James Johnson sat on the couch wearing a rubber-band accessory around his neck that his son made him. His son was taking a nap before they left to watch a UFC fight at Dave and Busters; the boy’s rubber-band creations were around his hands and feet the entire night. This became a family trend. Just as mothers long to pass down engagement rings to their sons who may put them on the finger of a future daughter-in-law, Johnson is excited to pass down something from his brother-in-law: vending machines.
Johnson, 38, is the owner of Kingdom Vending, a small side-business he has grown since his brother-in-law sold him a vending machine eight years ago. He works full-time as a private banker but for the past eight years, Johnson has worked the vending business around his family’s schedule, determined to remain a family man.
He was enticed by the idea of flipping money. He explained it as buying something at a low cost and selling it for a higher amount. He was motivated to make money because he said he grew up poor.
Johnson said that his business is as big as he wants it to be and he does not advertise his services. He installs the vending machines but his focus is servicing them, which requires him to stock them every week or two. He is the only technician in the Long Island downstate area. He operates the business from his home in the Town of North Hempstead. “The vending machines have taken over my garage,” he said, peeking through the blinds from his couch.
Johnson said that the demand for automated vending has increased because people want the highest calorie absorption for the least amount of money. His top three selling items are Doritos, Snickers, and Peanut M&M’s. Water sells the most out of everything. He said he had to raise prices six months ago for potato chips and chocolate because prices have gone up. He will stock the machines with primary colored snacks and treats but when his customers request items that do not sell, Johnson makes an executive decision. “I just don’t put it in. I don’t care, it doesn’t sell!” he said, regarding the energy drink Red Bull.
The vending business makes up 15 to 20 percent of his income. A trip charge to service the vending machines is $120 and that covers Long Island, Queens, and Brooklyn. If he has to travel farther than that, the charge is $189 and that covers the first hour of service, driving to and from the location, and tolls. The return charge to go back and fix something is between $65 and $80.
He primarily services the break rooms of apparel stores and cell phone locations. He has travelled as far as East Hampton to set up a machine, which is over 80 miles from his home. He said that there is a lack of demand for vending machines in Hempstead because “there aren’t any places where people sit around and do nothing.” Servicing vending machines takes up 20 hours a week. “I’ll go anywhere, in the Tri-State primarily,” he said. “If they’re willing to pay, I’ll go.”
He said this is only true if his wife, Lupe, approves. “When I feel that I’m not going to see my family or if I have to do a certain job and the job is not going to be convenient for me, I will call my wife and ask her, ‘How do you feel about this? How would you feel if I do this?’” he said. She lets him know when he can do the job so that he can refer the job to someone else so that they can spend time together. It is all about balance for Johnson. “I’d rather someone else do the business than my family life suffer,” he said. “If all your bills are paid and your wife is mad at you, it’s out of balance. It makes no sense.”
Lupe said that Johnson spends a lot of time with his daughter and their son. He goes to his son’s football practices and they go on family vacations, visiting beaches and parks regularly. There was a time where she felt Johnson’s schedule was not balanced. “In the beginning, he used to work so long I used to feel like a single mother,” she said.
Isaac Brown, 26, is a close friend of the family. He has helped Johnson with servicing the machines a few times and joked about eating the inventory on those trips. Brown and Johnson call each other “shmick” and enjoy fellowshipping together as Brown does not have a close relationship with his own family. “As I grow into a man and understand responsibilities, I realize how much I wasn’t taught,” he said. “James has helped me a lot in being an example of how you should treat your spouse and your family.”
Johnson hopes to give the business to a family member down the line. He joked that his wife would not let his son come with him on vending trips. He cannot reach the third row of the machine yet.
Nirvani, This story has great potential. Let’s have a conference to talk about integrating the material about being a good father into the business story.