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- š« The AI-Proof Business You Should Start Now: Vending Machines š¤
š« The AI-Proof Business You Should Start Now: Vending Machines š¤
5 reasons why~

Hey there, Vendpreneur!
Welcome to Becoming a Vendpreneurāwhere every week I help you navigate the challenges of running a vending machine business, whether youāre just starting out or looking to expand your operation.
This week, weāre talking about why AI canāt replace the vending hustle.
If youāre worried about the future of your job, here are five reasons why vending still has your back:
Reason # 1: Itās Location-Based
Reason # 2: People Buy From People
Reason #3: AI Canāt Handle Physical Logistics
Reason # 4: Impulse Buying Is Human
Reason # 5: Vending Is Personal

But before we jump into more details, I want to share a few quick updates on my nightlife vending franchise, Pod Plug:
Hired my sister Madi as our franchise sales appointment setter! Been training her daily, and man, her voice on calls is a game-changer. Sheās already booked 13 calls this week! š
Hired Charles, a full-time procurement manager, with 11 years of logistics experience. The guy knows his stuff! š¦
Had 33 franchise sales calls this week with markets like Nashville, Tallahassee, Atlanta, and Charleston really heating up. š„
Just closed the biggest deal in company history in Oxford, MS! The machine's projected to make $8-10k/month in revenue! Installation next monthāletās go! š„
![]() Closing those calls! šŖ | ![]() Letās goooo! š„ |
Our first two machines in Jackson, MS are pulling in $1,500 each (super solid). A third machine is going in this weekend! šŖ
Weāre using the 20/80 rule to document all our core processes; marketing, sales, HR, finance, logistics, and more. Efficiency is key! š
Our team is now 17 strong, so weāre migrating to ClickUp for task & project management. Sad to leave Slack, but itās time to level up! š
Latest YT vid is blowing up with almost 1k views in under a week. Plus, we got 3 franchise applications from it! š°

Getting there!
š Business Updates
š Best Links
Curated picks for Vendpreneurs
š± Top Reads
š Farms are diversifying their income with 24/7 vending machines. (BBC)
š®šŖ A fully automated convenience store debuted in Ireland. (Retail Customer Experience)
š± Trending Now
š® In the mood for pudding? Check out this vending machine. (YouTube)
šØ If youāre a fan of LEGO, youāre going to love this. (Brick Fanatics)

By 2030, as much as 30% of jobs could be gone.
So, if youāre worried about AI stealing your job, donāt sweat it.
Thereās one business AI canāt disrupt: vending machines in nightlife.
Hereās why. š
Are you worried AI might replace you in your field? |

Reason # 1: Itās Location-Based š
Vending is all about being where the action is.
To succeed, youāve got to place your machines in the right spot. For example: bars and nightclubs where people gather late at night.
But getting in those prime spots takes more than just numbers, it takes real relationships with the owners and staff (people who run them).
AI canāt do that. AI canāt scout neighborhoods, read foot traffic, or connect with people.
Humans still run the streets, and that leads us to our next pointā¦
A common question is "can an AI make money?"
This benchmark, where AIs run a simulated vending machine over time, suggests yes, with an important caveat.
On average, Claude 3.5 & o3-mini beat a human, but they are high in variance, and fail at random times for complex reasons.
ā Ethan Mollick (@emollick)
3:42 AM ⢠May 10, 2025

Reason # 2: People Buy From People š
Did you know 78% of business leaders say face-to-face meetings are āabsolutely necessaryā or āvery importantā?
And honestly, that makes total sense.
AI canāt do what humans do best:
š¬ Negotiate
šŖ Follow-through
š Read the situation
š§ Solve problems on the fly
š¤ Build genuine relationships
Plus, a good vending operator brings personalityā¦
Whether itās funny notes on the machine, cool product picks, or giveaways. That human touch is what really sells.

Reason #3: AI Canāt Handle Physical Logistics āļø
AI struggles with "out-of-distribution" problems. Thatās when things go off-script and itās faced with something it hasnāt been trained for.
So when youāre in a bind, AIās not exactly your go-to for quick fixes.
Tasks like stocking machines, moving inventory, checking for damages, or fixing malfunctions need someone on the ground, handling things in the moment.
Real-time hustle is key.
Speaking of hustlesā¦
Check out these side hustles no one talks about š

Reason # 4: Impulse Buying Is Human šø
Late-night cravings, curiosity, or convenience. Those spontaneous buys are emotional, not algorithmic.
And thatās where vending machines come in.
Customers want what they want, and they want it fast ā whether itās cash or card, all in just a few seconds.
Impulse buying plays a big role in that. In fact, impulse purchases make up to 40% of retail sales.
NAMA backs it up, saying impulse buying is a key factor in vending machine success, especially for snacks, drinks, and essentials.
Bottom line: The instant convenience of vending and the power of impulse buying keep this business solid and thriving (no matter how much AI tries to take over š« ).

Reason # 5: Vending Is Personal š¤
With vending, youāre in control.
Your route, your machines, your wins and losses. Itās a hands-on business, and that makes it yours.
And youāre not alone in wanting that control:
79% of Americans have little or no trust in businesses using AI responsibly.
54% donāt trust AI to make unbiased decisions, and 42% donāt believe AI provides accurate information.
In fact, 81% of Americans say they rely heavily on their own research when making big decisions (way more than those who trust experts or automated systems).

There are 10 more reasons why vending will beat out every AI trend, but letās keep it simple for nowā¦
While AI keeps advancing, thereās two things it simply canāt replicate: the hustle and āØpersonal touch⨠that make the vending business, especially in nightlife, such a great investment.
Thatās why a vending franchise is such a powerful opportunity.
You get the best of both worlds: real-world hustle with a proven system thatās already set up for success.
With my franchise, youāll get:
ā Smart machines
ā Prime locations already lined up
ā Ongoing support to make sure everything runs smoothly
If youāve got:
šµ $25K in liquid capital
š¼ Sales experience (or the motivation to learn)
š„ A passion to grow
šŖ The drive to make it happen
We should definitely talk!
Investing in the right machines is one thing.
But investing in the full system, thatās how you turn a side hustle into a vending empire.

And Thatās a Wrap!
Thanks for reading this weekās newsletter.
Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this weekāI read every single reply and Iād love to hear from you!
See you next Saturday!
-Ethan
What did you think of this week's issue? |
