Zach Downey
- Vending Machine Operator
- $500,000 projected annual revenue
You know those robotic cotton candy machines at theme parks? Glass display, robot arm, spins it in front of you, hands it through the window.
JMU student Zach Downey has 10 of them placed at amusement parks and resorts in Florida, California, and Texas. He’s projecting $500,000 in revenue this year 
Zach didn’t plan on cotton candy. He pitched a pizza vending machine to his college’s food service team. They loved it – until UL certification killed the deal. While googling alternatives, he stumbled into robotic cotton candy machines.
He explains the appeal…
There’s basically no other business where you can buy something for 30 cents and sell it for $10.
Each machine costs around $7,500. Cotton candy sells for up to $15. Hits revenue within 10 minutes of plugging in 
On client acquisition (ie. the parks and resorts), he says…
Every single client has come to us through email marketing.
One robotic machine in your van and a list of busy family venues to email could be the whole business 