MARKETPLACE, VOL. XV, NO. 363
EDITORIAL
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PAGE 2, APRIL, 1976
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Bill Gersh
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket." You've probably heard that
expression for as long as you can remember. That's what happened in this
industry in the '50s. Due to mergers, acquisitions and consolidations, the
conglomerates were born. These big, national, public vending operators
dominated locations with banks and banks of vending machines.
Along came galloping inflation, causing prices of merchandise to soar,
plus recession creating vast unemployment and, suddenly, the banks and
banks of vending machines caved in. In fact all kinds of vending went blah.
The huge conglomerates, even tho a few had been spreading out, had all
their eggs in one basket. No good. So they very quickly diversified. Ac-
quired routes of jukeboxes and games. More and more such routes. Big and
little such routes. Opened game rooms, mini-arcades, big family entertain-
ment centers.
..
No longer all eggs in one basket. Instead, all kinds of
the nation, with all kinds of eggs - vending eggs - jukebox
arcade eggs - service machine eggs. In short, just like the
the big conglomerates had also intermixed their routes with
the kitchen sink.
baskets, all over
eggs - game eggs -
smaller operators,
everything but
So that, today, describing themselves as "vending", and holding to an
"automatic merchandising association" is absolutely a farce. They're doing
more and better with games and music. In fact, if not for games and music -
some would have shut their doors.
So, perhaps, this is the time, the long, long overdue time, to bring back
all eggs into one basket of "One Industry". And, it logically follows, "One
Industry" will make for but "One Convention". What a thrill for all in games,
music and vending to once a.gain be engaged in "One Industry" looking forward
once each year to the gigantic "One Convention". (What do you think?)
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
ONE YEAR •••••••• $25.
TWO YEARS ••.•• • • $45.
FIRST CLASS MAIL ••• $35.
(CANADA. MEXICO. U.S.A.)
OVERSEAS
FIRST CLASS . • • • • • $55.
(ALL FOREIGN COUNTRIES)
(Extra Issues S5 Each)