Decem ber, 1937
A U T O M A T IC
A G E
17
It’s Time to Take Inventory
By A r t h u r W . L u c h s
S we approach the end of
the year, with the Christ
mas Holiday season and
all of its mellowness and cheer
before us, it might not be amiss
to indulge in a bit of introspec
tion, or study of ourselves, and
our machines, and ask our
selves a few questions. These
questions should concern our
own individual business opera
tions during the past year. Did
we make the most of our op
portunities? Did we operate
only modern, up to date, effi
cient machines, or were we con
tent to operate broken down,
obsolete and antiquated ma
chines? Did we attend the coin
show and rub shoulders with
the active, live members of the
industry, who are continually
on the search for new ideas to
improve the type of machines
now existing and the develop
ment of new models?
Questions of this typo, should
be asked of every operator, by
himself, as he checks over his
business for the past year. The
wide-awake, successful opera
tor has already taken steps to
complete his inventory along
the lines stated through the
above questions. Constant
study, effort and initiative are
required to be a success in the
coin field, or in any other field.
The practical operator is fully
aware of this. New machines
and new methods are being in
troduced into the industry, dai
ly. It is important that every
operator keep abreast of the
A
times. It will mean more mon
ey to himself and may spell the
difference between successful
operation, or failure.
The winter operating season
is again in full swing. Every op
erator is naturally interested in
making the season as success
ful as possible. He should take
a systematic inventory of all
of his machines, studying each
and every one of them. Com
parative studies should be
made of the machines. Their
income must be considered as
an important factor in this
study. Does the machine earn
its maximum, what does it cost
to operate, what is its depreci
ation percentage? These are
key questions to be considered
when taking inventory of your
machines. Also, consider the
original cost of that machine,
in comparison to its income and
depreciation.
It is imperative for an opera
tor to have modern, efficient
operating machines, kept in the
best working condition, and
serviced properly whenever
they are out of order. To do
this, he must be successful in
his business. Notice as you go
about your business, that the
most attractive machines on lo
cation, are owned by operators
who are successful. The prob
able answer for this is, that in
order to be successful a man
must apply all of the rules of
business which tend to make
for success. Since it is more or
less a case of survival of the fit
test, the operator who does not
keep his equipment and meth
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ods up to the standards which
bring success, will soon find
himself losing his locations.
Therefore, to the wise opera
tor, it is probably unnecessary
to remind him to take inventory
of himself, his methods and his
machines.
There is no more appropriate
time to take inventory than in
the short time preceding the
1938 Coin Machine Show.
Every operator naturally ex
pects to attend the show. There
is no more appropriate time to
buy new machines, meet other
operators and swap ideas than
at the annual coin operated ma
chine show. All of the newest
and latest machines will be on
display - amusement, music,
merchandising and service. The
latest equipment and the last
word in profit making ideas
will be on display for the oper
ators who attend the show. The
wise operator will be in atten
dance, with an open mind and
purse, buying new machines,
absorbing new ideas and devot
ing himself toward the further
improvement of the industry
and its practices.
The purpose of the seasonal
inventory is to cast out old non
productive machines, absorb
new ideas, and thoroughly re
establish one’s business along
the new and modern trends
which the industry has devel
oped. Every operator owes it
to himself and his business to
get in step with the times, or
fall by the wayside. Be guided
by the information which your
inventory uncovers.
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