Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 479,996 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,291 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 104,272 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,291 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 104,272 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,233 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 479,996 cutting edge ideas.

Boutique Vending Machines

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

‘U*tique' Upscale Automated Retail Shopping

— March 23, 2009 — Business
U*tique is an interactive, touch-sensitive, automated luxury store for “life’s little emergencies and indulgences.” The shops offer an assortment of luxury and personal-care items and have made their debut at Studio, the specialty boutique within Los Angeles’s Fred Segal.

U*tique, will dispense gadgets, makeup, skincare and hair-care items by high-end and niche labels. 29-year-old creator Mara Segal explains, “I wanted to bring luxury personal-care products to women who are racing from a hotel to a meeting or a workout and perhaps forgot a lip balm.”

Segal plans to install U*tiques in boutique hotel lobbies, upscale gym locker rooms, nightclub lounges, premium shopping malls and airports over the next two years.

You can view a Quicktime Movie here.

Image Credits for Photos 1-4:

Photography: Michael Jacobson
Model: Laura Weaver
Styled by Flair at Fred Segal
Shoes by Valentino and Jimmy Choo, courtesy of Madison at Fred Segal SaMo
Hair: Carlos Ortiz at Preece & Toff Fred Segal
Make-up: Angell Denler - Studio Beautymix, Stila Cosmetics
Trend Themes
1. Automated Retail - There is an opportunity to disrupt traditional brick and mortar retail by introducing more automated and interactive shopping experiences like U*tique.
2. Luxury Convenience - There is a trend towards luxury personal-care products being more conveniently accessible in vending machine form to busy customers on the go.
3. Niche Product Vending - Vending machines are no longer just for snacks and drinks; there is an opportunity to introduce more niche products and luxury brands to customers through vending machines like U*tique.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Traditional brick and mortar retailers can innovate by introducing more interactive and automated shopping experiences similar to U*tique.
2. Hospitality - Hotels and airports can provide additional luxury personal-care products and convenience by installing vending machines like U*tique in their lobbies or lounges.
3. Beauty - Luxury beauty and personal-care brands can expand their reach and make their products more accessible by partnering with U*tique and other similar vending machines.
6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness