Upscale Kiosks

Another kiosk being tested in supermarkets is one that dispenses upscale electronic items, such as iPods and digital camcorders.

A handful of Vons stores of Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., are testing the upscale kiosks from ZoomSystems, San Francisco. The kiosks in Vons primarily feature electronics, but one kiosk also includes Proactiv skin care products.

Consumers will likely accept buying iPods and other electronics out of kiosks. “Kiosks are in airports and everywhere. People don't seem to have any problem with them. The sense of security is high for this kind of thing,” said Robert Passikoff president of Brand Keys, New York.

While rollout of these electronics kiosks are sparse in supermarkets, more chains are considering carrying them.

“We are looking into the iPod kiosk, but have not started any pilot,” said Kathryn Sowers, manager of front-end services and technology for Bloom, Salisbury, N.C.

Still, Sowers says she can see the advantages of featuring something different in its stores.

“We are looking for innovative ways that would catch the attention of our guests from all ages — iPod kiosks are not located everywhere consumers shop, so how convenient it would be to have it in our stores,” Sowers said.
— C.B.