From poor to rich. In the business world there are thousands of stories of businessmen who had nothing and who ended up being millionaires. In today’s case, whether by luck or great business acumen, Marcus Gram He changed his old reality to be an entrepreneur of a somewhat particular business.
Not many years ago, the businessman lived with his mother and earned only $17 an hour. However, his reality today is very different, being owner of Joyner Vendinga company dedicated to the distribution of Vending machines who had profits of more than 500 thousand dollars a year.
Gram’s path to success began with a bold decision to abandon his music career (his intention was to be a music producer) and enter the vending machine business. “The worst that could happen is that I would go back to poverty, but if I won, it would change my life and my family’s forever,” Gram said in an interview with AfroTech. This spirit of determination and willingness to take risks was critical to his success.
How Marcus Gram, owner of Joyner Vending, made his fortune
Marcus Gram lived at his mother’s house in Rochester, New York, earning $17 an hour in a management position. Inspired by a friend, in 2018 he decided to move to Philadelphia and start a vending machine business. With an initial investment of $10,000, he purchased a snack machine, a beverage machine, two credit card readers, and the first stock of products. What started as a side hustle generating $5,000 a year became Joyner Vending, a company that in 2022 reached $500,000 in sales.
Initially, Gram used his savings to purchase his first machines and products. During its first year, Joyner Vending only generated $5,000, but Gram’s persistence and long-term vision allowed it to expand quickly. In 2021, his company was already operating 18 machines in four states and generating more than $300,000 in revenue.
To run his successful business, Gram says that he based himself on five principles that helped him grow within the market. These pillars are the same ones that teach the public that is interested in entering the vending machine business.
Optimization and online presence
One of Gram’s key strategies was Invest $2,000 to improve your website and optimize it for search engines. This not only improved their company’s visibility online, but also attracted new customers looking for more reliable and flexible suppliers. Joyner Vending was committed to offering high-quality services, such as rapid replenishment and the inclusion of QR codes for refunds, building trust and loyalty among its customers.
Customer base diversification
At first, Gram focused on schools and offices, but soon expanded its services to manufacturing companies, which offered subsidized prices to their employees. This diversification significantly increased monthly revenue, ensuring consistent sales and stable cash flow.
As his business expanded, especially into large 24-hour offices, Gram had to hire more staff. In 2022, he had ten employees, most part-time, to handle the replenishment and maintenance of machines in different states. This staff expansion was essential to maintaining growth and operational efficiency.
Not everything was an immediate success. A Failed investment in two Pennsylvania universities cost Gram $90,000. However, he quickly learned to redirect his resources and focus on more promising opportunities. This ability to adapt and continually learn was crucial to her success.
Gram has also focused on helping others start their own vending machine businesses. In addition to providing vending locations for its employees, it sells e-books and digital courses to teach others how to get into the business. Their goal is to not only achieve personal success, but also inspire and support other entrepreneurs.
As his business grew, Gram transformed some components of his company into passive income, reducing the need to be constantly involved in daily operations. In addition to selling products, Joyner Vending also resells machines to other business owners, accounting for a significant portion of their income.
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Marcus Gram has proven that with vision, adaptation, and a strong work ethic, a side hustle can become a million-dollar business. His lessons on online optimization, customer diversification, staff expansion, and learning from mistakes are valuable to any aspiring entrepreneur. His commitment to personal growth and supporting other entrepreneurs underscores the importance of sharing success.
