Starting a Gumball Machine Business
August 4, 2008 – 10:43 amGumball vending machines are among the oldest surviving types of vending machines. (An interesting side fact is that the first vending machine was a water dispenser in Egypt circa 100 B.C.) The first gumball machines were penny machines. You can still get those antiques, although they are more for novelty use than a way for you to make a profit. Who wants to carry around five dollars’ worth of pennies?
Most gumball vending machines today are quarter-operated. The great thing about gumball vending machines is that they do not require any electricity for keeping cool or for accepting coins and dollars. Anyone can afford to buy a gumball machine. They start at $50, and even the most elaborate ones are usually not more than a few hundred. The exception is if you choose to go with a huge vending machine kiosk that includes gumballs but also candy, stickers, toys, and other quick impulse items. Those are widely available as well.
You can have single gumball vending machines or models with two or three machines in one. Experts on the vending machine business will tell you that you should not have more than three different products or three machines selling gumballs and candy in one location. The small number of choices helps to increase the sales of gumballs for your business. Gumball machines are also very colourful which makes them very noticeable, along with the colourful gumballs inside.
Along with selling gumballs, you can sell many products for fun. Gumball machines can be used to sell bouncy balls, toy capsules or even small souvenir mugs. As long as the products can fit through the dispenser in the gumball vending machines you can use them in the machines. You will also have to adjust the price to reflect the product because some products are more expensive than others. You do have to price the products to sell, but also be able to make a profit in your business. Gumball machines are so popular because they are the most profitable of all vending machines.
One of the major factors that can bring you trouble is direct sunlight. Having your gumball vending machine put straight into the sunlight can affect the quality of the gum not to mention the color that will slowly fade away. So, in order to protect your vending machine business, make sure you place your gumball vending machines in a shady cool place for the durability and good maintenance of the quality of the gumballs.
Remember that when you buy gumball machines, you have to figure in probable profits. If you’re only going to rake in a few dollars a month, consider changing locations or style. If you have a stand with two or more machines, rotate the gumball selection from time to time to keep customers interested.
Tags: Small Business
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