National Automatic Merchandising Association Offers ‘Gratitude Giveaways’ On Facebook

Since the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) launched its Vend.Love.Win. Facebook contest (www.facebook.com/VendLoveWin) in August 2011, it has given away almost $25,000 to consumers who have posted entries to the Facebook page. To continue rewarding Gen Y (ages 18 to 29) and other loyal vending consumers, NAMA has introduced another way for Facebook users to win prizes.

Through “Gratitude Giveaways” posted bi-weekly on the Vend.Love.Win. Facebook page, fans now have a chance to win entire cases of popular Gen Y snacks and beverages. Each Gratitude Giveaway post includes a “word of the day,” which fans must email to the contest’s Gmail account to enter. All winners are then randomly selected.

“Once the 2011 Gratitude Tour events ended, we wanted to keep the spirit and excitement alive among Gen Y fans, and the Gratitude Giveaways seemed like a perfect idea,” said Dan Mathews, NAMA executive vice president and chief operating officer in a prepared statement. Mathews cited NAMA research findings indicating that Gen Y consumers prefer vending over other retail outlets for snacks and cold beverages, and that the majority of Gen Y users view vending favorably. “We hope to continue finding creative ways to thank Gen Y for their loyalty to vending.”

The following NAMA-member companies, including both newer and major players in the vending industry, have donated their products for the Gratitude Giveaways effort: 

•           Frito-Lay (Nacho Cheese Doritos)

•           Mars (Twix)

•           Hershey’s (Milk Chocolate Bars)

•           Kellogg’s (Rice Krispies Treats, PopTarts and Cheez-It mini bags)

•           Clif Bar & Co. (Clif Bars)

•           Honest Tea

•           Farley’s & Sathers (Now and Later Original bars, Brach’s Hawaiian Punch Fruit Snacks)

•           ConAgra Foods (Act II Butter Lovers’ popcorn)

•           Canteen/Compass Group (box of healthy products sold in its 2bU machine)

•           Kar’s (Sweet & Salty trail mix)

•           Van Holten’s (Pickle-in-a-Pouch)

•           Purity.Organic

“Our members’ participation speaks volumes about their passion for the continued growth and revitalization of our industry and their excitement about attracting younger consumers to vending,” said Mathews. 

The Vend.Love.Win. contest and the Gratitude Giveaways are part of a larger ongoing program dubbed the Industry Growth Strategy. Spearheaded by NAMA and the vending industry in 2011, the program is designed to capture attention and generate excitement for the new machines, products and technologies that are enhancing the vending experience for consumers.

In addition to winning free products through the Gratitude Giveaways, consumers can still enter the Vend.Love.Win. Facebook contest for a chance to win $200 for themselves or a charity of their choice, and to be eligible for a $5,000 grand prize. In its first year, the nationwide contest invites fans to post photos or videos of their favorite vending machines or vended products and ends on March 31, 2012.

For more information about Vend.Love.Win. and the Gratitude Giveaways, visit www.facebook.com/VendLoveWin. For information, contact Amy Magro at 312/765-8770 or [email protected].