   Curt & Shara
Curt@VendX.net
Shara@VendX.net

2011 NAVA DINNER/AUCTION WITH PAST PRESIDENTS

 Last night we had a great turn out for the Annual Nava Dinner and Auction. This year was kind of nice as the Nava Board invited the past presidents of Nava to come and join us in the festivities. It was nice to see and reminese with old friends and colleagues. I want some of you guys who have been on the fence about joining or not joining to really think about this year. I would love to talk with you if you have questions/concerns about joining, if nothing else Shara and I could "steer" you in the right direction to somebody who can answer your questions. This is a very exciting time for all of us in the vending industry, things are changing daily in our industry and this trade association is a great way to keep up on what's going on and who's doing what in our industry. From a personal stand point I myself have never been a big fan of this group just because of personal experience and the politics that have always seem to have "directed" the choices and decisions that this association has made in the past but I trully feel that things ARE changing for the better with these guys and as always the larger and sqweekier the wheel, the more "oil" or "attention" that wheel will recieve. This is OUR trade association you guys. One of the things to remember is you are not alone! Whether you are a single operator with one route or a large corporation with several, resources and ease of access to information is essential. You can also go to www.nwvending.org and check out the Nava site for specific info!

Let's Succeed Together
   Curt & Shara
Curt@VendX.net
Shara@VendX.net

Oregon Commission for the Blind's vending program director put on leave pending investigation

SALEM -- The director at the Oregon Commission for the Blind who oversees vending and cafeteria programs in public buildings statewide has been put on paid leave pending an investigation.

Commission administrator Linda Mock confirmed Thursday that Walter Reyes, head of the Business Enterprises Program, was put on administrative leave Aug. 1.

Mock said she could not discuss the reasons other than to say there is an "investigation occurring."

Reached at his home Thursday, Reyes said his lawyer had advised him not to comment.

The Secretary of State's auditors confirmed they are looking into contracts and consultants connected to the vending program as a follow up to a May 2009 audit that questioned sloppy financial tracking and spending.

A spokesman for the Oregon Department of Justice said he could not "confirm or deny" whether the agency is conducting an investigation.

Reyes, who earns $68,052 a year, was promoted in November 2009 to be director of the vending program.

His responsibilities include management of a $750,000 two-year budget and 17 licensed blind vendors who operate snack machines, coffee carts and cafeterias in hundreds of public buildings throughout Oregon.

The program is largely funded through federal dollars. Sales topped $1.8 million last year, with 11 percent funneled back to the state commission to be used to maintain equipment and other operations costs.

Randy Hauth, one of the licensed vendors and chair of a consumer committee that works with the commission, said his group had filed multiple grievances with the state about Reyes and the program's management.

"The agency is responsible for safeguarding and protecting the program and the rights of the licensed blind vendors and we contend they don't do that and haven't done that," Hauth said Thursday.

Mock said she could not comment on those complaints, citing the ongoing investigation.

Earlier this year, an outside consultant hired to assess the program found the blind vendors didn't trust Reyes or other commission managers. The two sides agreed on an improvement plan, which Hauth and others said was ignored.

--Michelle Cole

Michelle Cole is a reporter for the Oregonian newspaper.

SUCCESS IS JUST A PARTNERSHIP AWAY

 Vend X intends to create efficiencies by reducing the number of transactions necessary  for goods to flow from many different manufacturers to large numbers of customers. This is a proven method of increasing profitability. This is typically done in two ways. The first is called “breaking bulk”. Wholesalers and retailers purchase large quantities of goods from manufacturers but sell only one or a few at a time to many different customers.

 Second, channel intermediaries reduce the number of transactions by creating assortments—providing a variety of products in one location—so that customers can conveniently buy many different items from one seller at one time.

 To balance customers' demands with the need for profitable growth, Vend X has moved aggressively to improve supply chain management.

 We are telling you this (and our competitors) because we believe that it is truly time for a change from the “status quo”  in the industry, to a more profitable partnership oriented  way of thinking and doing business. If one has the ability, we all have the ability and we all shall reap the rewards.  What good is a distributor if you rely solely on one or even two customers to move your wares?  That’s not a “free” market environment?

 Rejecting the traditional view of a company and it’s component parts as distinct  functional entities, we realize that the real measure of success is how well activities coordinate across the supply chain to create value for our customers, all the while increasing the profitability of every link in the chain. In the process, we intend to redefine the competitive game between all the distributors in our industry.

