Remember the simple joy of inserting a quarter into a gumball machine and claiming your prize? With the increased popularity of nostalgia at events, it's no surprise that brands have been leaning into gumball machines for years as a way to increase fan engagement and social sharing, as well as to distribute swag.
In 2018, for example, Google made a splash at CES with its voice-activated, 20-foot-tall gumball machines, which were strategically placed throughout Las Vegas. Consumers could interact with the machine by asking a question, which triggered the release of a giant gumball featuring Google-branded prizes and gift cards. Adidas adopted a similar idea at ComplexCon that same year, placing nine branded gumball machines throughout the convention center.
Another fun idea? In 2012, Baked by Melissa introduced a six-foot-tall gumball machine that dispensed the company’s signature bite-size cupcakes. Yum.
The gumball-inspired trend shows no sign of slowing down, with newer activations from YouTube, Pandora, BÉIS, AT&T, and more popping up in the last couple of years. Scroll down for a look at 14 of our favorite uses of gumball machines at events.