Smarte Carte, Inc. is an American company based in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It provides passenger and guest vending services such as self-serve luggage carts, electronic lockers, commercial strollers, massage chairs, and more.
Its products are primarily found in airports, malls, theme parks, and ski resorts. Operating in more than 2,600 locations around the world.
Smarte Carte's original product was the self-serve luggage cart vending machine. It remains one of the company's main products to this day.
Video Smarte Carte
Company history
In 1967, Jim Muellner of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was commissioned to design and build some of the first self-serve luggage cart vending machines. In 1970 Smarte Carte, Inc. opened its doors with self-serve luggage cart operations in Salt Lake City, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
For over 40 years, Smarte Carte has been a leader in self-serve luggage cart, electronic locker, strollers and massage chair operations. Solidifying their reputation as an innovator and self-serve leader as their list of products and services continues to grow.
Maps Smarte Carte
Sustainability
Smarte Carte's commitment to sustainability has been demonstrated through their use of recycled materials and remanufactured components. Since the late 1980s, they have made their cart frames from stainless steel, which has a long service life and is 100 percent recyclable.
Smarte Carte has also developed processes to remanufacture many of their products. By using remanufactured products, they are able to reduce waste and conserve up to 85 percent of the "value add" of the original manufacturing process.
Operations
Smarte Carte operates in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
Their products are found in:
- Luggage cart concessions at airports and major bus/rail stations
- Electronic locker concessions at amusement/theme parks, indoor and outdoor water parks, ski resorts, entertainment centers, and transportation centers
- Stroller concessions at shopping centers, amusement/theme parks, and zoos
- Massage chairs at transportation, shopping, and entertainment centers
- Long-term baggage storage, baggage wrapping and excess baggage storage services at airports, malls and major bus/train stations
Leadership
Current officers
- Arthur Spring - Chief Executive Officer
- James Meyer - Chief Financial Officer
- Greg Schultz - Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Security
- Steven Wagner - Vice President and General Manager, Retail
- Amanda Alwy - Vice President, Technology and Engineering; Supply Chain
- Thor Osteboe - Vice President, Airport and International Operations
Acquisitions
Aviation Mobility 2018
Based in Charlotte, NC, Aviation Mobility is a provider of legally mandated mobility equipment for special assistance passengers in the commercial air transport sector. The Company has established brand recognition in the industry for its comprehensive product and service portfolio.
Central Specialties LTD's Stroller and Stroller Vending Business 2012
Based in Crystal Lake, IL Central Specialties LTD provides rental strollers and stroller vending services to shopping centers and other industries. The acquisition complements Smarte Carte's position as the North American market leader in rental strollers and stroller vending services.
Sit Back & Relax, LLC and First Class Seats, Inc. 2008
Sit Back & Relax based in Bedford, NH began doing business in 2004 and is the largest provider of massage chair vending services in the U.S. with more than 3,400 vending massage chairs installed at more than 500 shopping centers, fitness centers, and airports in the U.S.
Based in Racine, WI, First Class Seats pioneered the massage chair vending industry in 1994 and currently offers its vending massage chair services at 27 airports and more than 100 other commercial locations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Trivia
- Smarte Carte is featured in the movie The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Hanks' character Viktor uses the change left in Smarte Carte machines to purchase food.
References
External links
- Smarte Carte official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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