 By determining what customers want and how to coordinate efforts across the supply chain to meet those requirements faster, cheaper, and better, Vend X will  enhance both customer satisfaction as well as the financial performance of said customers.  Making  all aspects of the chain more profitable from our suppliers’ supplier to our customers’  customer.

 We are ready and willing to do our part in achieving the goal of reducing costs across the supply chain in order to lower prices in the marketplace and enhance margins.

 The best prescription for ensuring  success and minimizing resistance is extensive, visible participation and communication.

 Shara and I both agree that our success in this venture is solely in you, our customers’ hands.   We whole heartedly promise to walk, talk and work with you and our suppliers  through every aspect of the journey to ensure that we all will gain and share in increased profitability and all around healthier businesses!!!

Have a GREAT weekend Peeps !!!!!!!

Let’s Succeed Together

      Curt

Curt@VendX.net

OPEN HOUSE THIS FRIDAY THE 15TH

Hey Peeps, come join us on Friday April 15th for our open house here at Vend X Distributing!! We will be Barbecuing from 11-4 and offering great deals on all of our products. Come and visit with product and machine reps. Hope to see you there. Call for more info!!!!  253.887.5544


Let's Succeed Together
           Curt
Curt@VendX.net

MONDAY, MONDAY

Have a super fantastic Vend X kind of week Peeps!!!


Let's Succeed Together
        Curt
Curt@VendX.net

DEL MONTE IN-LINE VENDING TRAYS ARRIVE AT VEND X

Hey guys and dolls! Vend X is very excited to be able to offer you Del Monte Vending fruit and veggie trays. There are 9 different varieties to choose from and all of them are available at a very reasonable price that will allow you to move them quickly through your cold food machines!! They come with a 10 day shelf life and are offered in cases of 12 ea!! Give us a call to discuss what Del Monte in-line vending trays can do for your fresh fruit and veggie customers! Don't have any of those customers? Why not?

Let's Succeed Together
         Curt
Curt@Vendx.net

HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE

How much time and money does it cost you when  a supplier doesn't do or even follow up with what they said they would do? How many times are you going to let them "hang" themselves before finally giving up on them and realizing you cannot keep going with the "status quo" ? The "status quo" is another word for your company being in a rut. In order to be relevant in your industry and influence others to use your business, you have to be on top of your game! Don't just accept it for what it is. This is YOUR business, YOUR money, and YOUR customers! Ask the hard questions, make your suppliers SHOW you how they are going to make you money, HOLD them RESPONSIBLE. Mistakes made on their behalf are not making you money, they are costing you money! Get out of the rut , what are you doing to show your customers that you are on top of your game? New products? Inventive marketing? Out of the box delivery systems? 24hr support? Follow up? What is the X Factor you are providing? Lets do this together people!! Experience is an awesome tool but it's not what's going to take you to the next level of success you are looking for. If it's worth having it's worth putting forth the effort to step forward!!

Let's Succeed Together
          Curt

Curt@Vendx.net

NEW PRODUCT ADDED DAILY

Hey guys just wanted to update you all on new product. Everyday we are committing to and purchasing new product. Thank all of you for your patience in me getting it into the catalog. It seems I will be adding product to it weekly for a while to come. But not to worry, it will be done. We would like to thank all of you who have purchased product from us for your trust and confidence. It is very much appreciated. If there is anything we can do to better your distributor experience, please don't hesitate to let us know!!

Let's Succeed Together
         Curt
Curt@VendX.net

UPDATE MARCH 13TH 2011

Here's whats "going on" (CandyMan) Going into our 3rd week of business, we are very excited about how everyday more and more people come in and buy more and more product! THANK YOU. We understand that it is very difficult to change people's routines and attitudes and would like everyone to know that we appreciate the opportunity to serve your business. The people of Seattle and surrounding areas have been MORE than gracious and patient with our learning process. We are very excited and honored to be able to provide you with least expensive vending products in the Northwest. And you guys have shown us your gratitude...again THANK YOU!! OK...so anyway here are a few other things going on that we are excited about. We are in the process of becoming Ever pure filter distributors and like our other products we WILL BE the place to purchase these guys at the most affordable price in the Northwest vending industry. We are also working on becoming a Purlogix water cooler distributor. Look for both of these products in our catalog or better yet give us a call and talk to me about your OCS needs. I wanted to let all of our OCS customers know that we are quickly gearing up to becoming your "one stop shop" when it comes to everything OCS! We are adding products weekly and assume this will be the case for a few months to come. Give me a call with any product suggestions or regrets that you may have on products purchased in the past.

Let's Succeed Together
       Curt
Curt@VendX.net