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VIRTUALISATION Internet bookseller diversifies into vending machines
VIRTUALISATION Internet bookseller diversifies into vending machines | Internet bookseller diversifies into vending machines |
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| by Stephen Withers | |
| Friday, 07 August 2009 | |
  
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UK-based Novel Idea Vending demonstrated its book vending machines in Sydney earlier this year, attracting attention from several local firms including Booktopia and Fymocks. The machines can hold up to 24 titles and a total of 290 items in a variety of formats including regular and trade paperbacks, hardbacks, and maps. They accept notes and coins, or customers can pay by credit card with transactions being processed by a GPRS modem. A front-panel LCD provides a user interface that can also display book synopses, details of movie tie-ins, and - while the machine is idle - advertising. Local distributor Novel Vending Australasia claimed that a particular location needed a average daily sale of just eight books to be viable, according to Franchising. Now Inside Retailing reports that Booktopia will roll out the first of a planned 200 vending machines. The first locations will reportedly include shopping centres, hospitals and hotels, and customers will be offered current bestsellers as well as discounted titles. Inside Retailing quoted Booktopia CEO Tony Nash as saying that the machines will give "people even greater access to books 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are so excited about this venture and we know it will be a success." In the company's blog, Booktopia's Toni Whitmont said the beauty of being an online retailer is that it allows the company get books to people at times and locations that are convenient to them. "This new venture is an extension of the same principle," she added. |
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