Bill's Blog

The San Francisco Bay Bombers vs. the Texas Thunderbirds

The ATM industry is a lot like Roller Derby - In Roller Derby you can roll with the pack and conserve yourself - or you can block, hit, and make your presence known.  Roller Derby teaches us a lot - teamwork, focus, and the drive to never give up..... Roller Derby is a tough sport - the ATM industry is a tough business.  As we "roll" into the next quarter of 2009 Tranax won't get caught slacking back in the pack - we are making our presence known - and it is a good feeling.   

The Ides of March....

It was on March 15th that Julius Cesar went to the forum and was met with a "stabbing" reception - a date that he would prefer to forget.... but in the ATM industry March 15th is a date we want to remember - a date that we should celebrate as the birthday of the off premise retail market.... March 15, 1996 is the day that the major networks decided to allow surcharging in all states except the ones that had specific legislation prohibiting it .... so - in my mind - March 15 is a great day - a day of celebration and hey - why not take it off this year and celebrate (afterall it is Sunday) - go to a toga party (drink green beer if you are Irish) and use the ATM in the bar. If the bar doesn't have an ATM - now is the time to sell them one.....

The buying public

It was interesting to note in the Sunday "Dallas Morning News" business section that the sales of SUVs and Pickup trucks are back on the rise and the more fuel ecoonomical vehicles are now stacking up in the lots....awaiting higher fuel prices.  Funny how the buying tide shifts - and how quick it shifts.  We are in a "buying" ATM market where everything is price price price.... wonder if it will shift to selling more upsacle machines that deliver cash in a more upscale environment.... Does color catch the eye?  Does the more financial look create more transactions?  I can't remember the last time I watched TV on a Black and White TV.....maybe we are shifting.....

Keep your eye on the ball

Well as we move into the selling season and the market heats up we need to remember that we have a pretty good industry here and he need to make sure that we don't ignore all of the things that can impact us negatively in the future - When I log on to the ATMIA committes that Tranax actively supports it is really downheartening that a lot of the major players in the industry (on all levels) are not taking the time and energy to at listen in and participate. 

New ATM....... $$$$  cheaper than ever

Processing...... $$$$ cheapest we have ever seen

supporting the industry...... priceless.

Tranax supports the ATMIA..... and the health of the ATM industry....

The market vs. the economy

Well - an article came out on ATMmarketplace talking about 2 ISOs that have managed to do well in the face of a faltering economy and past business woes… In the article they mention Tranax as if Tranax were a victim of the economy and on the downhill slide …..  Tranax was a victim of the market - not the economy.  The article fails to mention the fact that the buyout by Eltna has been a good thing for Tranax - after all we are still here and still a force in the market.  The market is what has driven the gross profit out of the ATM industry at all levels and it is somewhat insane to blame it on the economy.  It is a good thing that Tranax has survived the turmoil and is prospering …just imagine the ATM market without Tranax (as our competition has on so many occasions).  

The ATMIA - Gotta Love It!

OK – I’ll admit – I was a skeptic and thought that no one would go to Nashville in the middle of winter.  In fact – there even might be a country song written about going to Nashville in the winter – but the bottom line is that the ATMIA this year was really well attended and seemed to go off without a hitch.  It was good to see everybody and spend some time with those that made the trip.  There was a lot of positive energy in the room and a lot of optimism about the industry and the ability to survive in a very challenged economy.  A special thanks for those that stopped by to meet our new team and see our new equipment lineup…. And a special thanks to Tracey Kitten for her ATM Marketplace coverage….. Exciting times…

Visit to Hantle

As most of you know, John MacDougall and I had the privilege of visiting the Hantle factory and offices during our recent trip to Korea. 

Several things stood out that I would like to share with you concerning my visit:

1)       The people, first of all I found them to be very dedicated to what they are doing - more than enthusiastic about their products and product lines.  They are young, highly educated, and extremely motivated.  You can just tell that they are happy to be there and all have a very positive attitude.  One of the things that stood out was their eagerness to get new ideas and new projects and turn them into sales.  They are a 'can do' bunch of people that possess the combination of a positive attitude along with a wealth of knowledge. 

2)       The facility - I found the production areas to be well organized, extremely clean, and flexible to meet the demands of the potential growth of Tranax. 

3)       The products - the product line was very broad - involving scanners, imagers, ATM modules and many products that we as Tranax can definitely take advantage of in the months and years to come.

My overall impression - it made me very proud to be part of the team and anxious to move into 2009 on the offensive. 

Regards,

Bill

Glass Half-Full

Well – as I check the market and I think about what is going to happen with the economy and with the ATM industry…. I can tell you that I am going to be in the industry for a long time to come – any thought of retirement evaporated right along with my 401K …. And I feel the same about Tranax – we are both dedicated to making an impact on the industry and regaining our “place in the sun”…. the “thin” is behind us and the “thick” times are already here – we are seeing it a new product philosophy, a new approach to the market and a more positive outlook with fresh leadership that will catapult us into 2009 and well beyond.

Watch Us Grow !

I remember the story about Rip Van Winkle pulling up a stump and taking a nap ….for about 20 years…. And actually ole’ Rip didn’t miss much.  But if you have been “napping” for the past few weeks a lot has happened in the ATM industry – especially with Tranax.  Since my last blog in July, Tranax has been acquired by Eltna (A holding company that is involved with several ATM component manufacturers).  This has put Tranax in a very positive position – for now and for the future and I am excited about our chances in the ATM marketplace.  I would like to take a moment to thank all of the loyal Tranax distributors that have stuck with Tranax throgh thick and thin…. We now have the “thin” behind us and are looking forward to making the “thick” pay off as we move into a more competitive position in the marketplace. Watch us grow – don’t get caught napping.

Coffee - good…… Exotic coffee - better

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Fuel and Food trade show in Dallas….It had been a while since I had gone to one of the C store type trade shows and it was quite the eye opener.  I had the opportunity to meet with some old friends in the industry that I hadn’t seen in some time and was an excellent opportunity to see what was happening with the C store industry.  One thing that was very evident was the fact that a booth with an ATM in it was extremely ineffective and for the most part ignored by the attendees.  The trade show was busy… so I wandered around to see what the people were looking at and what they were interested in.  The most activity and excitement was at the “specialty coffee” booth…. And in fact – any booth that had upscale products was creating quite a stir.  Sorry to say that the excitement of the Retail cash dispensing ATM has greatly diminished over the years….. So now we have to get creative – we can no longer sell just coffee – we have to sell Latte and Cappuccino.  And I think that there is a key word here…. Sell – I noticed that in the busy booths the vendors were actually selling the benefits of spending more money for a product and getting more return. 

Tranax realized this some time back and made the move to the Self Service Terminal business….. And now the products are ready and these are the products that can create the buzz and put people back into the ATM booths…. Time to get on board – the C store industry is vibrant and has money to spend….. Give them something to create a little “Latte” in their store…..Isn’t it time that you started “selling” instead of just taking orders for cheap cash dispensing machines – why not be the guy getting the attention….. and getting the orders…..