When filling vending machine capsules, consider small, appealing items that cater to your audience. Popular options include toys, mini-figures, and keychains for younger demographics, while phone accessories or novelty items work well for older customers. Studies show that collectible items increase repeat purchases by 20%. Make sure the capsule size matches the products, typically ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Seasonal or themed items, like holiday trinkets, also attract attention.
Small Toys
Small toys have always been one of the top choices when it comes to vending machines, as there are plenty for anyone around, and this way they will be appealing enough. When selecting vending machines, about 60% of consumers choose ones with small toys inside. Mini building block toys are also in high demand, with LEGO’s limited edition mini blocks being only around 5 yuan per piece, but more importantly, they allow children to develop hand-eye coordination skills and the ability for imaginative creation. Sales by LEGO mini-series vary, but global sales reach an astounding 10 million pieces per year.
Other common items to get in a vending machine are rubber animals. Three-quarters of kids love these capsules with animals in them because they can learn about all sorts of neat animal breeds and behaviors while playing. For instance, more than 5 million rubber animals are manufactured each year in Japan, and themes include prehistoric/toy dinosaurs, marine life, birds, farm animals, and pets. Priced between 2-3 yuan, it’s practical and affordable for families with kids. These rubber animals are usually made from non-toxic materials to ensure the safety of children while playing.
Cartoon character figures represent a popular category for children, academic fans, and collectors, especially with consumers. The likes of “Pokemon,” “Hello Kitty,” and even comic book heroes from Marvel are considered to be high in value for collectors. Statistics reveal that in a shopping mall with over 20 units of these machines, monthly sales can reach 2 million yuan. Among them, at the largest anime exhibitions and malls, it is not uncommon to see a total of several hundred thousand young people purchasing dozens, if not hundreds, of cartoon character figurines from vending machines per month. Limited edition dolls, in particular, can sometimes create a mad scramble for them in the market. While these figurines may initially sell at 10 yuan, prices could also double.
The fortune-telling fish has been a standard schoolyard prank toy for years, as popular Pokemon-style collectible toys remain the mainstay of bulk-vending machines. Educational puzzles have also become star performers in recent times. They improve logical thinking skills, and 65% of parents are willing to purchase educational toys for their children as they help in developing logical thinking skills. In today’s market, puzzle mini education is quite average, with about 20-50 pieces for the price of $0.4. These items are the first choice for schools and kindergartens, with vending near educational institutions reaching up to 1,000 sets per week.
Accessories and Jewelry
Among younger consumers, accessories and jewelry are an important part of the vending machine selection. 70% of the vending machine customers are between 15-30 years old, and 45 percent of both groups like to buy jewelry. One of the most popular accessories is rings, including specific designs or meanings. For instance, in Japan, a popular brand has released zodiac rings and sold more than 50,000 units per month. Each ring sells for about 8 yuan, reflecting the popularity of these products among young customers.
Bracelets and necklaces are another thing that is in fashion among modern young women. As long as the market demand for bracelets and necklaces is increasing at an annual rate of 10%, this makes sense. 40% of total accessory sales are through vending machines. In China, an internationally acclaimed brand entered the Chinese market and launched a series of lucky charm bracelets that sold 30k pieces each month. The 12 yuan price proves that it has a great consumer market.
Earrings are preferred for daily wear, which in turn makes them a top-selling item used in vending machines as well. 60% of female customers prefer buying earrings in different styles from vending machines, according to survey data. This jewelry is made of metal, plastic, or wood in different styles, such as geometric patterns, vintage styles, and minimalist designs. According to a survey, more than 200 pairs of earrings are sold in an ordinary shopping mall vending machine each day, with monthly sales up nearly RMB 40,000.
Appealing to a broad age range, keychains are small objects whose utility can also be decorative. Global keychain sales in vending machines account for 30% of the market. Consumer interest increases by at least five percent annually. In South Korea, 10K keychains featuring pop culture elements like cartoon characters or famous landmarks are sold through vending machines. A single 5 yuan keychain can be sold for nearly 50% more than regular models, so selling them to increase revenue seems almost mandatory.
Cards and Collectibles
Cards and collectibles hold a vital position in the vending machine market, with an increasing number of collectors backed by young consumers. According to data, about 55% of vending machine consumers are deeply interested in card and collectible products, especially young people aged 18-35. These are the shining stars of this section, as they have very selective limited edition cards. The global buying fever has rocketed some limited edition Pokémon cards into the tens of thousands. According to data, the transaction prices of these limited edition cards on the secondary market have soared more than ten times their original price, and some high-rarity cards have climbed up close to a thousand per card.
Stickers are another category of collectibles that are especially popular with teenagers. 75% of teen consumers consider purchasing stickers with anime or pop culture themes, according to market research. The United States alone sells over 200 million stickers per year, with a large number sold through vending machines. The average price of each location sticker is about 1.5 yuan, and specially designed or limited-edition stickers’ prices could even reach as high as 5 yuan; ample room has been squeezed out within this market segment to prevail in the China region.
Badges are quite a common collectible from vending machines, especially in schools and anime conventions. 80% of college students and anime fans buy at least one badge per year featuring characters from well-known anime or games. This 12-character set, created by a famous brand, was available at an anime convention for just three days and they sold over 10,000 badges. Priced at only 10 yuan per piece, one sales event sold out more than 100,000 pieces, fully reflecting the vibrancy and consumption power of economic undertakings.
Commemorative coins, which have historical significance or cover cultural aspects, are also popular. The global commemorative coin market is growing with a CAGR of 7% annually. In recent years, the Forbidden City cultural theme commemorative coins launched by China have attracted much attention in the market. The scale of the sales broke through 50,000 pieces within a quarter, and each coin was priced at around Y20 (around $3), indicating that collectors have a strong interest in this market.
Food and Candy
Vending machines are increasingly used to dispense food or candy in transit points such as supermarkets, cinemas, or amusement parks. Market research shows that almost 65% of vending machine buyers opt for food and candy dispensed by machines, especially among teenagers and young individuals. Mini chocolate is one of the best food items. One of Ferrero’s most successful brands is chocolate, with about 1 billion chocolates sold per year worldwide. The vending machine sells them for 3 yuan, with a monthly sales volume of over 500,000. This is a rich-tasting chocolate that is easy to carry, making it a favorite among consumers.
Chewing gum is also highly placed in vending machines that cater to children (at school) or adults who wish for it at work. Since adults use it to freshen their breath or keep it clean, 78% of them admit to buying the product regularly. Take Wrigley’s small-packaged gum as an example, which is priced at 2 yuan in the vending machine and sells about 30,000 packs per month, showing strong consumer product strength in this market. The annual sales of it have gradually increased to about 7.2 million yuan.
Another popular food is small biscuits, especially flavored or fun-shaped ones. In a survey, 67% of respondents said they would like to buy small biscuits with new packaging and flavors from vending machines. A brand created an animal-shaped biscuit in mini style, with sales over 200,000 bags a month, priced at RMB 2.5/bag after being launched. They appeal to countless parents and children, making them one of the must-have snacks families never leave home without.
Gummies are a prolific option among younger consumers, thanks to their sweet tastes and wide range of flavors. This is why vending machines should never leave gummies out of the product range, with 85% of teenagers purchasing them at least once a month. For instance, Harry Potter gummies cost 3.5 yuan in vending machines and have garnered over 400,000 transactions per month, indicating strong market demand for them. In addition, gummy sales are also rising year by year, with an estimated annual turnover totaling around 16.8 million yuan.
