RIVER FALLS, Wis. - March 21, 2019 - PRLog -- Three Square Market (32M) recently hosted their system users from across the U.S. at their headquarters learning about all of the new technology, products and store options 32M is rolling out in 2019. Attendees saw first hand 32M's hottest product, the 32M Mini Market, Three Square's new Norm Tech cooler line and blind operators from the across the country got first hand experience with features specifically for the visually impaired. Operators found the conference to be business changing.
"While technology is at the center of micro markets, fulfillment and so much more in our industry, we believe it is critical that operators never lose focus of two basic numbers: how many employees they serve and what each of those employees on average spends each month in their stores" said 32M President Patrick McMullan. "Our User Conference taught participants to take actions daily to grow and know both of them". Participants evaluated how they could incorporate 32M's vast reporting engine, updated user interface and other enhancements they wanted to see through interactive small group discussions and real-market experiences.
Attendees also got to hear all of the latest industry news from Eric Dell from NAMA and learning from Justin Packrone from James Vending about their new 32M Self Pay Markets. All of these discussions and meetings were centered around 32M helping operators work the basic fundamentals and incorporating the 32M technology to grow their business to the highest levels.
"We were very pleased with the ideas that our users produced in this meeting" said 32M VP-Sales Kurk Johnson. "Attendees gave 32M a steadfast must-have list of actions needed from us to implement and I am excited to say we already have some of them done and more are coming before NAMA". Part of the conference was spent showing operators 32M's newest products and technology features that are sure to help 32M users be miles better than their competition. Attendees got to see first-hand the 32M Mini Market, an all-one market featuring a 21" wide Norm Tech cooler, complete fixture and 32M's newest kiosk Clyde, all for an industry-low price of $1495.
"The mini has completely changed some of our operators and their business goals in 2019" said 32M Regional Sales Manager Devin Breihan. "$1495 and they are in the door with a total new solution for their accounts is allowing our bread and butter vending entrepreneur to transform their business at a price point they afford to grow aggressively with". Based upon YTD sales, 32M expects to have over 250 mini stores open by July, 2019.
Part of the key to the 32M Mini Market is their new proprietary cooler line Norm Technologies. "We looked at the existing refrigeration solutions and saw over-priced stagnant units" said 32M Regional Sales Manager Dave Little. "Our CEO Todd Westby, Kurk Johnson and our sales group along with our software engineering team said 'if a home refrigerator or fire hydrant is part of the Internet of Things then so should our coolers and freezers' thus instead of trying to change the existing manufacturers, we went out and developed our own product." Norm Tech coolers will include the smartest health lock in the industry. 32M has launched their cooler line starting at $995 for a single door cooler. Attendees saw first-hand the new Norm line that will include a single door 34' wide unit that holds 170 additional bottles meaning best selling products never run out and require less trips to fill it. "More sales and less trips to fill it means more revenue and profits for the operator" added Mr. Little. "That's miles better".
Users also got to see how the latest technology for the visually impaired and ADA compliance. All stores having these best in class features means their 32M location is accessible to all clients. "Three Square Market has demonstrated a commitment to the blind unlike any other" said Zach Snow, NABM Board Member and Chairman of the Accessibility Task Force. "Using innovative technology and integration, 32M has created the easiest market to use in the industry". Zach, Chris Ingram and Nicky Gacos, along with other visually impaired leaders from across the country, participated in a round table session with the 32M team discussing how to create an industry best, visually impaired specific success program.
32M sees the visually impaired operators as one of their biggest growth avenues for 2019. "We are committed to being the partner the visually impaired community needs to allow their entrepreneurs to open and grow 1,000 successful stores in the next 24 months" added Patrick McMullan. "In partnership with the leadership of Zach, Chris and Nicky, we are certain we can help be a big part of this explosive market growth happening and we couldn't have been more pleased with their contributions and insights to making our product miles better".
In addition to the features for the visually impaired, attendees saw first-hand 32M's voice options that they will be kicking off at NAMA. "We never follow, we believe in never following the norm and will never apologize for disrupting the market" said 32M CEO Todd Westby. "No one is doing this in this marketplace and once again we will lead the way in taking more friction out of the purchasing experience".
Not only did conference participants see the latest from 32M technology, but they heard from Justin Packrone from James Vending in Western PA on how they are working with 32M to completely disrupt retail and convenience shopping. Packrone displayed how James Vending has incorporated a true public self pay market in to their business using 32M technology. Packrone along with Don Havens and the entire James Vending team has opened over a half-dozen public facing self-pay markets in retail shopping malls across the Ohio River Valley with another four set to be open in the next 60 days.
"We are seeing our self pay stores doing double our employee based locations" said Mr. Packrone. "Why are we limiting ourselves as an industry to closed-off markets when the world is changing right in front of us - let's be part of that change and lead the way for the convenience experience to become self pay" said Mr. Packrone in his presentation to attendees. 32M and James Vending are opening their next location April 4 in Ohio. The location will become the prototype for over 100 locations that will be open in 2019 and will deploy the complete one-stop shop solution from 32M including the award-winning 46 kiosk, 32M fixtures and Norm Tech coolers. 32M is looking for operators ready to break in to this new retail space.
"We are the affordable Amazon-Go" added Patrick McMullan. "You can call me crazy" said McMullan "but I believe we can save brick and mortar retail by taking an entire shopping mall and making it self checkout. Yes, the entire mall. It will happen and together with Justin and Don, we are going to make it a reality. If you want in, call us today because there are opportunities in every city in the U.S.". With James, 32M has an exclusive agreement with one of the largest retail management companies in the U.S. for over 100 locations that will be opened in 2019.
Attendees had the conference closed out with an industry update from NAMA's Eric Dell. Eric discussed all of the various on-going issues NAMA is working on for the benefit of the convenience industry. "Eric is the warrior we need in Washington D.C. and across states nationwide working on our behalf" added Kurk Johnson. "I can't recommend enough that operators get involved with NAMA in their respective state and at the NAMA Fly-In this summer ensuring that they don't be restricted in their growth by helping shape the regulations that will enable success".
32M plans to have a second conference this summer, August 13-15th at its' headquarters in River Falls. 32M along with its' technology siblings TurnKey Corrections and Three Square Chip Companies is based in River Falls, WI. Now in its' 20th year of business, the privately-held company continues to lead in technology development in all of its' software businesses evident of numerous awards, patents and more. Learn more about Three Square Market by visiting www.32Market.com or by visiting their booth at the upcoming NAMA One Show, Booth's 1541 and 1403.