Sally Cohen, Author at GAD Vending

31st January 2023

What’s Coming From Stern?

What’s Coming From Stern? https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Neon-Yellow-mandalorian.png 940 788 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Neon-Yellow-mandalorian.png 31st January 2023 18th January 2023

Stern is constantly adding new games to their portfolio. But we don’t know what’s the next game quite yet.

We do have lots of Stern in inventory and more on the way.

Here’s just an idea of what we normally have in stock:

The Mandalorian Pro and Premium (just in time for Season 3)
James Bond Pro and Premium
Star Wars
- Star Wars Premium
- Star Wars Home Edition
TMNT Pro and Premium
Led Zeppelin Pro and Premium
Jurassic Park Home Edition
Godzilla Premium
Elvira House of Horrors

It’s an amazing list of Stern greatness. So, how do you choose the pinball game right for you and your family? Here’s a few things to consider.

Price. Always. Consider this…

Pinball games for home don’t have money acceptors. While this may not sound like much, it adds considerably to the price.
Some areas we deliver for free. If you aren’t in those areas, consider picking up yourself. We support phone set up.
Home editions are just that. Games designed for home use. Affordable options with innovative game play. Sized and set up to be easier for the home user. All the Stern commercial game quality with the home user in play.
- Unboxed size: 70″ H x 28″W x 53″ D
Play the game before you buy the game. Some of the home edition games are available at our showrooms. Contact us to find out what games you can come play. All the Stern commercial games are available to play near you.
With Stern’s Insider Connected, you are always in the know. Code updates. Tournaments. Team competitions. And, so much more is coming.

Game Longevity

Stern has been creating games for decades. Gary Stern is still involved with the company but recently brought in a new CEO to be the active day-to-day head. And, we are already seeing great things. Stern is producing the best of its classic games – Elvira House of Horrors is a perfect example. GAD staff (talk about pinball wizards) is very impressed with the new Stern Connected Updates and upcoming features. Plus, we consistently have new code updates on games – that’s serious commitment. Now’s a great time to own your own Stern.

Variety

We’ve noticed that our home game owners are very picky. They shop and kick the tires on their first game for a long time. But once they have one, there is a rush to fill every square inch with games! We generally see home game users buy a pinball, then darts. Then the split – add a Multicade, Golden Tee PGA Home Edition or more pinball? Either way lots of fun for the family and friends.

GAD Knows Home Game Rooms

21st January 2023

Safety, Quality, Profitability for Vending Operators

Safety, Quality, Profitability for Vending Operators https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_203205634-scaled.jpeg 2048 1365 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AdobeStock_203205634-scaled.jpeg 21st January 2023 21st September 2022

GAD works with a variety of Vending Operators that service many types of end locations. Part of our job is to help our Vending Operators with their profitability, safety and operational streamlining.

Service at the End Location

Service is the pain point for many of the end location customers. This is especially important for independent operators. Tasked with overseeing everything to do with the equipment, payment and stock levels this can be a big lift for a single operator.

But GAD can help.

Rethinking Vending Management

It is critical to manage your time, your route efficiencies and your profitability. Crane Vending offers Simplifi new software apps to manage your entire business on your smart phone. Set up stock alerts. Machine malfunction. And other alerts to help you be aware of issues before your end location. This helps you stop reacting to being proactive.

Customization is Key

Know your customer. Customize your vending equipment to service the type of customer. You may want a mix use machine that delivers both liquids and snacks. Check out the vendors that deliver full meals. Place a vending machine that dispense products like PPE, cell phone accessories or other high need merchandise.

Use Quality Equipment Reduces Ongoing Costs

Maintenance is key to keeping a quality machine in its best working order. Crane vending machines partnered with GAD Vending parts department keep your machines working 24 hours delivering product.

Machine Placement is Key

Machine placement is key. High traffic areas. Low competition areas like breakrooms. Unique locations like apartment complexes, schools and even convenience stores.

Many customers are looking for self service, securing product and low employee interaction cost. This opens up all new positions for vending machines. High priced products can be secured without employee costs. Small items can be vended easily.

Vending machines aren’t just for candy any more! Vending is an answer for today’s growing demand of retail and consumer expectations.

17th January 2023

How to set up a Pinball Tournament to Bring in Customers

How to set up a Pinball Tournament to Bring in Customers https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tournament-ivi.jpg 850 545 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/tournament-ivi.jpg 17th January 2023 3rd January 2023

Hosting a pinball tournament is an excellent way to build foot traffic. This is the type of event that has become much easier with internet products like Stern’s Insider connected. This is something that will take planning but worth the effort.

Step 1 – When

Create an event calendar so you can plan what tournaments work best to promote traffic at the slowest times. And so that you can promote two or three events at one time. You may want to add a Golden Tee tournament, Trivia contests and a dart league in 2023.

This will help you determine the best time of year to add events to bring in consistent traffic.

Step 2 – How

Have you ever wanted to run your own pinball tournament, but not sure how? This is a great way to grow the pinball community at your location and the Stern Army is here to help! We’ll show you how easy it is.

