Hi! My name is James McAllister, and I’m the guy behind Vend and Thrive.
I’ve been running businesses online since 2010 – everything from blogging to operating a factory that sold on Amazon. Yet one of the most fun businesses I’ve ever ran has been selling cotton candy and popcorn!
So, what got me into it?
A few years ago, I developed a condition called gastroparesis, which prevents your stomach from emptying normally. This means that I get sick almost every time I eat.
It turns out, cotton candy was one of the few fun treats I could actually tolerate. Not only that, but you can create so many different flavors, offering so much variety! My life has me eating almost the exact same foods every day, so cotton candy quickly became one of my favorite treats.
Then, when I decided to do popcorn, I opted for a hulless kind that is easier for people with sensitive stomachs.
Why Teach Others?
I’ll admit, vending cotton candy started out as a side hustle, that I never expected to really go anywhere.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how amazing of a business it is for just about everyone – even somebody who has never ran a business before.
Startup costs are low, and you can multiply your money quickly. $20 of sugar makes hundreds of dollars of cotton candy. You get to go out and be part of your community, and see people genuinely happy to buy what you’re selling.
It’s an incredible business both financially and emotionally.
Surprisingly though, I couldn’t find much information online about how to start – much less how to succeed!
So, here on Vend and Thrive, my goal is to answer all the questions you may have about vending cotton candy and / or popcorn, so you can start and scale your business with confidence!
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at any time by emailing james[at]vendandthrive.com.
I’ll be happy to help!
– James McAllister