A Transformation For The Vending Machine Industry
The vending machine industry is estimated to be worth roughly $7 billion per year and that is just for the Untied States alone.
Vending machines have come a long way and they sell a wide variety of items, it's not just your standard selection of pop, chips, cigarettes, and condoms any longer; which many of us are familiar with.
Now, in vending machines across the country, you can find items like headphones and other electronics, makeup, cupcakes, pet food, toys, champagne, and even gold for sale.
Around the world you can also find a wide range of vending machines, selling everything from homemade curry and rice meals, to lobsters, fruit, lettuce, cannabis, umbrellas, first-aid products, pizza, cheese, books, oysters, bikes, guitars, shoes, and more.
One Japan-based retailer, Uniqlo, is looking to add to the variety in the US by opening up a number of vending machines in various states that it plans to stock with its unique clothing line. They will be placing their machine at 10 different locations in airports and malls; in the next couple of months.
The largest vending machine market in the world is said to be in Japan, which is estimated to be around $26 billion, followed by Spain which is in second place with a market of about $8 billion, and the US is in third place.
For the time being, the most common item that Americans still go to purchase when they go to a vending machine is either going to be a drink or some snack like chips, gum, cookies, or chocolate etc. Followed by junk food choices, the other most popular choices are movies and games, electronics, magazines, and toys. Clothing isn't high on the list, maybe that might change in the future?
It's expected that the vending machine industry will continue to grow, seeing as this platform offers business owners an opportunity to sell their products to consumers without having to invest in rent or have to hire any employees for the endeavor.
One Chinese company, Alibaba, is looking to make buying a car in China as easy as walking into the store and buying a can of coke and they are going to soon be unveiling their car vending machine that will be able to carry out the transaction. And they aren't the only ones, they will be following Autobahn Motors who unveiled their own car vending machine in Singapore last year (pictured above).
The growing travel demand has helped the vending machine market to flourish and it's expected that the travel retail market will grow by more than 8 percent by 2021.
Vending machines have gotten a negative stigma throughout the years because of the less-than-optimal food choices that they've offered in schools, health centers, hospitals, and other locations. But they've changed drastically over the years, they've reinvented themselves, as far as the variety of options that they now provide consumers in the US and elsewhere.
Pics:
Pixabay
Simpsons via Metro.co.uk/2017/04/05/this-vending-machine-is-helping-people-make-healthier-snack-choices-6556056/
Fortune via fortune.com/2017/05/16/singapore-car-vending-machine-worlds-tallest/
Simpsons via rebloggy.com/post/gif-simpsons-dance-condom-vending-machine/4613024657
Sources:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/clothes-meat-champagne-and-electronics-coming-to-a-vending-machine-near-you-2017-08-03
http://www.businessinsider.com/uniqlo-adds-vending-machines-airports-malls-2017-8
http://www.businessinsider.com/uniqlo-adds-vending-machines-airports-malls-2017-8ng-machine-next-year/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2017/08/08/chinese-firm-alibaba-open-car-vending-machine-next-year/
http://time.com/4887616/oyster-vending-machines-france/
https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/vending-machine-industry-hopes-to-lure-back-customers-with-healthier-offerings/article19518114/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/g1041/8-high-tech-vending-machines/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trangho/2016/03/19/shark-tank-kevin-oleary-and-lori-greiner-buy-into-millennial-firm-revolutionizing-vending-machines/#526a781474ff
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2016/04/22/current-and-future-trends-in-vending-machines/#3c92d9fc127a
http://fortune.com/2017/08/02/uniqlo-vending-machines/
Good post I'm happy. watch this post. And how do I know. after I watched. South Korea and Japan are amazing. Hopefully In Indonesia There is also. how to write a good post.
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Great post. Its good to hear the numbers and wow. I can't believe there that high. If the United States had ones like Japan stores would become obsolete esp. Electronics amd gaming. Great information it helps
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The vending machines that I saw in South Korea and Japan were very impressive. I wish we had them here, in Europe!
In Singapore, a 'VendCafe' (vending machine cafe) was opened last year, and since then, one or two more have been established. Over 90 local and even some international dishes and drinks can be ordered from the vending machines in the cafe.
Quite an interesting concept, and could really be viable as long as people value convenience most or begin to believe the food produced is of the same quality and nutritional value as 'real food' cooked on the spot by chefs (rather than likening the vending machine food to frozen meals, which may be the common view).
Here's one of the articles about it: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/vending-machine-cafe-opens-at-ang-mo-kio-mrt-station-8942662
very interesting! thanks for sharing :)
You're welcome :)
Japanese vending machines are weird! And some are kinda gross. But good piece! @suicidalviral
i've seen some crazy ones that's for sure:)
How would a CAR vending machine be possible? Humans are crazy
aren't they? what's next, a house vending machine? lol
All I can think about is a car getting stuck on it's way down in one of those giant vending-buildings with someone trying to shake the building to retrieve their vehicle.
No but really, vending machines are great and awful all at the same time. On one hand they remind me of how consumerism dominates everything around me; on the other they are a modern marvel and are strangely satisfying to use.
LOL if it got stuck hope someone is around to film if it does
Yeah, japan has almost everything in a vending machine, it's pretty crazy. Hopefully I'm able to visit there someday. Great post by the way @doitvoluntarily.
thank u ! :) i hope i get to visit some day as well
Very impressive.!!!