On-demand retail to increase customer independence
Implications - Vending machines are no longer limited to selling snack foods and beverages; some now offer products that, in the past, were only available in grocery or department stores. The rise of vended retail reflects a consumer desire for convenience, including 24/7 accessibility to everything from food to apparel.
Trend Themes
1. On-demand Retail - Vending machines offering products that were previously only available in grocery stores or department stores reflect a consumer desire for convenience and 24/7 accessibility.
2. Free Sample Vending - Boobox and other vending machines that offer free samples without requiring boring ads are becoming more common, with a built-in cooler allowing for a range of samples.
3. Boutique Vending - Interactive, touch-sensitive, automated luxury stores like U*tique are the future of retail for life's little emergencies and indulgences.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - The on-demand retail trend represents a growing demand for convenience and accessibility, making it an opportunity for retailers to expand their offerings through innovative vending machines.
2. Marketing - Free product vending machines, such as the Boobox, offer a new way for marketers to provide consumers with samples, while the iBanksyMachine demonstrates how vending machines can be used for street art promotion.
3. Farming - Farm fresh vending machines, like the Regiomat in Germany, offer new opportunities for small-scale farmers to sell their products directly to consumers and bypass corporate middlemen.
