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David Robinson credits Dream City, family, ‘for achieving ownership’
By Kathryn Chadima, - correspondent
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TIFFIN — David Robinson says he’s always been motivated to overcome barriers and create opportunities for himself and those around him.
His dive into financial literacy during the pandemic sparked a passion for entrepreneurship, inspiring him to launch Simple Vending, based in Tiffin in Johnson County.
“This business represents more than just vending — it’s about achieving ownership, building generational wealth for my family, and empowering others in my community to follow the same path,” said Robinson, 24, who was born in Chicago and moved to Iowa City in second grade.
“My focus is nonprofits, small businesses, high-traffic areas and attaining a stronger foundation for long-term growth, he said.
Simple Vending is a vending machine and ATM business that aims to provide convenient, reliable and tailored vending services for local businesses, community spaces and underserved areas. Robinson is now seeking a Kiva Iowa microloan to expand his business.
“We have placed 15 ATM machines and seven vending machines at various Corridor locations,” Robinson said. “The vending machine weighs 600 pounds, so we use pallet jacks to lift and install them as safely as possible.”
Until he can hire assistants, he calls a friend to help him with the installations.
It takes two to three weeks for a vending machine to be shipped to Robinson’s Tiffin warehouse, get cleaned and checked, installed and filled with snacks or cash.
Robinson’s goal is to add 15 more machines this year and strengthen his partnerships with Iowa businesses.
Running the business
Robinson’s first client was a bank, but the ATM there was not profitable enough, so he found a high school chum at Walden Place, an Iowa City nursing home, who needed an ATM. With higher traffic there, his business took off.
Robinson said his wife, Natassia Trenkamp, is his motivation and support, and stepson Camari Campbell joins him in refilling the vending machines.
Robinson customizes vending machines based on location needs, offering snacks and beverages that include traditional options and/or healthier alternatives. He’s open to exploring new products if a client requests them.
Because his vending machines are mainly in the Corridor, Eastern Iowa and Des Moines, they can be quickly maintained or repaired. He keeps the snacks fresh due to their limited shelf life.
“I started my business when my daughter was 1 year old. In my 20s, I wanted to take my income into my own hands so it was scalable, and there was only one competitor close to Iowa City,” he said. “I contacted local vendors and researched it for years. Once I got my location, I could launch more quickly.”
In his research, mostly on YouTube, he learned about taxes, entrepreneurship and setting up a limited liability corporation. He joined groups of vending entrepreneurs. He also started buying online courses to continue his financial education.
Dream City influence
Another factor in his decision to become an owner was his participation since middle school in the Dream City basketball team led by Fred Newell, the nonprofit’s executive director, whom Robinson admires. Dream City supports innovation, community engagement and entrepreneurs, offering classes and workshops.
“I’ve benefited from mentorship through Dream City and value the ongoing connection with their team,” Robinson said. “Their support has been instrumental in my growth as an entrepreneur.”
Robinson can be contacted through simplevendingiowa.com; [email protected]; and on Instagram and Facebook: Simplevendingiowa
Robinson applied for a $6,500 Kiva Iowa loan through NewBoCo in Cedar Rapids to expand the number of vending machine sites and upgrade his equipment. He also will use the support to bring high-quality, tailored services to underserved areas lacking access to vending options.
Dream City endorsed his loan as a Kiva partner. Kiva microloans, for up to $15,000, are crowdsourced, with zero fees, zero interest, with those borrowing money paying it back within three years.