Match Play Events is one of many great resources you can use in organizing and running a tournament – https://matchplay.events/
The International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) is the official source of the World Pinball Player Rankings (WPPR) system. Find tournaments taking place all over the world and become an officially ranked pinball player today! – https://www.ifpapinball.com/calendar/
Who is the Stern Army? https://sternpinball.com/stern-army/
Get connected! http://sternpinball.com/insider
Locate to play – https://sternpinball.com/pinball-loca…
Need fresh pinball games? – GAD

Trivia contests are so easy with an AMI digital music system. GAD knows how to help you set up your own digital music.

Step 3 – Marketing

The key to any event is awareness marketing. Here’s a checklist:

Promote in your establishment.
Have nice flyers created to distribute –
- In the shopping area around you.
- Post on coffee shop bulletin boards.
- Ask your staff to promote to their influence groups.
- Hand out to your regulars.
Make sure you post your pinball tournament at the IFPA.
Promote on your social media.
Add to event calendars like EventVesta.com.

If you are looking for more advice on games and tournaments, contact GAD.

15th January 2023

Vending – Brand Extension and New Marketing Opportunities

Vending – Brand Extension and New Marketing Opportunities https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/YSL-vending-machine.jpg 1100 450 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/YSL-vending-machine.jpg 15th January 2023 21st September 2022

Vending: Not Just for Vending

How Convenience Services is Expanding

Vending: it’s not just for vending anymore. As retailers and brands look for ways to extend their reach and distribute their products in new ways, they’re turning to vending for customized merchandising solutions. A trend driven by both retailers and end users seeking self-service, vending operators are presented with new market opportunities to deploy the equipment they’ve been using for years in a whole new way.

Brand Extension

How Custom Vending Can Play a Role

Auto Vending Specialists (AVS), an Australian equipment distributor, has successfully used vending for companies seeking to deploy and extend their brands in unique ways. Some of the world’s leading retailers, including Moet, Armani, Lancôme, and Yves Saint Laurent, have partnered with AVS to produce custom vending machines that both promote their brands and delight their customers.

Their most recognizable project supported wine producer Moet with a custom vending machine. Designed to dispense single-serving champagne bottles, the fully branded vending machines debuted at high-end events and venues. Vending gave Moet an interactive way to take their brand and their product directly to the end customer.

The custom machine program resulted in an uplift for AVS revenue and awareness. To support the custom requests, many of which are for pop-up or temporary events, the AVS model enables companies and brands to rent the machines. This allows them to use the same equipment from event to event, with custom wraps and graphics for each. AVS founder, Basil Hourmouzis, explained that while AVS works with multiple machine manufacturers, they lean on CPI machines for custom events. The flexibility and brand reach enabled by the custom machines’ graphics and digital media screens delivers extra value to retailers.

Big Branding Opportunities

Vending’s Custom Future

Hourmouzis believes that the trend towards non-traditional vending will continue to increase over the years, as retailers look for new ways to distribute and promote their products and brands. Both distributors and operators should accommodate these changing needs, increasing the flexibility of their offerings to support clientele beyond the traditional convenience services market. Increased consumer reliance on self-service will mean increased demands from brands looking for new options to stay engaged with their customers.

10th January 2023

Coming In! Stern’s 007 James Bond Pro Pinball

Coming In! Stern’s 007 James Bond Pro Pinball https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/007-pro.png 940 788 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/007-pro.png 10th January 2023 3rd January 2023

Stern’s 007 James Bond Pro Pinball is coming back in to GAD Pinball.

We’ve been luck enough to get in James Bond Premium Pinball and we are getting more Pro versions in.

James Bond 007 Pinball have been extremely popular – because they are great games! – and are really hard to get from limited production at Stern. Orders and pre-orders are being taken on these games now at GAD for home sales in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas and Missouri.

Take a look at the James Bond Pro features:

In Dr. No (1962) Sean Connery propelled 007 into the cultural zeitgeist, bringing the legendary literary figure to life through adrenalized action sequences, ground-breaking gadgets and effects, memorable characters, and timeless villains.

Stern’s James Bond 007 cornerstone pinball machine will highlight film footage and iconic music from the films that built the 007 legend: Dr. No, From Russia With Love (1963), Goldfinger (1964), Thunderball (1965), You Only Live Twice (1967), and Diamonds Are Forever (1971). Players are immersed into the world of espionage in this action-packed pinball experience, tackling assignments, teaming up with key allies, and stopping SPECTRE’s villainous schemes.

James Bond 007 pinball machines include Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system, which enables players to interact with the game and a global network of players in a variety of ways. Through Insider Connected, players can track progress, earn new game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. Insider Connected also provides an operator-focused toolset to drive location play through Location Leaderboards, build player loyalty, analyze performance, make adjustments remotely, and maintain the machines. Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com/.

Limited to 1,000 machines globally, the highly collectible cornerstone Limited Edition includes an exclusive full-color mirrored backglass inspired by Thunderball, masterfully adapted cabinet artwork, custom high gloss and powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern Chairman Gary Stern and President Seth Davis.

