Selfie Vending Machines

Aiming to add appeal for the so-called "selfie generation," Japanese beverage company Kirin is adding selfie-taking capabilities to its vending machines.

When customers purchase a drink from a Kirin vending machines, they will also have an opportunity to take advantage of the selfie-taking feature to send an on-the-go self-portrait to themselves and their friends. A large screen on the front of the vending machine will advertise the machine's products as well as offering selfies with colorful cartoon backgrounds. The selfie-taking machines were developed in collaboration with Line Corp., which operates an instant messaging app popular in Japan.

Kirin's selfie-taking vending machines fit perfectly into a huge area of opportunity for modern marketing: they offer young buyers an added lifestyle bonus for drinking Kirin beverages, while creating consumer-generated advertising for the company.