Sally Cohen, Author at GAD Vending

29th October 2021

Where Do You See Vending Machines?

Where Do You See Vending Machines? https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/photo-vi.jpg 1800 1200 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/photo-vi.jpg 29th October 2021 22nd September 2021

Where do you see vending machines? Everywhere!

Sometimes we walk right by without thinking but so many times we run up and think “thank goodness”. That’s where the perfect placement of a vending machine rocks. And, with Crane vending + GAD, there are lots of ways we can create a positive vending experience.

A big success metric to vending is foot traffic.
Add exciting graphics.
Promote product mix with ad graphics on the digital display.
Allow customers to use touchless payment methods or cash.
Regular customers can be sent messaging of a special or a new product.
Keep your vending machine in good repair with regular maintenance and set up alerts if there is a problem.
Tie it all together with Crane’s comprehensive remote management systems.

So, where do you see vending machines? Office, warehouse, breakroom, hospital waiting rooms, cafeterias, café, shopping malls, sporting venues, concerts – anywhere and everywhere people are.

26th October 2021

3 Ways Vending Is Providing Safer Retail – The Social Distancing Hero

3 Ways Vending Is Providing Safer Retail – The Social Distancing Hero https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TOUCHLESS-i-.png 372 254 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TOUCHLESS-i-.png 26th October 2021 26th October 2021

From our partners at CPI Crane’s Cashless Solutions Division: You might be surprised to learn that the history of the vending machine goes back to first-century Roman Egypt, where Hero of Alexandria engineered a machine that accepted a coin and dispensed holy water. In modern times we’ve seen vending machines offer everything from postcards and stamps to candy, gum and cigarettes. Their popularity as beverage dispensers came with refrigeration and heating elements – and today we see an astounding array of products sold from vending machines. Making your way to the gate at an international airport you might pick up an iPad, a SIM card for your phone, a down jacket, a warm hamburger, and an aspirin – plus a cold bottle of water to help you swallow it!

Responding to the social distancing imperative presents multiple challenges for retail environments. We’ve seen limits on the number of people allowed into supermarkets, one-way aisles, distance markers at the checkout, food bars emptied, cafés and breakrooms closed, and Plexiglass shields erected around store personnel. These and other efforts by retailers to keep customers and staff safe and limit exposure are appreciated by all. But ideally, customers could shop for their essential items without interacting with a cashier or even going into a store. And retailers can make the ideal, real, with vending machines.

How can operators use their machines—the ultimate unattended retail model—to serve to the needs of social distancing? Read below to see how 3 retailers have already adapted.

The Meat Guy Who Was Ahead of the Social Distance Curve

The owner of Applestone Meats was ready for social distancing years before the pandemic brought the concept into the mainstream. Wanting to serve customers without a retail counter-service location, Joshua Applestone remembered the coin-operated machines once used in cafeteria-style restaurants in New York and Pennsylvania. Applestone searched for and found Crane Merchandising’s refrigerated delivery system, The Shopper, which allowed his customers to pull meat packages directly from their container. And to be ready for card acceptance, he added the 4-in-1 Plus cashless reader.

Applestone customers liked the convenient delivery method well enough before, but after the pandemic? “We thought society might take a while to warm up to the machines,” says Applestone, “but for the situation we’re all in [now], they’re the perfect solution.”

From Healthy Snacks to PPE Provider

Healzzy2GO, a Netherlands-based vending company, believes that snacking should be accessible, fun, and most importantly, healthy. With the challenges of staying safe in a global pandemic, “healthy options” takes on new meaning. Healzzy2GO decided to make personal protective equipment (PPE) as accessible to their customers as healthy snacks. They worked with Crane Merchandising Systems to adapt their vending machines to dispense facemasks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and other personal equipment. Custom graphics and media were placed on the machines to educate consumers about the product offering.

The first Healzzy2GO PPE machine debuted in May, providing shoppers at the Alexandrium Shopping Center in Rotterdam and Hoog Catharijne in Utrecht the protection they need to shop safely.

The Healthy Machine Serving Frontline Workers

Farmer’s Fridge, a New York-based vending startup, gained popularity by providing vend patrons with healthy options like salads in plastic jars and fresh wraps, instead of the usual candy and soda. When offices closed due to COVID-19, many Farmer’s fridge locations saw a precipitous drop in usage. But, as they say, when a door closes a window opens, and in this case, it was true. Farmer’s Fridge saw a surge in usage in hospital settings – where cafeterias were shut down to limit spread of the virus. To meet the demand, Farmer’s Fridge added over 18 machines to locations that included Northwestern Memorial Hospital, New York Presbyterian and the Javits Center field hospital. Farmer’s Fridge also supported the efforts of front-line workers by adding more than 60 mini fridges that served complimentary meals in hospital break rooms.