“James Bond is as timeless as pinball. Partnering with EON Productions/Danjaq, MGM Studios and Aston Martin, we created a pinball adventure capturing the suspense, action, and humor from this beloved film series.” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO. “Get connected today and become a legend.”

4th January 2023

Stern’s Premium 007 Available!

Stern’s Premium 007 Available! https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/007-premium-1.png 940 788 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/007-premium-1.png 4th January 2023 3rd January 2023

Stern’s James Bond 007 Pinball Premium pinballs due to GAD next week! Call to order yours for pick up now!

Interested in James Bond 007 Pinball Pro? These are coming in as well but we don’t have an exact date – yet. If Pro is more your style, we do take pre-orders. And, as fast as James Bond Pinball is selling across the country, it’s a good idea to get yours on order.

Gather gadgets from Q Branch as pinballs get ejected through the roof of a custom sculpted Aston Martin DB5. Break through the Osato Chemicals drop targets to battle SPECTRE at the Bird One rocket base. And hold your breath on the gravity defying, magnetic jetpack as it transports pinballs across the playfield.

Limited to 1,000 machines globally, the highly collectible cornerstone Limited Edition includes an exclusive full-color mirrored back glass inspired by Thunderball, masterfully adapted cabinet artwork, custom high gloss and powder-coated pinball armor, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern Chairman Gary Stern and President Seth Davis.

3rd January 2023

A Little Cash Left From the Holidays?

A Little Cash Left From the Holidays? https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/bonus-i.png 940 788 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/bonus-i.png 3rd January 2023 8th December 2022

Cash in your stocking? Holiday bonus? Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas?

Time to indulge a bit in yourself! Add a pinball, Golden Tee or darts to your home game room. Or create an ultimate break room at your office.

GAD in stock may include (stock changes daily with both sales and incoming inventory):

Golden Tee Home and Golden Tee PGA Home
Galaxy Darts
Pinball
- The Mandalorian
- Cactus Canyon
- Led Zeppelin
- TMNT
- Star Wars Home Edition
- Guns ‘n Roses
- Legends of Valhalla
- And the newest Stern’s James Bond with more due in soon!

Call us to get all the details.

30th December 2022

Events

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/winter-break-vi-scaled.jpg 2048 1710 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/winter-break-vi-scaled.jpg 30th December 2022 8th December 2022

Happy New Year!

GAD is closed from Friday afternoon, 12/30 through 1/2/2023 to celebrate the New Year with our family and friends.

28th December 2022

Home Gameroom

GAD is Open Today for Last Minute Pick Ups

GAD is Open Today for Last Minute Pick Ups https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Red-Minimalist-darts.png 1080 1080 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Red-Minimalist-darts.png 28th December 2022 29th November 2022

Big party for New Year’s? Kids are totally bored already? Your friends want to hang out at home instead of going out? How about a new dart board? Pinball? Golden Tee PGA? That will keep everyone entertained.

Here’s a couple ideas:

The newest Stern James Bond is a true hit. The variety of game play is new and unusual. But the graphics are from all the familiar Bond movies. The best of the Bond girls, villain’s and gadgets.
Golden Tee Home versions are in stock at GAD. There is the traditional Golden Tee Home and the new Golden Tee PGA Home versions. Both have been in stock but call for details.
Digital Darts is a quick and easy add to a home game room. Provides single, head-to-head and team play options for hours of great play. With digital scoring it is much easier to keep the play friendly and moving along.
For the kids, there are a lot of popular pinball titles to keep them engaged. TMNT, Toy Story 4, and Hot Wheels are just a few of the games the kids love.
Music lovers have many titles to select from. Pick your favorite. Guns ‘n Roses. Led Zeppelin. Rush. Or check with us about ordering your favorite band.
And, don’t forget your favorite movie characters. The Mandalorian. Star Wars. Jurassic Park. Just to name a few…..

Call us and arrange curbside.

GAD will be closed Friday am, 12/30 – Monday, 1/2.

Happy Holidays!

27th December 2022

Home Gameroom

Extra Cash for Christmas?

Extra Cash for Christmas? https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Red-Minimalist-tmnt.png 1080 1080 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Red-Minimalist-tmnt.png 27th December 2022 29th November 2022

If you were lucky enough to get a bit of cash for Christmas, how about a new pinball game? Digital dart board? Multicade game?

Because GAD works with both home and commercial buyers of arcade games, pinball, digital dart boards and commercial grade pool – we have an amazing inventory available for immediate pick up this week. Our GAD warehouses are open Tuesday 12/27 – Friday am 12/30/2022. But call to check inventory and schedule a pick up time as staff will be taking time off this week.

Here’s just an idea of the pinball we might have in stock, have on the way or can order for you. This list is not all inclusive as Stern, American Pinball and Jersey Jack sometimes have a game available that we take along with another order.

Stern’s newest James Bond
The Mandalorian
Star Wars Comic Art Home Edition
Star Wars Movie Post Art Home Edition
Jurassic Park Home Edition
Gun’s ‘n Roses
Toy Story
Hot Wheels
Legends of Valhalla
Houdini
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Led Zeppelin
And many more…