Installing a vending machine: which size fits, what can go inside, and what a portion costs
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
A gumball machine is an eye-catcher that pays for itself — provided you choose the right size and use the right filling. Here's how to determine the size, location, filling, and price per serving.
You'll find one on the counter in a garage waiting room. At the hairdresser's, there's one next to the till. Children turn the knob while their parents pay, and adults secretly do it too. A gumball machine is one of the few things on a counter that people are drawn to on their own.
Yet, many of these machines are half-empty and gathering dust. The difference lies in three choices: the size that suits your location, the filling that works with the mechanism, and a regular time for refilling. Let's go through them below.
Which size fits which location?
Roughly, there are three sizes, and each has a different role.
Small, for a desk or bedside table. The compact models come with a filling, such as the mini gumball machine blue with 120 grams of gumballs for €5.99. Also available in green and red, at the same price. This size is fun as a gift or in a child's room, but too small for a counter where multiple people turn the knob daily: you'll be refilling too often.
Medium, for the counter or canteen table. Consider the blue gumball machine or the red variant, both €12.95, or the slightly larger red model for €14.95. This is the size that stays on a counter without taking up the entire checkout area.
Multiple at once, for selling. If you're reselling them, the set of 6 machines in red and blue with display packaging for €29.95 is more convenient than individual items: the packaging doubles as your display, and you don't need to set up anything extra.
What can go in — and what's best not to
The mechanism of these machines is designed for hard, round sweets of fairly uniform size. Gumballs, therefore, or hard dragées. Beyond that, things can quickly go wrong:
Chocolate melts against the glass and jams the mechanism, especially if the machine is in the sun or near a heater.
Soft or sticky candies (wine gums, marshmallows) clump together and block the passage.
Powdered candies leave behind powder that eventually forms a layer inside the globe.
Too large or too small pieces will either not fall through the opening, or five will come out at once.
Unsure about a new filling? First, put a handful in the globe and turn it ten times. If roughly the same portion comes out each time, you can fill it.
Coin or free spin
Some models spin freely, others work with a coin. Check this per model on the product page, as it determines where you place it. A free spin is logical for a complimentary treat for customers or at home. A coin mechanism is intended for places where the proceeds go somewhere — a club fund, a charity at the till — and in that case: put a small sign next to it indicating where the money goes, and empty the machine regularly.
Place the machine in a location where it cannot fall. These are not heavy devices, and the globe is the most fragile part. Behind the till on a stable surface is better than on the corner of a counter where bags might brush against it.
Refilling, shelf life and cleaning
Agree on a fixed time – for example, every Monday when you're doing the till anyway – and refill until the globe is full. A half-full globe looks neglected and sells less well than a full one.
When refilling, pay attention to two things. First, the expiry date on the bag you're filling from: write it with a marker on a sticker under the base, so you don't have to guess how long the current filling has been in there. Second: don't throw new sweets on top of old ones. Empty the globe first before adding a new batch, otherwise a layer will remain at the bottom for months.
Clean the globe with a dry cloth and let it dry completely before filling it. Moisture is the common cause of gumballs sticking together.
What does one portion cost?
You can calculate this yourself without guessing. Weigh how many grams come out per turn once – do ten turns on a kitchen scale and divide by ten. Then divide the price of your filling per kilogram by that weight. This way, you know exactly what a turn costs you and whether the coin you're asking for is reasonably above that.
Do this calculation once per filling you use. Sweets vary greatly in specific gravity: from the same number of grams, you get far fewer portions with large balls than with small dragées.
When a machine isn't the best choice
If you primarily want to sell sweets rather than set up an eye-catcher, a display box is more practical. A Becky's marshmallow lolly display costs €70.00 and a display box with heart-shaped lollies €80.00 — you set it up as it comes and don't need to refill anything until it's empty.
The small models do well as a small gift in autumn and around the holidays: they come complete with filling, cost little, and are immediately usable. When shipping, note that the globe is plastic and the whole thing cannot withstand bumps — a layer of film around it and a box that isn't too spacious prevent disappointments upon unpacking.
Get started
You can find the machines and fillings in Sweets and Sweets Brands. If you want several for your shop, canteen, or association and are unsure about the quantities? Email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we'll help you look at what's in stock and what suits your counter.
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