Adafruit business expansion

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borgborg
 
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Joined: Sat May 24, 2014 1:49 pm

Adafruit business expansion

Post by borgborg »

I have an Idea for you. I was searching for an Adafruit outlet near me. I found The Mill witch after further investigation was out of business. There is a Maker group here - The Hacker group but I don't see any connection to AdaFruit.

I thought with your infinite wisdom and abilities you could make an Adafruit vending machine. Complete with credit card reader. Make this available to all maker clubs. A mini warehouse with hundreds of small parts. I see a main controlling master vending machine and if sales warrent a group of slave dispensers. I dont even see this limited to microcumputer parts. Imagine wood , fabric, plastic glass parts - dowels, bocks and laser cutable materials like wood venear, metals and plastic etc. The list of possible items seem endless All you really have to stock is a few of any one item and see what demand you have. Kind of Like a red box machine. I see glass fusion parts, jewelry parts any kind of fabrication parts.

Just an Idea. I have no money to impliment this myself but maybe you do! Get a local vender that fills the machine weekly and your in business! Can't help but boost sales!

Build a box that costs you a $1000 (spend time designing the right box ie. WIFi - Internet connection to Customers wish list etc. A perfect stepper motor based inventory system), you would have limited overhead. Sell the idea to maker groups as a draw to getting paying members. Win Win.

Thank you
Larry Kaufhold

PS: Dont forget to include pre-lactated sugar coated cereal in your machine!

adafruit
 
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Re: Adafruit business expansion

Post by adafruit »

thanks for the post and thinking of us! so far we've teamed up local hackerspaces, they can apply and stock products with up to a 40% discount:
https://www.adafruit.com/distributors

we've thought about a vending machine (a hacker space in ny has one) - but we'd need to service it well and often. we'll continue to think about this :)

cheers!
adafruit support

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borgborg
 
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Re: Adafruit business expansion

Post by borgborg »

Once again - There ain't anyone near Minnesota! $40% off would be nice but how do I get there? I would be willing to pay retail vending prices. "O No", if I sell something for a profit, I have to fill the machine to make more profit??? What?

Don't sell yourself short. You sell it to the hacker communities as a benefit. By you having our vending machine - you will increase membership ( BECAUSE USE WE HAVE WHAT YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT) - lowering membership costs. Every member would like this. You keep the %40 discount as overhead costs. Big difference in economics.

You could open a store in the Mall of America and pay $800 per sq inch but free rent and electricity at a maker lab sounds better!

LRK

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Franklin97355
 
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Re: Adafruit business expansion

Post by Franklin97355 »

Once again - There ain't anyone near Minnesota!
How about these guys? http://www.mnmill.org/

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borgborg
 
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Re: Adafruit business expansion

Post by borgborg »

The first line on the website is "The Mill is closing" This site is two years old.

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