Classifying their bottleless water stations as both “planet-friendly and human-healthy,” WaterStation Technology has been on the cutting edge of environmentally conscious practices for the past eight years.
Classifying their bottleless water stations as both “planet-friendly and human-healthy,” WaterStation Technology has been on the cutting edge of environmentally conscious practices for the past eight years. Found predominantly in participating grocery and convenience stores, each of the company’s state-of-the-art vending machines features a specialized filtration system that purifies and mineralizes water on demand, creating a virtual spring water with electrolytes and an alkaline pH. This is a self-serve business and the units are mobile, which, throughout the global pandemic, has become a critical selling point for the company. According to Dick Humphrey, vice president of business development for WaterStation Technology’s broker networks, the brand is poised for significant growth over the next several months. Humphrey recently answered a few of Franchise Dictionary Magazine’s questions.
Q: Why is it a good time to get involved in the on-demand water business?
A: The coronavirus is impacting so many businesses all over the U.S. and throughout the world, but vending machines have remained open because they are considered essential. Shelves are emptied of plastic water bottles, but our machines are still operable because they are tied directly to each of the locations, installed with an unlimited supply of safe, purified alkaline water. It’s a good time to get involved in this business because, now more than ever, our service is in demand.
Q: What makes WaterStation Technology a smart investment?
A: According to a survey by J.D. Power, 25% of the American population is not drinking out of the tap. They’re dissatisfied with the taste and quality of their water, so they turn to plastic, but 93% of those bottles have microplastics in them which are bad for your health and the environment. It’s critically important to have good, filtered water to drink. WaterStation Technology offers a great solution to all of those problems.
Q: Is there room for growth at WaterStation Technology?
A: When making an investment, it is wise to make sure that the investment is both recession-proof and COVID-19-proof. So many businesses are closing right now and even if the closure is temporary, it is still troublesome for the owner. So why get involved with water? Because there is long-term dynamic growth in this segment of the industry. Fresh drinking water is essential, and our units provide more than just a beverage. There are also multiple revenue streams in terms of advertising, the opportunities are endless.
Q: Who is an ideal WaterStation Technology investor?
A: WaterStation Technology is ideal for someone who wants to diversify their financial portfolio. This is a total turnkey program; our team scouts locations and determines exactly where to place the units. We ship, install equipment, and turn it over to a business alliance owner. We do all of the servicing and then wire-transfer the net proceeds in the middle of the month. It’s truly 100% passive: No site prep, no installation, no management and no service calls are necessary. The model allows investors to keep doing business elsewhere or additionally invest in other places. Personally, I own 40 machines in seven different markets. There are a lot of benefits to making this investment.
Q: The brand is rooted in ecological responsibility. Are you investigating new ways to expand upon the company’s environmental impact?
A: In the future, we would like to better facilitate the availability of reusable containers to our customers. We are currently exploring the use of exclusive reusable containers made of responsible materials.