In the world of gumball machine businesses, location is the magic word that can spell the difference between a trickle of coins and a steady stream of revenue.
The right placement can turn a simple treat dispenser into a strategic money-maker, making it imperative to know where to position your gumball machines within a store.
In this post, I will share the best places you can place a gumball machine in a store, as well as the best types of stores you might want to consider putting your machine in.
I’ll also leave you with some tips on what makes a location awesome so that you can go out and find some other excellent places to put gumball machines in your neighborhood!
3 Best Places to Put a Gumball Machine Within a Store
Location, location, location! Before we get into the best types of places you might want to put your machine, let’s talk about placement within the store itself!
The reality is that many places of business will have good enough foot traffic for your machine. That being said, not all locations will have the space for your machine!
I’ve found that there tends to only be about 3 real locations within any store that make sense for a gumball machine. Below, I share my favorite locations for gumball machines that can be found in most places of business.
Near the entrance
Placing your gumball machine at the entrance and exit of a store is a great way to ensure the staff and customers have a great experience.
This is a top location for gumball machines because it is guaranteed that everyone will have to walk by at least twice! If your machine doesn’t get them on their way in, then you have another opportunity on their way out.
If your entrance is visible to the sidewalk, then you have even better odds! My gumball machine was placed in an ice cream store that had lots of windows. This high visibility meant that people would sometimes come in… just for a gumball!
By the cash register
The reality is that gumballs are often an impulse purchase. That is why it is so important to place them in areas that are guaranteed to have people stopping.
If you have a small gumball machine, oftentimes the most perfect placement is next to the register. Countertop gumball machines are excellent for these locations. That being said, the smaller the gumball machine you have then the more concerned you will need to be about the safety of the location.
You can learn more about types of machines in my post on How to Start a Kid’s Gumball Machine Business!
Larger machines make it hard for people to just pick up the machine and run. You may not be able to place them in as eye-catching of a location as the counter, but anywhere within 5- 10 feet of the register should yield the same results.
Cash registers are also a great location because most people do not carry loose change. Though some gumball machines take cards or can be modified to accept them, the reality is that those can be costly.
Your standard gumball machine still takes quarters, which is why it is in your best interest to put your machine in a location where it is easy to get change!
In the hallway, on the way to the bathroom
Most stores have bathrooms, and there are good odds that customers might have to use them at some point.
Putting a gumball machine in the hallways on the way to the bathroom can be a great idea. That being said, you might also run into similar safety concerns as placing a machine near a cash register.
On the flip side, hallways sometimes have space for larger-than-average machines. This can increase your profits while making it harder for someone to walk off with your gumball machine!
I’ve personally never had someone attempt to steal my gumball machine. Though I have had tons of people try to shake it!
6 Best Store Locations for High Visibility of Gumball Machines
1. Laundromats
If you think of great vending machine locations, laundromats probably top the list. This is why they also make an amazing location for gumball machines!
Traveling to a local laundromat is rarely a convenient experience. From loading the washer to waiting almost one hour to be able to move the clothes to the drier… it can take forever!
Not only that, but many people will also wait on-site for the clothes to dry and fold them. When all is said and done, many people will spend 2-3 hours doing this simple weekly chore.
If you are lucky enough to have an in-house washer and drier you might think I’m exaggerating. After all, people could leave the laundromat and return… right?
Well, that is true. Though I will be honest, one time my dad had to use the local laundromat and had his clothing stolen! I’ve also personally had people move my clothing from my apartment laundry mat… despite coming down promptly!
The reality is that in a public space, who knows what will happen! This is why many people will babysit their clothing for hours, probably dropping quarters into your gumball machine in the process!
2. Movie Theaters
If you are looking for a perfect place to put your gumball machine, consider putting it in a movie theater.
Movie theaters attract huge numbers of potential gumball customers. More importantly, we all know what a rip-off the prices are like at the theater. This is yet another way in which people will find it easy to justify spending a few quarters on gum!
After all, once you’ve spent $15+ on popcorn and soda… who would blink at spending on a gumball?
Another reason why you might consider movie theaters to be an excellent location is because they often have arcades. From machines that give out quarters to tons of kids running around, this is probably the best location for a gumball machine that you will ever find.
The only downside to placing a gumball machine in this type of location is that it may be hard to get agreement from the owners. That being said, most towns usually have a few local movie theaters that are small businesses and would be happy to have someone putting this type of machine in.
3. Ice Cream Stores
Ice cream stores are also great places to put a gumball machine. I might be a bit biased because that is where my machine was located!
Customers are always looking for ice cream, and the foot traffic is particularly good during the summer. More importantly, most people walk into an ice cream store looking for a treat. It is easy for them to decide to add on something like a gumball!
The best part about choosing an ice cream store for your gumball location is that there are lots of kids. Sometimes families would have kids sleeping over or bring over a small birthday party group. This can make it easy to sell 5-10 gumballs in less than a minute!
