December 10, 2006
Reinier Evers reveals the latest in instant gratification
The humble vending machine looks set to revolutionise the range of products and services available on the go. No longer limited to cans of fizzy drink and limp sandwiches, now almost anything is available by putting a coin in the slot.
Beautiful Vending in the UK has distributed 500 Straight UP units which allow women to use ultra-modern GHD hair straighteners for 90 seconds to revive flagging hairstyles. Costing £1 per time, the machines are proving to be the salvation of women forced to wait outside nightclubs in the notoriously damp, frizz-inducing British weather.
Alternatively, mobile technology can turn bar-tenders into instant vending machines. Using Australian mobile ticketing solution bCODE-
Drinks allows consumers to pre-pay for drinks using their mobile phones, which are then scanned and the drink duly produced with no order or money being exchanged at the bar.
There seems to be no limit to how creative the content of vending machines can become. Japan has for some time been selling 'live' jewellery this way - beetles with precious gems glued to their backs. However, the traffic has generally been one-way. But no longer.
A co-operative venture between Stirlingshire Vending and Reverse Corporation brings reVend & Spend. Consumers drop in used drinks cans and it crushes the waste into the correct recycling components. The machine also issues coupons for other goods as an incentive to use the machine more often. Instead of bringing a new twist to retailing, these new concepts are bending vending.
Reinier Evers is a trends expert and founder of trend websites Trendwatching.com and Springwise.com.
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