Japan is home to roughly 127 million people and has one of the most concentrated populations on Earth. The Vending Machine Manufacturers Association claims Japan has one vending machine for every 23 people - about five and a half million vending machines in total. Obviously these machines are very popular in Japan and can be found almost anywhere from street corners to office blocks.In the UK however, vending machines seem more commonplace in the workplace than on the street – which is probably a direct result of our fondness for vandalism and graffiti. Having a much lower crime and disorder rate than the UK, Japan’s dispensers command much more respect than their Western counterparts and are more widely received therefore.
Although not as widespread as in Japan, vending machines first appeared commercially in the UK during the early nineteenth century, used to vend post cards in London. The first ones introduced in the US supplied gum to train users on platforms.
The Japanese machines often make use of colours to attract people and t
o distinguish between hot and cold drink products. The products tend not to be disguised behind panels and compartments, instead are displayed naturally so the consumers can see what they will actually get before making the purchase.The multitude of items on offer from these machines can vary from drinks to novelty items. There seems as if there is no limit to the variety of items that can be sold from these machines. Below is a (non-exhaustive) list of various items offered by the ‘metal vendor:’
- Drinks (hot & cold)
- Confectionary
- Snacks
- Cigarettes
- Ipods
- Trainers
- Alcohol
- Novelty Gifts
- Rice
- Flowers
- Newspapers & magazines
- Lingerie
- Batteries
- Tickets
- Toilet paper
- Umbrellas
- Eggs
- MP3/4 audio (music & audio books)
- Digital Media (films and computer games)
- Stationary
- Vehicle hire (booking & key collection)
- Maps
fered in the high street through machines. The world of one-way, human-free commerce is obviously prevalent and could possibly revolutionise the way consumers conduct purchasing. Consumers have already warmed to making purchases over the internet, yet still like the idea of walking around the high-street, actually looking at the product(s) available before purchasing. Vending machines may well bridge the gap between the internet and the high-street.
An alternative concept is a ‘reverse’ vending machine; whereby the consumer places a used plastic container in the machine which it then proceeds to wash and compact, before returning a redeemable voucher to the consumer.
In today’s economic and environmentally conscious world, these machi
nes can only become more popular. Extensions of this principle could be developed to include refuse collection and garment washing.The future is uncertain for the humble coffee vending machine but must be optimistic for the vending business in general, even if only in Japan.
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