Trend: Return of the Automat

The reincarnation of the automat offers hot gadgets and food on the go.

Trend Description:
So far the 50s were the absolute peak time for automats. But with new concepts on the rise, the good old vending machine might celebrate a stunning comeback. In Japan, companies have used the vending machine for years to serve products to the consumer. In Europe and the US, consumers are used to buying chocolate bars and soda via a machine. Increasingly new automates offer premium items too: hot and fresh food as well as high-tech gadgets.

Cases:

BAMN! - The Food Automat
Bamn is bringing the automat to New York again. According to the New York Sun, the first wave of vending machines serving foods, the Horn & Hardart Automat in the early 1900s, was inspired by similar machines Hardart had seen in Germany. In the 50s there were once 180 restaurants in New York and Philadelphia, feeding more than 800,000 people a day. Due to fast food and inflation, most of them were turned into Burger Kings in the 70s. But now, the automat might celebrate a big comeback. David Leong, Robert Kwak and Nobu X took their inspiration from Amsterdam. In a flashy pink color scheme, the Bamn automat serves fast food with an Asian touch: pizza dumplings, Hawaiian musubi, or green tea ice cream. The owners promise hot, fresh food throughout the day.
Bamn is located at 37 St. Marks Place (Secone Avenue) and open 24 hours. Dishes cost between $1 and $3.

iPod Vending Machine
Zoom Shop is an electronics vending machine, offering iPod minis or shuffles, digital cameras and batteries. So far, most of these new automats have been installed at airports, but they might become part of some university campuses soon. Purchases can be made via credit card. And yes, you are still allowed to bring your iPod onto the plane.

Vodafone Quickfone kiosk
Vodafone started selling prepaid mobile phones via its Quickfone kiosks in the UK. For about $53, customers can purchase a fully charged handset including a little more than a dollar worth of calling credit. Purchases can be made via cash or chip and pin credit card. When stock runs low, the machine alerts Vodafone. Right now the kiosks are just installed in the company stores, but if the concept is successful, Vodafone plans to install automats in other locations.

Trendimpact:
There is no limit of products to be sold via vending machines. In addition to high-tech gadgets, there may soon be iTunes kiosks or other MP3 download machines. Consumers might even get their videos uploaded via an automat. But the old-fashioned vending machines which dispense hot fresh food in exchange for a silver dollar also have potential. The 24-hour access is customer friendly as well as employee-friendly. Why not use a machine to satisfy the human needs of hunger and sleep?

Bamn! tasty

iPod Vending Machine on Apple Insider

Vodafone Vending Machine on Textually

Vodafone Vending Machine on Endgadget

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