As we wind down for Christmas, here’s our best bits from 2017…
As 2017 winds down and we prepare to finish for the Christmas period, we thought it’d be a good idea to look back at the year, which was the 55th one in Coinadrink’s extensive history. A lot has happened here at our company, and it has meant that we go into 2018 with particularly high hopes. So, settle down, and enjoy a bit of a recap…
2017 saw us celebrate our 55th birthday!
February 2017 – Our 55th birthday.
As mentioned, 2017 was Coinadrink’s 55th year in business. February 1962 was the year that we first opened our doors, and such longevity and success is something we have always been proud of. It doesn’t happen by chance, though, and a consistent pledge for hard work and a customer-centric approach has been key to our success.
We couldn’t let our 55th birthday go unnoticed and 2018 will start with a bang. Saturday 28th January will see our staff and their families come together to celebrate, and the party will be hosted at the National Motorcycle Museum. Transport will be arranged to and from the event, and there will be a prize draw to which all proceeds will go to Acorns Children’s Hospice and Just Small Change: two organisations that we already support.
Our 55-year history is just reward for the effort and commitment of every staff member, both past and present. Here’s to the next 55 years!
The Facilities Management Show – March 2017.
March 2017 – The Facilities Management Show.
There was a lot of build up to this event, and we weren’t left disappointed. The Facilities Management Show (or FM Show) is an annual event that sees exhibitors come together to showcase their innovation in front of an array of Facilities Managers and Senior decision makers.
Hosted at the NEC, Birmingham from the 21st to 23rd March, it was a very successful event and we were rushed off our feet! We showcased three advanced hot drinks machines that epitomised the progression of the vending industry: The Karisma, Neo and Klix Momentum. We managed to convey to visitors that hot drinks and expert refreshments are key in the hunt for a higher productivity level in the workplace, and we’re pleased more and more people are quickly taking note.
The Acorns Firewalk – April 2017.
April 2017 – The Acorns Firewalk!
Coinadrink’s history has always had charity work engrained somewhere. Over the years, we have worked with some excellent organisations ranging from Help for Heroes to Just Small Change, and 2017 saw us work closely with Acorns Children’s Hospice. Back in April, our Sales and Marketing Manager Tom Williams took part in the daring Firewalk at the Black Country Museum…
After a full safety brief, Tom braved the pressure to walk over the burning coals barefoot, and in doing so raised over £150 for the charity!
Our Chamber upgrade – April 2017.
April 2017 – Black Country Chamber Upgrade.
In what was a very busy month, April also saw us upgrade our membership with the Black Country Chamber of Commerce to Platinum! Rest assured that this isn’t something that isn’t achieved by choice, and there are very stringent criteria to qualify.
The Black Country Chamber is a non-profit organisation that is a network of committed leaders within the region who meet to share best practice. Through the Chamber, we have enjoyed specialist perks, such as networking sessions that have seen us gain valuable leads and connections.
Upgrading to Platinum enables us to reach out to MD’s and CEO’s for further support and guidance, which will help us as we continue to develop and improve our services for you.
Receiving positive feedback on our efforts for Just Small Change – May 2017.
May 2017 – Helping to make a difference with Just Small Change.
As previously mentioned, charity work is an area that remains close to our heart at Coinadrink. While we have tied our name to the likes of MacMillan and Acorns Children’s Hospice, we also extend our efforts away from UK shores with Just Small Change.
Just Small Change is an excellent organisation that works to help African women escape poverty through making a success of their own business. Small scale loans are distributed to help get them up and running, and this is paid back once the women are seeing a measurable improvement for themselves and their families.
May 2017 saw us receive some feedback on our efforts, and we’re delighted that we could help.
The Primo arrives – June 2017.
June 2017 – The Primo arrives.
Coinadrink pride ourselves on not being tied down to any particular supplier, which means we are in the best position to select the very best machines to add to our range. We tailor our equipment and services to suit each individual business, and provide unbiased advice on what is best for them.
June 2017 saw us take the Primo. This stylish machine dispenses coffee shop quality from 24 different varieties, all from a stylish frame that uses a contemporary LED strip to enhance its environment.
The Primo joined our prestigious range of tabletops including the Vitro and Karisma, and together they offer a fantastic variety for workplaces.