Vending machines are typically a last resort for healthcare workers, but due to their value proposition of removing the roadblocks to eating wholesome, delicious food, Farmer’s Fridge is now serving fresh meals to over 30,000 workers per week at hospitals across the U.S. One surgeon at UChicago tweeted: “Thank you @FarmersFridge for keeping the trauma/ICU team fed during #COVID19.”

Vending Moving Forward

How does an industry so firmly rooted in serving sweet treats and soft drinks recreate its persona as the hero of a pandemic? “The Convenience Services Industry is uniquely equipped to assist the nation in this time of crisis,” writes Carla Balakgie, president and CEO of the National Automatic Merchandising Association, in a letter to the White House and U.S. Congress. Balakgie cited the unique distribution system of unattended retail as “the greatest source of ‘contactless’ nourishment” for healthcare workers. In other words, the machine invented by a man called Hero can now live up to that name.

Are you ready to adapt your machine to serve the needs for health and safety in these times of crisis? Ask a member of our GAD Vending team how you can make seamless and safe payment a part of your post pandemic vending strategy.

21st October 2021

Pinball

Stern’s Insider Connected App

Stern’s Insider Connected App https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/stern-insider.jpg 494 315 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/stern-insider.jpg 21st October 2021 20th October 2021

Go in depth with George Gomez as he explains our newest innovation: STERN INSIDER CONNECTED!

Engage with pinball in a whole new way; track your progress, discover new ways to play your favorite games, unlock exclusive content, and so much more!

Stern Connected Games aren’t your typical pinball machines. They’re super-powered. They have state-of-the-art hardware that allows them to recognize players, connect to the internet, and track player scores and activities. Combined with a companion app, Stern Insider is a completely new online gaming system built specifically for and by pinball players.

Each Insider Connected Game has a QR Code scanner built into the bottom arch of the game. Insider Connected players can log into any connected game using their unique QR Code and instantly begin tracking their scores, earning achievements and exploring a new world of connected pinball.

Connected Games connect to a local network in one of two ways: wirelessly over Wi-Fi or through an Ethernet port. While connected to the internet, each machine will track and sync scores and game play activity to your account. The Insider Connected app is your gateway to the universe of Insider Connected. It works in any browser and is also optimized for your phone.

Use the app to create a player profile, view scores, and connect with other players. You’re just one tap away from displaying your unique player code and logging into a machine.

Connect with GAD if you have questions how to set up your Stern Pinball game to Insider Connected in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas City.

19th October 2021

Home Gameroom

New Home Pinball! Jurassic Park Pin Available for Pre Orders Now!

New Home Pinball! Jurassic Park Pin Available for Pre Orders Now! https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/jurassic-park-pin-youtube.jpg 830 463 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/jurassic-park-pin-youtube.jpg 19th October 2021 19th October 2021

Affordable Pinball Machine for the Home

CHICAGO, IL – October 12, 2021 – Stern Pinball, Inc., announces the availability of Jurassic Park Pin, a new stylish, affordable, and fun pinball machine designed and engineered for the home.

Jurassic Park Pin immerses players in a pinball journey 65 million years in the making. Based on the blockbuster film Jurassic Park from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, the Jurassic Park Pin experience will transport players to Isla Nublar, an amusement park where escaped dinosaurs are running amok! With the volcano on the island erupting and threatening to destroy everything in its path, it is the player’s mission to rescue park staff, evacuate and recapture dinosaurs, and escape before it’s too late! Players will experience heart-pounding excitement right from the start in this action-packed pinball adventure filled with suspense, twists, and turns around every flip.

Jurassic Park Pin brings to life the most fearsome predator ever to walk the earth with an interactive, custom sculpted T. rex. Players will battle against the Spinosaurus by bashing a captive ball and corral Raptors in their enclosed pen with precision shooting. Fast flowing metal ramps, lightning quick spinners, and kinetically satisfying physical drop targets will provide players with an adrenalized game experience packed with unmatched action and fun. The all-LED playfield lighting provides dazzling light shows in sync with the iconic Jurassic Park theme music to create an immersive pinball experience.

