Chicago’s Good Things Vending stocks colorfully painted machines with local artisan wares [Video]

CHICAGO — Entrepreneur Steph Krim doesnt mind when customers are bewildered by her colorfully painted vending machines. Her business, Good Things Vending, stocks machines once full of potato chips and candy bars with art, nostalgia items, and whatever else she thinks buyers might want from local artisans.

“I like the moment of confusion that happens when somebody sees the vending machine,” said Krim. “My dream is that you walk by the machine and you’re grabbed by something that speaks sort of specifically to you.”

Krim owns five full-sized snack vending machines placed at the Chicago Cultural Center, Kimball Arts Center, Way Out Bar, Kaiser Tiger Restaurant, and Off Color Brewings Mousetrap Tap Room. Each machine is strategically stocked with artisan items that fit their location.

“Everything in the machine is $20 and under,” said Krim. “All of the artists work in the machine, when work is first stocked, is on consignment, 60-40 …