The arrival of the new £1 coin was something we were prepared for – July 2017.
July 2017 – The arrival of the new £1 coin.
Okay, this affected everyone in one way or another, but it was a big deal for us especially. Our machines had to be altered to accommodate the new tender, and we were pleased that we managed to do so relatively trouble free.
Because the machines are our equipment, we were determined from the start to provide the change free of charge to our customers. They shouldn’t have to pay for something that can’t be helped on their part, and we viewed it as part of the Coinadrink service.
When many other companies stumbled, we were prepared.
The new section on Express Refreshments arrives on our website – August 2017.
August 2017 – Express Refreshments page launches.
We’ve made a big song and dance about our Micro Market since its launch in 2013, and for good reason. We were the first UK company to introduce such a revolutionary idea courtesy of branch division Express Refreshments! The Micro Market is an unmanned, self-service convenience store for the workplace, and we tailor it to suit your business.
Over 400 products are available 24 hours a day in an aesthetically pleasing design, and the relaxing atmosphere helps to boost morale and strengthen working relationships. August saw us update our website with Express Refreshments, so it’s now easier for people to read all about it.
AVEX – September 2017.
September 2017 – AVEX.
AVEX is the UK’s leading exhibition for vending, coffee and water services, so we were naturally keen to attend! AVEX serves as a great platform to showcase the latest innovation and express how it will benefit the end user.
Hosted at the NEC between the 12th and 13th September, we attended as both Coinadrink and Express Refreshments. As part of Coinadrink, we showcased the Neo and Klix hot drinks machines as well as an additional snack option, and visitors were impressed by the diverse selection of machines we provide.
Express Refreshments was also a very big hit, as we expected.
The MacMillan Coffee Morning was very successful – September 2017.
September 2017 – MacMillan Coffee Morning.
In what was a Nationwide event at the back end of the month, Coinadrink took it by storm and we’re very proud of the efforts from all the staff. Many expressed their hidden ‘’Mary Berry’s’ to bake some truly delicious cakes, and over £100 was raised in the process!
MacMillan is an excellent organisation that has been close to our hearts for a while, offering care and support for those diagnosed with cancer.
We always look to tie our name in where we can, and we’re hopeful the charity benefitted from a collective effort from the whole country.
Our Micro Market was nominated for ‘Tomorrow’s FM Awards’ – October 2017.
October 2017 – Our Micro Market gets nominated for ‘Tomorrow’s FM Awards 2018’.
It’s always nice to get recognition for hard work, so we were of course delighted when our Micro Market caught the eye of those in Facilities Management, an industry that is very important to us. Facilities Managers have a duty to monitor the wellbeing of their workforce, and we have always stressed that quality refreshment solutions in the workplace are a great starting point.
We designed the Micro Market to simplify yet enhance workplace refreshments. Over 400 products in a ‘convenience store’ encourage staff to stay on site for their break time, reducing the risk of them running over their allocated break times whilst also increasing working relationships.
Products extend to the working day and beyond, and advanced technology such as a cashless payment terminal further emphasises our innovative nature.
The Dualit Hot Drinks Machine arrives – December 2017.
December 2017 – The Dualit Café Plus arrives.
The Nespresso compatible Dualit took its place on our shelves in mid-December. It was an arrival that was particularly exciting, as the capsules for the machine could be bought in the supermarket, in the high street or over on our Refreshment Shop. This makes ideal for your home as well as workplace.
The Dualit produces coffee shop quality from a slender frame. From switch on, the machine takes just 40 seconds to heat up, so you’ll have your drink in no time, and the machine caters for tea drinkers as well as coffee lovers.
Roll on 2018!
A summary of 2017 and a look into 2018…
The 55th year in our history has flew by, and we’ve enjoyed it all. 2017 proved another strong year for customer satisfaction, and our customer surveys produced some great results yet again. We’re always looking to improve our customers’ experience with us, though, so we never stand still in the eye of hard work and innovation.
2018 will begin with a bang. Our staff party night is all set for the end of January, and we’re hopeful of it being a great night to celebrate the company’s birthday. We’re sure they’ll be events and the arrival of new machines as well, so our 56th year is one we’re very much looking forward to.
On behalf of everyone at Coinadrink, we hope you all have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year!
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