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].