# Social Vending Vending machines encourage social interaction in exchange for goods. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Apr 16, 2015 | Category: [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/marketing-strategy) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/social-vending ## Key Figures - Trend score: 5.0/10 - Evidence articles: 5 ## What is the Social Vending trend? **Social Vending:** Moving away from paying for goods with money, vending machines are integrating elements of social engagement as an alternative form of payment. Dispensing goods in return for engagement, these machines are using interactive and heartfelt experiences to boost consumer-brand interaction. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 5 featured examples - Articles from: Feb 24, 2014 to Oct 8, 2015 - Published: Apr 16, 2015 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence) - Megatrends: [Prosumerism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/prosumerism), [Many to Many](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/many-to-many) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Themes within the Social Vending trend ### Social Interaction Payment Vending machines are using interactive and heartfelt experiences to boost consumer-brand interaction. ### Tweet/Hashtag Rewards Vending machines that dispenses prizes in exchange for tweets or social media hashtags that spur on word of mouth promotion. ### Selfie Generation Marketing Vending machines with selfie-taking capabilities are offering young buyers an added lifestyle bonus for purchasing products. ## What the Social Vending trend means for industry ### For Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Brands in the FMCG industry can implement social payment and tweet/hashtag reward vending machines to increase consumer engagement and brand loyalty. ### For Retail Retail businesses can use selfie vending machines and social interaction payment vending machines to attract customers and increase brand awareness. ### For Marketing and Advertising Marketing and advertising professionals can utilize vending machines with social payment, tweet/hashtag rewards, and selfie-taking capabilities to generate consumer-generated advertising. ## Workshop question If your brand was going to launch an engagement-based vending machine, what products would you put in it? What engagement would you require in order to retrieve a product? ## Trend signals for Social Vending Trend score 5.0 out of 10, from popularity 83%, activity 60%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 83% - Activity: 60% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Social Vending trend 5 featured examples from Feb 24, 2014 to Oct 8, 2015. - [Free Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/free-vending-machine): Innovative Vending Solutions Encourages People to Tweet for Snacks (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Implementing free vending machines as a promotional tool can attract more customers and increase brand exposure in the food and beverage industry. - [Selfie Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selfietaking): This Japanese Beverage Dispenser Offers a Complimentary Portrait (Category: Tech) Implication: Beverage companies can leverage innovative vending machine features to create new marketing opportunities and engage younger consumers. - [Tweet-Rewarding Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-vending-machine): This Pop-Up IKEA Vending Machine Gives Prizes for Hashtags (Category: Marketing) Implication: Implementing pop-up vending machines and immersive social media campaigns can help retailers increase brand awareness and drive sales. - [Couples Only Vending Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invisible-vending-machine): Coke's Invisible Vending Machine Doesn't Reveal Itself for Singles (Category: Marketing) Implication: The Invisible Vending Machine presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the beverage industry to create interactive vending machines that offer personalized experiences. - [Snow-Sharing Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/share-christmas): Coca-Cola Helps People Across the World Share Christmas with a Snow Machine (Category: Marketing) Implication: The tourism industry can capitalize on the artificial snow machine trend to create winter-themed events that attract visitors from different parts of the world. ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) - [Storyline Sips](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/themed-drink-menus) (Lifestyle) - [Bedtime Cocoon](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sleep-sensory-blocking) (Lifestyle) - [Source Signatures](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/oak-finish-whiskey) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Marketing - [Mystery Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cow-not-laughing) - [Creator-Led Learning Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/learning-series) - [Nostalgic Beauty Mascots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bliss-girl-series) - [Athlete Beauty Ambassadorships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/athlete-beauty-ambassadorships) All articles: [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing)