Born out of frustration from hearing their female friends complaining of frizzy hair, entreprenuers Richard Starrett and Neil Macka took it upon themselves to devise a solution. They came up with the Straight Up machine.
Trading under the name Beautiful Vending Ltd, the two men realised there was a gap in the market, since English weather can turn perfectly styled hair to frizz, ruining a night out for women fixed on having pin-straight hair. It took them a year of research to develop the Straight Up, a patended vending machine that lets women purchase short use of a ceramic straightening iron. The vending machines use professional-grade GHD tongs, "the irons that styled a thousand catwalks", and 90 seconds' use goes for one pound (approx USD 1.85/EUR 1.50).
Offering style-conscious females the opportunity to look their best at all times -– regardless of unpredictable weather -- this is a simple business idea with low start-up costs and serious potential. The business is currently run solely in the United Kingdom, where 500 units have been placed so far, but Beautiful Vending is seeking to grow quickly and franchise opportunities are available worldwide. Press hype regarding the product has been huge in the UK, garnering much interest from club and bar owners. Straight Up machines will of course be a hit anywhere women preen and primp: restaurants, gyms, shopping malls, office buildings...
Website: www.beautifulvending.com
Contact: richard@beautifulvending.com
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Get this fitted in Bangor pubs in North Wales
Their logo seems awfully similar to the logo of http://www.vault.com
Amazing idea -highly reccomended for all clubs. Girls will be queing up to use them.
Are you crazy, the logo features one letter that is kinda similar but it's hardly 'awfully similar';-) I think this is a fab idea, me and my girlfriends would definitely use this. I can see this going global
This is an idea that couldn't work in the place that ideas need to really shine if they are going to take the world by storm - New York. Are you crazy!? A hot iron in the street of NYC is just asking for BIG trouble! LOL! Maybe indoors it could work. Maybe partnerships with beauty salons and etc where the salon would get a portion of the revenue or keep the money made and just pay a monthly fee to the company. Whatever but not in the NYC street - no way!
Douglas, I dont think you really get the point of this - they are not for outside!? If you look at the website it's for indoors venues such as bars/gyms etc. Def not Beauty salons - what would be the point in that?? Maybe have a look at the website to get an understanding! I think it's fab and have seen these all over England. Great stuff
Get this fitted in Bangor pubs in North Wales
hayley | October 19, 2006 3:19 PM