Meet Chance | Kayla Ryan | Cox | Entrepreneur | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chance | Kayla Ryan | Cox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chance | Kayla, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We both wanted to work for ourselves and wanted to do something artistic together. We’re both creative types. But we know that selling art, traditionally, is a challenge. When we realized we could not only sell our wares, but also other peoples’ art, out of a vending machine, that sounded so appealing to us. We immediately bought a couple machines without even knowing how to operate them. But once we were invested, we had no choice but to carry on.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Lucid Vending, as an artistic business, has a strong sense of community. A Lucid Vending machine is a special place that provides local artists with have a unique space for their work. We help spread the word about whose art we find most promising and we have fun doing it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We live in St. Pete. Bars, restaurant, everything is along Central Ave. We like to start at the top and just make our way down. We usually hit up Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, check on the machine, and gab with all the locals before dinner. For dinner, we’re going a couple blocks over to Wild Child to share some plates. Making our way down Central, it’s essential to stop at Cocktail for live entertainment and 2-for-1’s. If you love dogs then we’re heading to Dog Bar. It’s essentially a dog park with a bar and the best bartenders in town. Then we’re walking back home. If we’re feeling squirrelly, we’re having a nightcap at The Bends, Wayward Goose, or Emerald. In that scenario, we’re getting a ride home.

In a non-drinking setting, we’re taking you to Fort-de-Soto Park. It’s the best beach in town. Pack a lunch. Bring a towel.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Huge shoutout to Taylor Valdes, founder of The Venderia @thevenderia, in Portland, OR, for creating the foundation for the creative vending machine revolution.

Also, Mike Crippin, owner of Studio Public House, in St. Pete, FL. He and his wife were the first business that hosted a machine.

Also, Tegan Foster, Amanda King, owners of Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe, in St. Pete, FL. They helped us so much in not only hosting a machine at their exceptional bar, but also promoting our business, and helping us garner a reputation in Tampa Bay’s thriving creative community. Customizing that machine gave us the artistic freedom to experiment with new items and reach the next level of Lucid Vending’s identity.

Definitely Bill Baker, Baker Vending. He taught us absolutely everything we know about vending machines and continues to move our machines and provide us with our favorite model. This business probably wouldn’t exist without Bill, whether he knows that or not.

Website: lucidvending.com

Instagram: @Lucid.Vending

Facebook: @Lucid.Vending

Image Credits
Benjamin Oliver Hicks