More importantly, these groups also tend to eat the food on location. After all, who wants kids spilling ice cream in their car? This means that there might even be a second round of gumball purchases made!
4. Arcades
I mentioned arcades being a great location earlier when discussing movie theaters, but they do deserve their own section!
That is because some malls will have standalone arcade areas! If your town has fairgrounds, you might even be able to find arcades there too.
With many people visiting arcade stores to play games, they are sure to build up an appetite. Many arcades will have your standard vending machines but often they will overlook this basic machine. Even if they do have gumball machines… many arcades are massive and might have room for a few more!
5. Bowling Alleys
Bowling alleys make a perfect store for gumball machines! They offer plenty of foot traffic, and people visiting the alley tend to be thirstier and hungrier than average because of the physical activities involved.
Just like some of the other locations on this list, bowling alleys are a great family-friendly activity which means there might be plenty of kids running around. These tend to be particularly good locations because groups tend to linger for around 3 hours or more on-site.
This location in particular is a good one if you are considering adding additional prizes to your gumball machine. Younger kids often don’t have the patience for bowling and may not be able to play some of the other games at this type of venue. That is why a gumball machine with small toys might be particularly appealing for kids aged 3-7!
6. Pizza Stores
Pizza stores serve thousands of people every hour. This could mean long waiting hours on the line. As a result, pizza customers can get hungrier and bored. So, having a gumball machine can make customers feel comfortable while waiting for their pizza.
Don’t forget, that employees at the pizza store may also want to purchase from your gumball machine!
6 Things to Keep in Mind When Placing Your Gumball Machines in a New Location
1. Visibility
Knowing whether your gumball machine is easy to see or not by potential customers is vital to its profitability. If potential customers don’t see or know where your gumball machine is, they will not buy from it.
Some perfect visibility places you should consider would be near the entrance and exit of a mall, by the cash register, or in the hallway on the way to the bathrooms. For instance, putting your gumball machine in places with high foot traffic will make it visible to habitual and impulse buyers.
2. Seasonality
Gumballs should always be kept in a cool, dry place to maintain their sweetness and chewy texture for a long time. It is always a good idea to keep your machine located inside and away from direct sunlight. I had issues with this because my gumballs would fade when placed too close to a window!
You should also consider the seasonality of the store you are placing your machine in as that can also impact your profits. The winter months were notably slower in the ice cream store that I placed my gumball machine in, though it’s location near a school did help us maintain a “regular client base”!
I discuss how factors like seasonality can impact profits in my post, Are Gumball Machines Profitable?.
3. Foot Traffic
Like any other business, gumball machine investment is a game of numbers. The more people pass by your gumball machine, the more likely they become customers. Therefore, consider putting your gumball machine in locations with high foot traffic. These areas will always generate the most per-machine profits.
So, choose waiting rooms, hallways, break rooms, or even busy streets in front of shops. The trick is to attract habitual buyers who regularly pass by your gumball machine and impulse buyers who opt to buy from your gumball machine after seeing it.
4. Safety
The safety of your customers and gumball machine is of utmost importance. Therefore, consider placing your gumball machine in a location with a low crime rate that is well-lit.
Besides, you should often partner with establishments, stores, or businesses that have security personnel (available 24/7), as this adds an extra security layer to your investment. For instance, ensuring adequate safety of your customers and gumball machines will protect your business and see you generate more profits.
5. Other Attractions
It is also vital to keep in mind your gumball machine’s proximity to other attractions and amenities. For example, people will often shop from a gumball machine while on the go (shopping for other things such as ice cream, pizza, etc.
Besides, putting your gumball machine in entertainment and fun places, such as such as arcades with games, movie theaters, or bowling alleys, will attract many impulse and habitual buyers.
6. Duration of Visit
Another thing to keep in mind when placing your gumball machine in a new location is putting it in places where people will be visiting, waiting, and sitting for a long time.
It is pretty obvious to think that people often get bored and hungrier at these places, and they may require some recreation. This increases the chance that they give into the temptation of a gumball!
You will be surprised to discover that you can sell multiple gumballs to one person. That is yet another reason why placing your gumball machine in places where people tend to hang out for a long time could result in a sale of 3-4 gumballs to the same person in just 2 hours.
Final Thoughts on Where to Put a Gumball Machine
Location is not just a mere detail. It’s the compass that guides your profits!
As you’ve seen, strategic placement within a store can turn your gumball machines into consistent revenue generators. Whether near the entrance or by the cash register, the right spot can entice customers to indulge in the sweet temptation of gumballs.
More importantly, selecting the right types of stores can further amplify your potential for success.
Don’t forget to consider visibility, seasonality, foot traffic, safety, neighboring attractions, and the duration of visitors’ stays. By keeping these factors in mind, your gumball machines can truly shine, spinning their way to sweet success and a steady stream of income.
Where would you put your gumball machine? Do you know of any other excellent locations for gumball machines? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
