Kansas City, Kansas teen starts business with old gumball machines, puts them back in service

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It’s never too early to think about a career in business, according to a Kansas City, Kansas, teen who has started his own.”Whatever you put your mind to, you can do it,” said Eric Wilson, 14.Eric said he came up with the idea while sitting at home during a pandemic. He would buy older candy machines, refurbish them and put them back in stores.”People who love the candy contacted me wanting more candy,” he said.”Eric presents a business model that’s pretty unique, where he comes in, he brings the machine and he takes care of the maintenance and the restock,” said Valeria Taylor, director of marketing for Merc Co-op.Eric’s mom said it is a valuable lesson that every kid can learn from.”It does take time. It takes dedication and it does take focus, but it’s to show other kids that there are ways to get out in your community and make a difference,” said Qubanic Wilson, Eric’s mom.Eric Wilson said that it started out as one simple gumball machine and grew to six. He’s hoping for something much more.”The next goal is to start with vending machines, actual customized larger vending machines,” Eric said.”He’s amazing. Not only is he a young entrepreneur, he’s a straight-A student,” Qubanic Wilson said.Eric said he hopes to someday own a much larger business so he can supply jobs to others in the community that need them.