CHICAGO — When it comes to vending, how bold do you really want to be? Are your laundry customers ready for more than just the traditional food and drinks?If you are in a football-crazed city, you might be interested to hear that the NFL has been discussing the possible use of vending machines for more than a year. In fact, the Minnesota Vikings, in conjunction with its apparel partner, already have a vender that includes shirts, footballs, trading cards, customized rubber bands, bobbleheads and more. Prices range from $5 for the rubber bands to $25 for a shirt or hat.If you favor more “exotic” venders, consider:
- The “Let’s Pizza” machine will make an individual pizza from scratch in less than three minutes. Push a button for your desired toppings (tomato, bacon, ham or fresh vegetables) and then watch through the window as the machine mixes and kneads dough, adds toppings and bakes.
- The Semi-Automatic, a purple vender, offers a feather vest, a $28 T-shirt emblazoned with the word recession, and even 24-karat-gold handcuffs. This may be a bit risqué for the traditional laundry crowd.
- One vender rents out bicycles for up to 20 hours. Users have to return them to the same vender. The going rate is $16 the first time, and about $4 for each rental during the following year.
- Would a woman like to purchase a pair of shoes while waiting for her laundry? The Rollasole offers comfy-but-flashy flats in two colors for about $10. These machines are headed for nightclubs in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Are these vending options a bit too much for your store? Maybe you should just focus on the basics. According to the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), the most popular snacks are Snickers®, M&M’s® Peanut, and Frito Lay Doritos Nacho Cheesier Big Grab®. As for beverages, NAMA says cold beverages are the most popular, followed by hot beverages, milk and bottled water.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].