{
  "id": 9747222,
  "title": "From gumball machines to AI stores: How an entrepreneur followed what's trending to build an 8-figure business",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/from-gumball-machines-to-ai-stores-how-an-entrepreneur-followed-whats",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T09:45:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-stores-small-business-entrepreneur-secrets-to-longevity-vending-machines-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Serial entrepreneur Mike Burnett has built a successful 8-figure business by spotting trends and staying ahead of the curve. Starting in 1999 with tabletop games in restaurants, Burnett and his partner quickly grew their business, selling $20,000 worth of equipment in their first month. As they expanded into gumball, bulk-candy, and snack vending machines, Burnett began listening to the people operating his machines to learn about their customers' desires for healthier options. In 2007, he launched HealthyYOU, a healthy vending business that grew into an eight-figure revenue company. Now, Burnett's latest venture is SmartMarket Solutions, which sells AI-powered micro-stores called SmartMarts. These smart vending machines allow customers to unlock a cooler, browse its shelves, and pay automatically for items they take. Burnett emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between fleeting fads and lasting trends, validating the opportunity before making a bigger move, and staying connected to salespeople, operators, and customers to spot changes in demand early.",
  "summary": "Mike Burnett has had a nearly three-decade run an entrepreneur and small business owner. He unpacks the secrets to business longevity.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}