The easy-to-setup Jurassic Park Pin is affordable, reliable, built to last, and engineered with genuine Stern commercial-quality parts. The playfield is housed in a stylish cabinet with dynamic, high definition, hand-drawn artwork. Complementing the iconic theme and exciting gameplay, Stern Pinball’s powerful SPIKE™ electronics hardware system enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations on the LCD display. SPIKE™ also reduces system complexity and energy usage, resulting in enhanced reliability and simplified servicing.

“Jurassic Park is an iconic film featuring something we all love…dinosaurs! The Jurassic Park Pin is designed to provide quality family entertainment and bring pinball fun to homes everywhere,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “This game will be an incredible addition to any home!”

Pricing and Availability:

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”)*: $US 4,599

*MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.

The Jurassic Park Pin is available to pre-order now through authorized Stern Pinball distributors, like GAD Vending.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball. Headquartered minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in the heart of North America, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.

Recent Stern Pinball titles include Godzilla, The Mandalorian, Led Zeppelin, Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munster’s, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time. To join the fun and learn more, please visit www.sternpinball.com.

About Jurassic World Franchise

From Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, Jurassic World immerses audiences of all ages in a new era of wonder and thrills where dinosaurs and humankind must learn to coexist. Jurassic World is more than a film franchise. At every turn, this $5 billion film series delivers a larger-than-life destination for exploration, discovery, and epic adventure. Dinosaurs live again and they live in Jurassic World.

Stern Pinball, a family time to play. Join Stern by buying a pinball game for home or commercial locations.

19th October 2021

Pinball

Looking to the future, Stern Pinball Announces Hiring of a New President

Looking to the future, Stern Pinball Announces Hiring of a New President https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/stern-gameroom-vii.jpg 486 467 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/stern-gameroom-vii.jpg 19th October 2021 19th October 2021

CHICAGO, IL – October 14, 2021 – Stern Pinball, Inc. today announced the hiring of Seth A. Davis, 43, as President. Gary Stern, the Founder of Stern Pinball, will continue to serve as Chairman and CEO of the company. Dave Peterson will continue to serve as Vice Chairman and EVP of the company. As President, Seth will join the company’s leadership team and be accountable for the future performance of the company and its extended enterprise. He will report to Gary Stern.

A life-long gamer, prior to joining Stern Pinball, Seth spent a combined twenty-one years at The Walt Disney Company and the General Electric Company. He served in a wide variety of functions and in intrapreneurial roles, at increasingly senior levels.

Seth spent thirteen years at Disney where he gained experience in multiple businesses and was accountable for driving growth through strategy and execution. He led and managed both small and large teams spanning business, creative, and technical disciplines.

Immediately prior to joining Stern Pinball, Seth served on the executive team responsible for the highly successful subscription-based streaming services, Disney+ and ESPN+. Earlier in his career, Seth served in Disney Corporate Financial Planning leading business transformation projects; as Head of Product Management for Connected Experiences within Disney Games and Consumer Products as part of Walt Disney Imagineering; as leader of Disney’s Digital Games Console and PC line of business; and, as Director of Disney Games’ Strategy, Market Analytics, and Product Planning.

Before Disney, Seth spent eight years at the General Electric Company. He served as Senior Manager, Finance at GE Capital responsible for Strategic Analysis and Marketing. He started his GE career in the Financial Management Program where he completed four national rotations through GE business units and earned his Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.

“I am very excited to have Seth join our team at Stern Pinball,” said Gary Stern. “Seth’s appointment will further help secure our future. His experience in gaming, operations, strategy, and general management will help us continue our aggressive growth plans. As a life-long gamer, Seth understands the passion of pinball fans and our obligation to serve that growing global community through great pinball games and experiences.”

“I’m honored and very excited to join Stern Pinball,” said Davis. “I’m really looking forward to working with Gary, Dave, and the rest of the leadership team, as well as our distribution, supply, and licensing partners to serve the pinball community. We have a great foundation on which to build and I’m very excited about the future of Stern Pinball and pinball in general.”

“Seth is a great fit for the culture at Stern Pinball,” said Peterson. “He has complementary skills and a personality that fits well with the leadership team and the extended organization overall. He understands the passion of our customers and the company’s priorities. Moreover, he has a record of success in analogous game businesses where creativity, technology, and business disciplines intersect.”

Seth earned his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in Entrepreneurial Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University with a double major in Accounting, and Information Management and Technology.

Seth, his wife Allison, and their three children are relocating to the Chicago area from Los Angeles.

About Stern Pinball, Inc.

