Bulk vending

In 1907, the round, candy-coated gumball, a staple product in vending machines of the late 20th century, was introduced [1].

In 1909, Emerson A. Bolen formed the Northwestern Novelty Company, selling the Yankee, a penny matchstick vending machine; Bolen's company later became one of the most prominent bulk vending machine manufacturers.

In 1963, Josef Schwarzli founded Beaver Machine Corporation, designing and manufacturing his own equipment that eventually sold into over 100 different countries worldwide.

In 1950, the United States Treasury Department attempted to impose gambling excise taxes on bulk vendors on the grounds that there was no way for consumers to know for sure which gumball or other product the machine would dispense.

The NBVA has since lobbied on behalf of bulk vendors on a variety of issues; for instance, it joined the Coin Coalition which pushed for elimination of the U.S. one dollar bill in favor of the United States dollar coin.

Bulk vending is a hands-on business requiring research and planning, as well as sales ability and investment of time, to be successful.

Bulk vending may be a practical choice for an individual simultaneously working a full-time job, because many venues that host bulk vending machines, such as retailers and restaurants, are open on weekends and during evening hours.

The business is susceptible to inflation because product costs rise higher than prices customers are willing to pay.

Many bulk candy vending mechanisms are not equipped to accommodate price increases, unlike electronic machines.

Machines have been known to be seized or liquidated by the host businesses' creditors, before the rightful owner has a chance to retrieve them.

Sticker adhesive can be removed from machines by applying lighter fluid and then rinsing with dish soap.

Grocery stores, malls, and laundromats may have stands with a half-dozen or more separate head machines.

Most experienced vendors recommend buying single- and double-head machines new,[2] since they usually only cost $50–75 per head.

A disadvantage is that the presentation area is smaller than with a globe or panel head, and customers cannot see all products from all angles.

Some vendors have reported high sales of doggy treats at veterinary offices when they used the ASPCA as a charity.

More so than in other types of vending, the operator should take customers' requests for specific candy with a grain of salt.

Gummi bears and similar soft, squishy candies, for instance, will jam the machine.

A company's regional manager may visit a branch, for instance, and decide that he doesn't like the bulk candy machine.

According to Bryon Krug's Vending Business-in-a-Box, certain factors can make a location more profitable for a bulk vendor: The presence of a few individuals who each buy a few handfuls of candy a day can dramatically improve sales.

Because it is difficult to know in advance where these candy lovers may be, usually the only way to find out the profitability of a location is to place a machine and see what happens.