Author: Editoral Team

In 2020, Clemenger BBDO Melbourne, in partnership with Foodbank Victoria (Australia’s largest hunger relief organization), launched a powerful public awareness campaign to highlight food insecurity during the pandemic—especially among families and children.

🎯 The Concept: A Vending Machine That Only Works If You Can’t Afford It

The centerpiece was a real, functioning vending machine installed in a public space (Melbourne’s CBD) that dispensed free snacks—but only to those who truly needed them.

Here’s how it worked:

• The machine looked like a standard snack vending machine, stocked with popular items like chips, muesli bars, and cookies.
• A sign read: “If you can’t afford lunch today, it’s free.”
• There was no payment mechanism—no coins, no card reader.
• Instead, users were asked to honestly self-declare need.
• Anyone who felt they needed a free meal could simply open the door and take a snack.

💬 No verification. No judgment. Just trust.

🎥 The Emotional Hook

Clemenger BBDO filmed real reactions—people hesitating, looking around, some in tears—capturing the dignity, shame, and quiet desperation often tied to food insecurity. The resulting video ad, titled “Take What You Need”, went viral in Australia and internationally.

The campaign’s tagline:

“Hunger doesn’t take a holiday.”

It aimed to:

• Challenge public perceptions of who experiences hunger (hint: it’s often working parents, students, and “invisible” households).
• Drive donations to Foodbank Victoria.
• Encourage empathy over stigma.

Impact & Recognition

• The campaign raised significant funds and awareness for Foodbank Victoria during a critical time (amid lockdowns and job losses).
• It won multiple awards, including at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (2021) and Spikes Asia.
• It sparked national conversations about poverty, dignity, and social safety nets in one of the world’s wealthiest countries.

Why a Vending Machine?

The vending machine was a brilliant symbolic choice:

• It represents transactional society—you pay, you get.
• By removing payment and relying on honesty and need, it subverted that norm.
• It made invisible hunger visible in a public, relatable way.

As Clemenger BBDO’s executive creative director said:

“We wanted to create a moment where people had to confront the reality of hunger—not as a distant issue, but as something happening right beside them.”

Important Note

This was not a permanent installation—it was a short-term experiential activation designed to generate media, empathy, and donations. It was not a commercial product or a public service, but a strategic, empathy-driven stunt rooted in real social need.

In Summary

✅ Agency: Clemenger BBDO (Melbourne)
✅ Client: Foodbank Victoria
✅ Campaign: “Take What You Need” / “The Free Snack Machine”
✅ Year: 2020
✅ Purpose: Raise awareness and funds for food insecurity during the pandemic
✅ Key Insight: Hunger affects people who don’t “look poor”—and dignity matters.

The “free snack vending machine” stands as a powerful example of advertising used for social good—where creativity doesn’t sell a product, but solves a human problem. 🍪❤️

Other Vending Machine Applications

In a clever marketing stunt, Nike has installed a pop-up Nikefuel Points vending machine that only accepts its NikeFuel points as payment.

The machine, which will move between a series of undisclosed locations, is stocked with Nike hats, socks and shirts. People with Nike+ device can use the points they accumulated on their device that day to pay. Normally, Nike+ owners can only use the points to track their fitness progress.

🔧 How it worked

1. Earn NikeFuel Points:
   Users tracked runs, workouts, or daily movement using Nike+ products. Every activity generated NikeFuel—a universal metric (1 NikeFuel ≈ a standardized unit of movement).
2. Visit the Pop-Up Machine:
   Located in high-energy zones—such as Shibuya (Tokyo), Westfield London, or Nike Town NYC—these sleek, LED-lit kiosks looked like futuristic capsules.
3. Log In & Redeem:
   • Tap your Nike+ FuelBand on the machine’s NFC reader, or
   • Log in via touchscreen using your Nike+ account
   • View your available NikeFuel balance
4. Choose a Reward:
   Rewards were tiered by point cost:
   • 500 NikeFuel: Limited-edition Nike+ wristbands or decals
   • 1,000 NikeFuel: Performance socks or headbands
   • 2,000+ NikeFuel: Exclusive T-shirts, compression gear, or even invites to Nike training sessions
   • Top-tier: Chance to win meet-and-greets with athletes or custom shoe designs
5. Instant Dispense:
   The selected item would drop from a compartment—just like a classic vending machine—but with a premium, curated feel.

🌏 Presence in Japan (2014)

While Nike’s biggest FuelBand and Nike+ push was in the U.S. and Europe, Japan saw activations too, especially in Tokyo:

• A NikeFuel Vending Machine was installed during the 2014 Tokyo Marathon Expo at Odaiba’s Ariake Coliseum.
• It appeared in Shibuya’s NikeLab or pop-up zones, targeting tech-savvy youth and runners.
• Given Japan’s affinity for collectible merch and gamified loyalty, the concept resonated well—even if the FuelBand itself had modest adoption compared to Fitbit or local brands.

These machines were often paired with live Nike+ challenges, such as “Earn 1,500 Fuel this week and redeem a Japan-exclusive running towel.”

🎯 Strategic Purpose:

Nike wasn’t selling products—it was driving engagement:

• Encourage daily use of Nike+ devices
• Build emotional loyalty through instant gratification
• Create social buzz: Users posted unboxings of their “vended” gear on Instagram with #FuelYourWin
• Test phygital (physical + digital) retail long before it became mainstream

⏳ Why It Ended:

The vending machines were always temporary experiential marketing tools—not a permanent retail solution.

Nike exited the wearable hardware business in 2014–2015, discontinuing the FuelBand.

The NikeFuel metric was phased out by 2018, replaced by app-based metrics in Nike Run Club and Nike Training Club.

