We know that many of our readers like a good vending machine story. In the past, we've featured machines that vend everything from umbrellas to hair straighteners, but we feel we've let you down on the vending front lately.
Which is why we were happy to spot a new automated selling device in London: Onitsuka Tiger, the Japanese sports brand, launched a sneaker vending machine on Carnaby Street today. Sneaker vending isn't entirely new—it's been done in Japan, of course, and Reebok sold shoes from a vendomat back in 2004. Reebok's machine, however, was a bit of a let-down: the sneakers were packed into a seemingly standard, drab box. Onitsuka Tiger, on the other hand, put some effort into custom-building their machine, which can sell 24 pairs of shoes at a time, in 6 sizes.
Following its London debut, the machine will travel across the UK to bring convenience-buying to the rest of Britain's sneakerheads. Fun bit of brand promotion (this marks a UK first for sneaker vending) and consumers should enjoy the concept, too. "What, these shoes? I just got them from a vending machine down the street." To us, that sounds like a status story ;-)
Website: www.onitsukatiger.co.uk
Contact: info@onitsukatiger.co.uk
As long as this doesn't create a trend of calling trainers "sneakers" here in the UK, I'm happy to embrace it.
Although, £80 for a pair of trainers sorry SNEAKERS is way too much for me, regardless of the medium it's sold through. Does anyone remember Asics? It's the same brand, but 4x the price.
who the hell is going to buy shoes without trying them on first!!! awful idea.
Who 'spotted' this? This is not a 'trend spot', its a PR story. As you freeely admit in your text this has been done before - as long ago as 2004. Get a grip.
yep, I saw them waiting for the rain to stop in Carnaby St so they could shoot this. Still got us to read it tho'!
that is the coolest thing ever made