11th October 2021

How To Add a Machine to Maximize High Traffic Areas

How To Add a Machine to Maximize High Traffic Areas https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TOUCHLESS-ii-.png 368 255 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TOUCHLESS-ii-.png 11th October 2021 11th October 2021

Own a commercial facility? Bar? Restaurant? Mall? Retail Store? Arcade? High foot traffic area? Apartment complex? Office?

Looking to gain more automated cash flow without adding staff? Need something socially distancing that can be easily cleaned?

If you own or manage a space with lots of people passing through that you want to capture interest and revenue, read on……

It is expensive to get people to show up at your facility. You work at advertising, marketing, customer service, cleanliness, social distancing regulations, best product mix and everything else to get and retain customers. (Customer can be defined as – customer, tenant, employees, shoppers, staff, client – whoever it is that you want to engage.) So anything you can do to further engage – and profit from – your foot traffic is critical.

Add strategic machines to solve problems and create ROI!

ATM

A free standing ATM in a high traffic area can = profit!

You can charge a transaction fee.
You can reduce credit card fees by encouraging customers to pay in cash.
You can reduce employee time by allowing customers to self service for cash.
You can add additional revenue to other games, pinball or machines with cash access.

What should you consider? ATM’s generally cash flow in one or more of the following conditions:

150 people through the doors daily,
when you are encouraging cash tips to staff,
you are looking to provide a service to your customer,
when it’s cheaper to have an unattended operation or unattended during off hours,
and/or when there are cash based services nearby.

CLAW/CRANE GAMES

Claw (Crane) games with non-ticket redemption (no tickets to mess with) is an ideal addition to a family based establishment. These are the cabinet games with stuffed animals with a movable claw that picks up a toy and delivers to the player.

Ideal for a restaurant waiting area where families gather.
Include in an apartment clubhouse that caters to families.
Add to an arcade, game room or family lounge area.
Stand alone machine in a pizza restaurant.

To maximize profit – keep you claw game maintained and well stocked. Keep your machine clean – not only by the restocking vendor but employees should clean between every patron. Post a hand sanitizer or wipes nearby.

GAD Vending sells and maintains claw machines in MO, KS, NE and IA. GAD Vending does not stock claw games but we can suggest companies that do.

DIGIAL MUSIC/JUKEBOX

No great party experience is complete without great music!

The new digital music jukeboxes have amazing capabilities that add to your user immersive experience – and can reduce expenses.

Digital music can be a new profit center:

Allow users to be the DJ and pay for their favorite tracks (and associated music videos) to play.
Run specials through your music software.
- Promote specials
- Tease holiday events
- Pop Up specials
Sell advertising.
Appeals to all generations. The online music catalogs, along with associated video, is extensive.

Digital music software can reduce costs:

Bundles your trivia games into your software cost.
Replaces canned background music and can be programmed to change song selections thru the various day parts.
Supports karaoke.
Tracks your music play.
- Music licensing companies assume you are playing music 100% of the time to 100% of your occupancy. Digital music tracks the exact songs played and creates a digital report so you pay on what you play.
Pre-programs available to eliminate DJ’s.

Digital music adds energy to unexpected places:

Add a digital jukebox to the front door of your retail store. Instead of elevator music, this adds the option to change music styles as you choose – or as your customers choose on their phone.
Add a digital jukebox in an employee lounge area. GAD Vending can program a free play option.
Add a digital jukebox to a restaurant/bar that changes from Baby Boomers to Millennial over the course of the evening.

Music to your ears? GAD Vending knows digital music and speaker installation.

VENDING MACHINES

Vending machines allow the owner to provide refreshment options without adding employees.

Try a mixed product vending machine – one machine offering drinks and snacks. A healthy option vending machine. Coffee vending machine. Or a simple bottle water vending machine. Whatever your customers are most looking for. This can free up employees to wait on customers with more complex needs.

Add vending machines in a high traffic area like by restrooms, lounge areas or break rooms. Anywhere customers or employees look to rest for a moment.

Add customer confidence! Use touchless payment – and even touchless ordering – using a smartphone app. This allows customers the cleanest, least touch options.

GAD Vending sells and repairs vending machines. Our warehouses have vending machines in stock with parts to configure a machine that best fits your needs. We have sales and service personnel in Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines.

GOLDEN TEE PGA TOUR

Just like with a claw game for kids – Golden Tee PGA Tour is an ideal stand alone game machine.

Golden Tee PGA Tour is available in both commercial and home use versions. And, Golden Tee has a long established software upgrade schedule.

