Fastenal Vending

Fastenal Vending

Fastenal is a very large industrial supply company that provides to customers all over the world. Because the company is so large and they offer such a wide variety of products to such a large amount of customers, they have many competitors who are constantly trying to outdo them. One of the biggest factors that separates Fastenal from their competitors is their vending program. Yes that is right, Fastenal has vending machines.

Much like vending machines that are used for candy and snacks, Fastenal vending machines serve the same purpose but with different goodies inside. For example: If a customer manufactures products and their employees in the production line are required to use PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), that company could use a Fastenal vending machine to supply safety glasses, ear plugs, hairnets and other products for their employees. The sky is the limit when it comes down to what you can put inside these vending machines and lockers. The customer decides what they want.

Fastenal offers vending machines to customers for several reasons that really benefit the customer. Vending machines help the customers be more organized and clean but most importantly it helps them save money throughout the year. Cost savings is always a plus when talking to customers. If there is a way to save thousands of dollars for your company, it can be very helpful especially in times of economic chaos.

Having a vending machine helps the customer track how much inventory they are going through and which employee is using the most. The vending machines require a code that each employee would be given at the time of being hired. Employees do not have to buy the product in the machines, they simply type their code in and get the product needed. This can save customers hundreds of dollars each year and if they have to, they can track which employee is wasting the most money and they can talk with that employee to be more cost efficient

Fastenal vending machines are becoming very popular. Walmart just signed an agreement with Fastenal to implement vending lockers in 1400 of their stores across the U.S. Walmart employees will be able to store their iPads and other electronic devices in locker machines while they aren’t on the clock. The vending lockers will be locked and safe while the employees are away.

Having a vending machine makes it easy to track how much inventory you are going through and which employee is using the most. The vending machines require a code that each employee would be given at the time of being hired. Employees do not have to buy the product in the machines, they simply type their code in and get the product needed. This can save customers hundreds of dollars each year and if they have to, they can track which employee is wasting the most money and they can talk with that employee to be more cost efficient

Career Opportunities

Each employee at Fastenal is very important to the company. Employees are encouraged to take trainings which help them grow to become better sales representatives and overall employees. Fastenal is a company that hires from within. Each General Manager, District Manager, Executive and even the CEO has started from the bottom and made his/her way up to the top. They provide great opportunities to travel and meet new people.

Manufacturing

Fastenal Manufacturing

Fastenal also does its own manufacturing for all of the hardware that is sold throughout the company. Being able to manufacture custom bolts and hardware is a advantage and is a reason why so many companies go to Fastenal for their business. There are times where companies and people won't be able to find hardware and the only thing they can do is have Fastenal personalize their product and manufacture it at one of there many facilities.

Manufacturing hardware is very hard and time consuming, but it all goes back to the customers. If there is a way to help a customer in need, you can always rely on Fastenal to get the job done.

FMI

FMI - Fastenal Managed Inventory

Much like the vending program, the FMI (Fastenal Managed Inventory) program can be a huge advantage and cut costs in half for any customer. Fastenal helps the customer be more organized and provides them with bins and labels if they are willing to agree that they will spend a certain amount monthly. In this case both the customer and Fastenal are winners. The customer is able to cut costs and save money and Fastenal is guaranteed business.

A Fastenal employee helps the customer to be organized and makes sure they always have the product that they need and that they use the most in their bins. Depending on how much product the customer uses, Fastenal employees adapt to their needs and can make multiple visits each week to make sure they are always stocked up.

The great thing about the FMI program is that it is completely personalized and adjusted to the customers biggest needs. There are drawers and bins can be adjusted to fit any product or need of the customer.

History of Fastenal

In 1967, a man named Bob Kierlin from the small town of Winona, MN had big dreams and bright ideas. He teamed up with a few of his closest friends and together they rounded up $30,000 to start a business which would eventually become Fastenal. Their main goal/focus was to use vending machines to sell fasteners such as: Nuts, Bolts, Washers, etc. Although this was a great idea, it wasn't until years later that Fastenal finally came out with vending machines for industrial use.

What once was just one small 1000 sq. ft. store in Winona, MN has transformed into over 2000 stores worldwide with a very wide variety of industrial supplies and fasteners. Fastenal has become very well known and successful over the years for its motto "Growth Through Customer Service". Fastenal employees truly believe that the customers are what matter most in the company. Keeping customers happy = more business.

Fastenal continues to grow and is quickly becoming one of the most reliable companies when it comes to customer service.