The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) vending machines are experiencing a surge in popularity, with a 27% growth in the second-largest year of expansion. This growth is impressive, considering the program's history of limited expansion, with only 65 machines in 2017 and 2023. The increase from 200 machines to 1,473 in 14 months is a significant achievement, but it comes with a notable turnover rate.
One in seven machines have been removed or relocated since last summer, which is a concerning statistic. While the removals are not targeted at specific retailers, they do cluster on the West Coast, with California, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona accounting for 59% of all removed machines. This suggests that TPCi is experimenting with machine placement in the country's largest market.
California has overtaken Texas as the state with the most machines, with 372 machines, well ahead of Washington (230) and Texas (229). This is a significant shift, as California has also led the country in both additions (109) and removals (58).
The expansion has also brought new states into the fold, with Wisconsin, North Carolina, and South Carolina entering the market through new retail partnerships. However, Florida and New York still don't have a single machine, despite being the most populous states on the East Coast.
The growth and turnover in the vending machine program are interesting developments, and it will be interesting to see how TPCi continues to expand its retail partnerships and machine placement. The program's ability to adapt to market conditions and experiment with new strategies will be crucial to its success in the future.
