The times they are a changing, and changing and changing.
Gotta make Bob Dyan’s chords twist by the light speed changes in our society.
This is no more apparent that in social interactions which have gone from
personal sit-ins, demonstrations to Facebook and Twitter.
The way in which we buy has been turned upside down by a sea
change to buying on-line, packed and shipped to our doorsteps. And add the
increasing appearance of kiosks in malls, tax payers, fishing stores and
airports. Airports? Yes. They are creeping in more and more standing quietly
and largely next to retail shops selling everything from a Dr Seuss book to
Madison Avenue leather goods like Tumi and Coach. These kiosks have always dispensed
soda, snacks and cigarettes. Gone are the cigarettes (and pay phones) but the
junk food are still big sellers. Replacing the smokes are smoking items from
Best Buy, and Kohls, yes Kohls. Why in the world would someone traveling from
Jet Blue destination to another want to stop and buy from a Kohl’s kiosk at the
airport. Did they forget to get the 3-pack of pasta sauce or set of bed sheets
before leaving home? Did that Midnight sale escape before having time to shop
at home in the car? I really don’t know but they are there at Terminal 5/6 at
JFK airport right butted up against another shining unit. I don’t know about
you but when I go to the airport I begin my vacation. I can kind of see buying
an electronic that I had put off buying on my everyday budget but it looks so
good nicely packaged and waiting in its little holder for me to choose and own.
The $3 juice I would not buy at the supermarket on a weekend is frivolously
purchased along with expensive bars of candy and high priced coffees. Fiscal
caution is out the door and in walks the airport vacation mentality. Perhaps
this is the underlying reason marketers feel that kiosks will do well here. All
the everyday restraints are gone, all the prudence and budgeting. Hey I am on
vacation! Why rent expensive retail space, hire employees, pay benefits or deal
with human resource issues. Get a robot to do it. In fact we may see more robot
retailers in the future. Why confine a dispensing machine to one small
footprint in the terminal. Have your automaton wander around, dispense whatever
and have a credit card machine built in.
Yes, these is a bit out there but let’s not think a
stationery machine will continue to capture the attention of busy travelers as
time marches on. Imagine a robot meeting you at the gate with your duty free cognac
or package of $3 gum! Yes the times they are a changing for sure. Here is a
photo of today’s kiosk. Don’t blink for before you open your eyes you may find
it on wheels and calling your name as you wait at the gate for your plane.
Let’s not go shopping let’s go kiosking. Meet you at the airport!
