It’s one of the most popular online t-shirt stores, but just in time for the start of the Christmas shopping rush Threadless is testing a small number of vending machines throughout its hometown of Chicago.
The company, known for its hip, pop culture-inspired designs, teamed up with Coinstar to create the automated t-shirt kiosks which also sell hoodies, totes, water bottles and infant onesies. Now installed in four pilot locations including shopping centres and supermarkets, the selection of tees offered at the machines is of course limited, at least compared to the expansive variety available on their site, but customers will still have their choice of sizes ranging from small to extra-large.
For the time being Threadless has no plans to roll out similar kiosks across the country, most likely because they’d need to first have the infrastructure in place to keep them stocked. But they seem like a good way to familiarise people who don’t shop online with the brand, even if their designs really only appeal to a market that’s already internet savvy. If they’re successul, maybe other online stores will also venture into this brave new world of selling their goods, in person, to the consumer. [Chicagoist via Coudal]
light487
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 9:32 AMAdvertisement or actual tech article? It’s a vending machine.. When I clicked on the article, I was hoping it would be a fully functional, automated screen printing vending machine or something techy.. something different.. but no.. it’s just another vending machine.. It’s not even in Australia.
Andrew
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 10:15 AMI’m willing to give it a pass on the ‘cultural interest’ clause. I do see your point tho. There’s every chance that the entire exercise is a marketing campaign of sorts.. so much of it seems impractical and economically dubious until you look at it as a 3D billboard.
Davo
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 11:23 AMTho in Japan you can sell anything in vending machines. And it works!
olearymo
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 1:13 PMI thought they shut down all those worn-panties machines. :P
Mike
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 1:01 PMI think it’s an interesting article. From a t-shirt store that started out purely online, it looks at the different mechanisms of business non-traditional stores can use to sell their products. Technically not tech. However, you can see a touch screen in the image. I think it’s interesting…
Steve
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 3:20 PMEh, I’d consider it. But seeing as Threadless has slashed its international shipping prices, and they frequently have $10 shirt sales, I’d rather just go through that, instead of a much more limited selection in a vending machine.