Vending is all about making money by fulfilling a demand by automated means and, if the demand isn’t perceived to already exist, then it is up to the imaginative operator to look for a product that ingeniously offers a product or service that will create its own demand - and make money in the process.

One such bright new revenue generating idea is the Nailart Printer from Jordan-based Digital Creations. This coin operated printer can paint patterns on nails (five fingers or toes in under 60 seconds), flowers (up to 3 at a time) and even fruits, mobile phones and candles. Why would anyone want to use such a machine? So far as patterned fingernails are concerned, there are young women and teenagers up and down the country without the spare cash for the luxury of a nail salon manicure who will form queues to use this service. And that same customer base will love the idea of personalizing their cherished mobile. As for flowers - imagine the romance of a personalised red rose - why wait for Valentine’s Day?

A similar machine was shown at ExCeL’s Professional Beauty Show earlier this year and is available in the UK. The DigiNails Finger Star (www.diginails.co.uk) stand alone coin operated machine has already proved a highly successful cash generating source particularly appealing to teenagers who would love nail art but wouldn’t go into a professional salon.

Ideally sited where young girls are likely to congregate, this machine is suitable for arcades and shopping centres, hair accessories shops, teenage fashion boutiques, leisure centres etc.

Beautiful Vending’s Straight Up Vending Machine is still turning heads following an appearance on ITV’s This Morning. £1 buys 90 seconds with wonderful GHD ceramic stylers - yes, you can straighten - but you can also curl, twist, flick, wave, bounce, ringlet, and just about anything else your heart desires. Which means these machines will continue be used by women long after the fashion for sleek straight hair has been forgotten.

If these alternative vending opportunities are too female oriented for your particular site then consider umbrella vending machines which have a unisex and also whole family appeal.

The Umbrolly mini machine carries fifty Umbrolly (www.umbrollys.com) branded umbrellas and is completely battery powered.

Among the optional extras are a 17/19 inch TFT panel with built in media player and a Debit/Credit Card Reader, (for these options the unit must be connected to mains power); GPRS/GSM Telemetry Audit Module, Caster Stand for outdoor/mobile use, Post/Pole Fixing Kit and Weather Proofing Kit are also available.

Accepting both GBP and Euro coins, the Umbrolly mini machine’s dimensions are a neat H1320mm, W460mm, D190mm, 37kgs, and they look fantastic.

As a hedge against global warming, WEATHERstation (www.weather-station.net) outlets go even further to provide a range of high quality sun wipes, fresh wipes, rainproof ponchos as well as umbrellas, all designed to protect you from the elements, whatever the weather.

WEATHERstation SUNwipes30 are re-sealable sachets of 6 towelettes pre-moistened with Sun Protection Factor 30 suncream perfect for protecting face, arms, hands and neck in an emergency. Their RAINponchos are available in both Adult & Kids sizes and are 20 micron “PE” plastic with hood & sleeves, packed in a convenient cardboard tube.

WEATHERstation has also formed a joint venture with leading brands Cadbury and Fuji to create a unique vending proposition of confectionery / camera / weather products.

Operating under the name “For Great Days Out…” these machines are being sited across the UK at key transport sites, and popular leisure & tourist locations (castles, piers, holiday parks and outdoor attractions, etc..)

While out and about, whether for pleasure or business, little is more frustrating than your phone going dead. The ingenious Chargebox (www.chargebox.com) is a machine which enables you to recharge devices such as mobile phones, ipods and pdas inside a securable locker. They can be found in hotels, airports, gyms, shopping malls and other convenient locations in countries all over the world.

For the ultimate in convenience in the UK you can now send a text to 80010 with chargebox followed by your town or postcode and Chargebox will send back the locations of your 3 closest chargeboxes! Your location could be among them.

Finally the most alternative of all alternative vending machines - the reVend™ Reverse Vending Machine (www.reversevending.co.uk). RVMs are designed to automate the collection and identification of used beverage containers, issuing a refund receipt or money as a means of encouraging recycling. (Smart Cards and loyalty cards may be used). Not so much a profit opportunity but definitely answering a real environmental need. Over 15,000 of these machines have already been installed across Europe and are increasingly being installed throughout the UK.

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