Bubble gum machines offer the perfect opportunity for individuals who are just entering the vending business due to the small size and low price of the machines. Whether you look online or offline for a great value, the prices start in the range of $50 and go up to $250 for a basic plastic container machine, which makes them highly affordable.

There are many websites that you can browse through to find a machine that suits your requirements and budget. Some recommendations are gumball.com and bubblegum-machine.com. Both sites not only offer a wide range of machines, but they also have many supplies to choose from.

Bubble gum machines have a high profit-making potential, simply because the product that you are selling is an extremely low priced product. Normally, you would sell it to the consumer for an affordable price of 25 to 50 cents. However, the scope of making a good profit lies in the substantially low wholesale purchase price of the product. Bubble gum is normally available for less than 10 cents a unit (whole sale price) at any restaurant supply store or warehouse. Since you are stocking the machine with bulk products and selling them per unit you could make a 200% or more profit on each unit.

As with any vending machine, regardless of whether it is a used vending machine or not, one of the most important aspects of the bubble gum machine business is the location in which you place the machine. Because the product is meant for children, you will need to place it in an area with high traffic. However, the best part is that such locations can either be rented inexpensively or for free by contacting the owner or manager of the store you are interested in. If you are particularly keen on placing the machine at a specific location that belongs to a store owner, you may wish to consider enticing the store owner with a profit-sharing arrangement. However, it is critical that you decide on the location before you buy the machine. The reason for this is because it will assist you in avoiding additional shipping expenses that may come as a result of having no other choice than to place the machine — something you have already invested in — in a location further than you originally hoped for.

Since you are selling an easily perishable product, it is recommended you secure a place where the vending equipment is not positioned in direct sunlight. To do otherwise would mean reducing the shelf life of the candy or quite possibly rendering it worthless as it could melt and lose its visual appeal to customers. The normal shelf life for gum balls is about 10 months, but that is assuming it has not been stocked by the supplier for months before it is delivered to you.

Another issue encountered with bubble gum machines is theft, damage, and lock tampering. This point is particularly important to discuss with the manufacturer you are buying it from so that you are aware of potential problems and how or if the manufacturer will offer any warranty that will cover such things in case they do occur. Simple measures to deter theft include placing a small alarm that detects vibration in the cash box or chaining the unit to a counter or the floor. Usually, bubble gum machines that are made of mostly metal are more expensive, but the additional cost of buying a vending machine is justified in their ability to withstand physical abuse.

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