Add a single Golden Tee PGA Tour game to an entry way, low use/high visibility area. Golden Tee PGA Tour is essential to an arcade, game room, pinball area. Add Golden Tee PGA Tour tournaments with their worldwide software support.

MONEY CHANGERS

Money changers are for customers that need to change bill-to-bill, bill-to-coin, pay stations and bill/coin counters. Add next to an ATM to give your customers self service capabilities.

Concerned about money changer and ATM security? Ask GAD Vending for security suggestions (we don’t publish security suggestions!)

If you have an unattended business like a car wash, coin operated laundry, or arcade, you need GAD Vending. GAD Vending inventories new money handling machines in our warehouses in Omaha, Des Moines and Kansas City. Our service techs also have parts to fix money changers.

GAD VENDING

At GAD Vending, we sell and service a variety of vending, games, ATM and other machines. We stock new and used machines at our warehouses in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas City. And, we service machines. Call us at (402) 553-2812 to find out what we can do for you!

7th October 2021

Godzilla – The Hype is Real

Godzilla – The Hype is Real https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/god.jpg 1200 632 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/god.jpg 7th October 2021 7th October 2021

The King has arrived! Toho International, Inc. and Stern Pinball announced a new line of pinball machines based on the iconic King of the Monsters, Godzilla! And the hype is real.

The game trailer premiered directly on Toho’s official YouTube channel with the press and media exposure train not slowing down with features on The Nerdist, HYPEBEAST, Collider, SuperHeroHype, The Pop Insider, Movieweb, ShackNews, JoBlo, License Global, Ausretrogamer, Hardcore Gamer, Yahoo!, and a deep dive by This Week in Pinball to name a few.

The official reveal stream with Dead Flip and the game team was mirror broadcast by the world famous streamer, Shroud on his Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/shroud (collective following base of over 20 million followers across all social media platforms!). This live stream event had over 600,000 live views between both platforms reaching a massive new audience of eyeballs.

Visit the official Godzilla game page for full details on this action-packed pinball experience including the official game trailer, Pro model game features, and Premium/LE model game features! You can also check out the reveal stream on the Pro model with Dead Flip and Chicago Belles & Chimes here!

If you are interested in owning a Stern Pinball Godzilla game in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota or Kansas City – check in with your local GAD office. We have a limited number on order and available for commercial or home pre-purchase.

7th October 2021

Godzilla – Check out Stern’s Newest Pinball

Godzilla – Check out Stern’s Newest Pinball https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/god-square.jpg 427 340 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/god-square.jpg 7th October 2021 6th October 2021

5th October 2021

Why Choose Crane’s Merchant Ambient Media 2 Vending Machine?

Why Choose Crane’s Merchant Ambient Media 2 Vending Machine? https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/vend-v.jpg 680 669 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/vend-v.jpg 5th October 2021 22nd September 2021

MERCHANT AMBIENT MEDIA 2

Offer more selections and flexibility for enhanced non-refrigerated, glass-front merchandising value with Merchant MEDIA 2 Ambient!

Add on touchless, digital payment systems.
Control inventory levels and get low stock alerts.
Vend a wide selection of snacks, candies and other goodies.

Why Choose Crane?

One Platform
Focus on Innovation and Connectivity
Superior User Experience and Interface
Global Company, Local Support
Sustainability is at the Core of the Business

Why Choose GAD Vending?

Authorized Crane Vending Dealer
GAD has vending machines in stock
GAD stocks parts to reconfigure or repair vending machines
GAD service techs are highly trained and experienced in repairs
Service technicians are available by phone to troubleshoot
Servicing Nebraska, Iowa and around Kansas City

1st October 2021

Automate Your Coffee Delivery for International Coffee Day

Automate Your Coffee Delivery for International Coffee Day https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-09-22_8-29-40.jpg 855 687 GAD Vending GAD Vending https://gadvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021-09-22_8-29-40.jpg 1st October 2021 29th September 2021

Consistently delicious coffee doesn’t happen by accident. It takes experience to farm quality beans that bring the origin, the land and unique flavor profile to the cup.

Quality is not just one particular thing, but a whole chain of events that takes place to get coffee from the farm into your cup.

Crane Vending has more than 90 years’ experience designing premium coffee machines that deliver the taste profile you would expect from the best coffee shops around the world.

We have the best-in-class brewers and grinders to ensure superb drink quality and a patented mixing system that whips the drink to create Crane’s signature coffee. These are the reasons customers around the globe choose our premium coffee machines.