Interior of a wellness vending machine stocked with self-tests and OTC products

What to Stock in a Wellness Vending Machine: A Complete Guide for Campus Placement

A wellness vending machine is only as good as its inventory. Even with placement and installation handled, having the right mix of products determines usage, student satisfaction, and health impact. In this guide, we break down what to stock, how to select items, and how to align with student needs — plus how your campus can adopt this solution with zero upfront cost.

Why Inventory Mix Matters

  • Meeting diverse needs: Students are dealing with colds, allergies, menstrual health, mental stress, and more. A narrow selection limits usefulness.

  • Avoiding stockouts: If only a few items are stocked and those sell out quickly, trust in the machine erodes.

  • Turnover & freshness: Faster-moving products are more reliable; slow-movers tie up space.

  • Equity & choice: A diverse inventory ensures that students with different health priorities have access.

Product Categories & Recommended Items

Here’s a breakdown of inventory categories and specific items to consider:

Category Example Items Purpose / Rationale
OTC Medications Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, decongestants, antihistamines, acid reducers Relief for pain, fever, allergy, digestive discomfort
Self-Tests COVID-19, influenza, strep, pregnancy, multi-panel drug tests Empower students to check symptoms before visiting clinics
Menstrual Products Pads, tampons, menstrual cups Always-needed essentials, especially for students who forget or lack funds
Hygiene & Personal Care Hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, condoms, hygiene wipes Promote general wellness and safer health practices
Harm Reduction / Safety Kits Fentanyl test strips, naloxone (where legally allowed) Provide critical tools for overdose prevention and safer use

Tips for selection:

  • Include one or two backup options in each category (e.g. different strengths of pain reliever).

  • Use student surveys or health center data to tailor to your campus’s needs.

  • Monitor sales monthly and rotate out items that underperform.

Research / Supporting Evidence

  • Vending studies in public health show increasing “healthy item availability” leads to higher uptake. County Health Rankings

  • In general vending sectors, pricing and availability interventions (lowering cost + improving access) increased sales of healthy options by 10–42%. ResearchGate+1

  • The Journal of American College Health describes how lack of OTC access can worsen student health outcomes — reinforcing that the inventory choice matters (this is a useful citation to insert from your own sources or institutional studies).

Inventory Management & Logistics

  • Restock schedule: Depending on usage, restock weekly or biweekly.

  • Shelf life & expiration management: OTC medicines have expiration dates — rotate stock and remove expired items.

  • Packaging & presentation: Transparent shelves, product labels, and clear pricing help students make fast decisions.

  • Data tracking: Use telemetry or stock sensors when possible to measure what moves and what doesn’t.

No Budget? No Problem.

You don’t need to raise capital to deploy a fully stocked wellness vending machine. With the My BIO TESTS Wellness Vending Machine Placement Program, we take care of installation, stocking, and maintenance at no cost to your college. That includes product warehousing and restock operations — making it easy to deliver comprehensive inventory without burdening campus budgets.

Later, you can use grant funds or health budgets to subsidize products (e.g., offering free tests or harm reduction supplies) to maximize impact.

Ready to stock the perfect wellness solution for your students? Contact My BIO TESTS today to design a custom inventory plan and launch your no-cost placement. Let us handle the logistics — you deliver health access.

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