Coin Machine Review (& Pacific ...)

What 'lt Takes To
Be A Cnp Vendor
By W. A. Perine
•
An Interview with the "Higgins
Boys" of Seattle
•
"See the Higgins Boys if you want information about cup
vending. They represent Spacarb in Seattle and the Pacific
Notthwest. They are far and away the biggest firm of their
kind in this section of the country."
Taking this advice (from one of Seattle's leading automatic
merchandising houses), I called on "Spacarb of the North-
west," owned and managed by the Higginses.
"How did you happen to pick on the cup vending business
for your occupation?"
That was the first question I asked Bill- Higgins, who with
his father, Pete Higgins, operate one of the twelve Spacarb
distributorships in the United ~tates. Spacarb, Inc., is known
as one of America's oldest manufacturer and operator of auto-
matic beverage dispensers, having pioneered the cup vending
industry to a great extent.
The "Higgins Boys," as they are sometimes called by the
Industry, are Spacarb distributors in Washington, Oregon,
Idaho and Alaska. Pete is the president of the Seattle concern
while Bill is the manager.
Higgins Rule.s For Cup Vendor Success
1. Uphold the high business standards that have been
set for this field.
2. Cup vending is uncrowded, so pick locations care-
-fully.
'
3. Cup vending requires ample capital for equipment,
supplies and operation.
4. It is highly important to buy only the best fla.v or
materials; study flavors carefully.
5. Get a new flavor in a machine as soon as one
seems to slump on any location.
6. Offer customers variety in flavors. We offer Coca-
Cola, Lemon-Lime, Cherry, Grape, Root Beer, and
Hot Chocolate.
7. Sanitation must be first class in all contacts with
equipment and merchandise.
S. Ope'rators and servicemen must have proper me-
chanical training to service cup vendors.
9. Check and try out machines thoroughly before plac-
ing on location.
10. A location good enough for a cup vendor is good
enough for a coin changer.
Pete Higgins. standing. and Bill Higgins
-the Higgins Boys of Seattle-cup ven-
dor men (SpacarbJ who look over plans
for new office location which will be
occupied soon.
Pete Higgins (well known to Northwest theatre business-
men), saw a cup vendor in a local theatre several years ago.
He was so impressed by its possibilities that he began looking
about for a distributorship.
That was the way Pete and Bill happened to start their cup
vending careers, some two years ago.
Today, the Higgins Boys are the biggest cup ve~ders in their
territory. They point to the versatility of the new 3-drink and
their new 4-drink machines as one of the reasons for their success
. .. that and the fact that they were financially able to handle
it-some ~1200 being required for each machine, not counting
overhead and supplies and maintenance costs. When you figure
the number of machines, alone, needed for such a big territory, .
you start counting in five and soon six figures.
Another big factor in their success has been their careful
selection of operators, locations and location owners, with the
good will and reputation of the company being the first con-
sideration in any business transaction undertaken by the Higgins
firm.
Population centers are naturally chosen for locations in repu-
table surroundings. Servicing of the drink dispensers is given
the number one priority. Day or night (by special arrangement
with the telephone company), the Higgins firm is ready for
any servicing or other location emergency.
Pete Higgins explained the difference in servicing a ~1200
machine like the cup vendor and a ~100 or so machine which
vends packaged merchandise such as cigarettes, candy, etc.
In the smaller and less expensive vendors, it is possible for
almost anyone with some instruction to service them.
With the 3- or 4-drinker, the services of a highly trained
technician are necessary. He must be an expert on mechanical
repair work, electrical repair work, refrigeration and have a
specialized training in servicing the Spacarb machines.
All of which makes servicing more expensive. The Higginses
make sure any operators who want to buy a vendor have this
training before they sell them a machine. They are good, solid
and respectable businessmen whom the vending industry may
well be proud of. They are not interested in a "fast buck" but
strive to keep the reputation of the industry and of the company
above reproach.
"How do you handle and install the new 4-drink automatic