Instant Gratification

From books to meat, modern vending machines are making a number of unexpected retail items available on-the-go. This now multi-billion dollar industry has put flat irons in upscale Canadian bars (that’s right, ladies, get down on that dance floor – you can straighten those frizzies in the bathroom) and caviar on high-end office blocks in Moscow. Don’t bother saving your spare nickels and dimes: all of these machines accept plastic.

GOLD To Go: A couple of weeks ago, we checked out the Hamburger Automatenverlag vendor that distributes the works of local writers near the University of Hamburg. As it turns out, books aren’t the only things the Germans like to purchase from self-service kiosks. In fact, Germany is the home of the first GOLD To Go ATM that dispenses solid gold bars and customizable coins. TG-Gold-Super-Markt plans to place these ATMs – one of which was recently installed in Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Hotel – in 500 locations throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria over the next year. And, now, Vegas high-rollers can cash in their chips for gold: Hon Group just announced the launch of its Gold Rush Kiosk in the US. Already popular in Korea, these touch screen machines will soon be accepting casino coins (as well as credit cards) from sea to gambling sea.

U*tique: Now expanding to airports, hotel lobbies and gym locker rooms, the first U*tique automated retail machine popped up in STUDIO BEAUTYMIX at Fred Segal Santa Monica just last year, supplying consumers with luxury personal-care products to address so-called cosmetic “emergencies.” Each of the machine’s items is presented to shoppers through a text/video presentation on an interactive LED display, taking the place of your usual sales rep (and minus intrusive fragrance spritzes). Mara Segal, the woman behind U*tique, was inspired to automate the high-end retail experience for a generation accustomed to on-demand everything. U*tiques are stocked with 50 skin, hair and health products from well-known names like Malin + Goetz, Frédéric Fekkai and Phix. We can envision aspiring Jane and Judy Jetsons becoming regular U*tique shoppers.

ZoomShops: Marrying the tactile gratification of the in-store experience with the convenience of online shopping, ZoomSystems’ automated retail machines, known as ZoomShops, have come a long way since their test residency in Macy’s department stores back in 2005. Now, these machines are making items otherwise sold exclusively in their own retail stores available to consumers in shopping centers, airports, supermarkets and other high traffic locales. To date, ZoomShops have featured a strong roster of leading brands including Apple, Sony, Proactiv, Best Buy, Rosetta Stone, Sephora and Bath & Body Works. Earlier this year, the company announced $20 million in financing to expand beyond the 1,000 ZoomShops that are currently operating throughout the US and Japan. Cashless self-service kiosks vending high-end, high-demand items in high-traffic areas…kinda makes you ask yourself, “Why didn’t I think of that?”