🧠 Legacy & Influence:

The 2014 NikeFuel Vending Machine was ahead of its time. It foreshadowed trends now common in retail:

• Gamified loyalty programs (e.g., Starbucks Rewards, Sephora Beauty Insider)
• Instant redemption kiosks (like UNIQLO To Go or Adidas’ Speedfactory pop-ups)
• Personalized, data-driven product dispensing

Other Vending Machine Applications

Gatorade launched the innovative “Sweat Machine” (often referred to as the Sweat Activate Machine) in Toronto as a promotional vending machine that rewarded active people with free drinks—but only if they’d truly worked up a sweat. If not, the machine challenged people to #KeepSweating by performing a few more squats, burpees or a jog on the spot. This was a clever, interactive stunt aimed at everyday athletes, shifting Gatorade’s focus from pro sports stars to motivating regular folks to stay hydrated and active. It ran in the summer of 2015 and became a viral hit.

What it was

• Concept: Unlike standard vending machines that take cash, this one used biometric sensors (like a hand panel for heart rate and sweat detection) to scan users. If your heart rate was elevated (e.g., over 120 bpm) and you showed signs of exertion, it dispensed a free bottle of Gatorade. If not, it playfully challenged you with on-screen prompts like “Do 20 burpees, 10 push-ups, or jog in place to #KeepSweating” before re-testing.
• Purpose: To promote Gatorade’s message of replacing what you lose in sweat, while making fitness fun and accessible. It tied into a broader campaign celebrating “ordinary” athletes, backed by facts like how fitter bodies sweat sooner to cool down efficiently (thanks to 2-5 million sweat glands per person).
• Tech Behind It: Developed by TBWA\Toronto and Pixelpusher (a digital agency), the machine integrated pulse sensors and a custom interface for quick, engaging interactions. No coins needed—just effort!

When and Where

• Launch Date: Debuted in early July 2015, with the stunt captured in a YouTube video that racked up views through social media and influencers under #KeepSweating.
• Locations: Temporarily set up in high-energy Toronto parks popular with runners, bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts:
  • Trinity Bellwoods Park (a bustling west-end spot for picnics and workouts).
  • Ashbridges Bay (east-side waterfront trails for jogs and cycling).
  • Metro Square (a central urban hub).
• Duration: A short-term activation (likely a few weeks), drawing crowds of curious passersby. Brand ambassadors were on-site to hype it up and help with exercises.

Impact and Fun Facts

• Reception: It lured in dozens per setup, with most users passing the “test” and walking away buzzing (literally and figuratively). Even those who didn’t got a laugh and a nudge to get moving. Media called it a “sweat test for amateurs” and praised its grassroots vibe.
• Why Toronto?: As a fitness-forward city with year-round outdoor activity, it was perfect for testing this interactive idea. No similar machines have popped up since, but Gatorade has evolved with tech like the Gx Sweat Patch (a wearable for tracking sweat loss during workouts, not a vending machine).

Other Vending Machine Applications

Artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo has created a DNA vending machine that dispenses human genetic material to highlight privacy issues emerging as biotechnology makes it easier and cheaper to access information locked in our DNA.

In a dystopian future where we all have samples of our friends’ DNA, we will be able to do things like genetic engineering in the same way as we do 3D printing.

Gabriel Barcia-Colombo

The New York artist created the DNA Vending Machine with the hope of challenging people to ask more questions about privacy and who owns the material that makes us unique.

“There are a whole range of court cases that say our DNA can be used against us for anything,” explained the artist, who is also a lecturer at New York University specialising in interactive telecommunications. “We have huge pharmaceutical companies making loads of money out of DNA from people who haven’t necessarily given them permission to use it.”

Presented in a recent TED Talk, the DNA Vending Machine replaces snacks and drinks with samples of people’s genetic code. These samples can then be bought.

“I began collecting the DNA of my friends at my house during Friday night gatherings, and then furthered my collection through several scheduled open houses where anyone could come to my studio and sign up to submit an open-source sample of their own DNA,” the artist explained.

Participants in the project spat into a vial containing solution that breaks down the cells found in the saliva, releasing the DNA. Alcohol was then added, causing the strands of genetic code to clump together and making them visible to the human eye. The vials were then sealed inside identical white containers and placed inside a standard vending machine.

“Each sample comes packaged with a collectable portrait of the human specimen as well as a unique link to a custom DNA extraction video,” said Barcia-Colombo. The machine was installed in an art gallery in New York, and the artist recalls some of the reactions to the art piece. “They’re disgusted that this is using human genetic material, and they often are scared by it because the samples can be bought and used to plant evidence on a crime scene.”

Barcia-Colombo sees comparisons between DNA ownership and concerns over the collecting and harvesting of our own digital data.

Our phones are harvesting our data and then being sold is a very similar idea to companies harvesting our DNA and selling it to pharmaceutical companies without us knowing.

The DNA Vending Machine was designed to start a conversation that the artist feels is long overdue.

One of the most high-profile cases surrounding the legality and ethics of DNA ownership was the example of Henrietta Lacks. While receiving treatment for cancer of the cervix in 1951, she had a healthy part of the tissue removed without permission.

The cells were later grown in vitro and have since been used by pharmaceutical companies to develop polio vaccines and in the research of AIDS, cancer and radiation poisoning. The material is still used today and is referred to as “Hela Cells” in reference to the first two letters of her first and last name.

More recently, a court case in 1990 between John Moore, a US citizen undergoing treatment for hairy cell leukaemia and the UCLA Medical Center brought the issue back into the headlines. “The supreme court decision in the case ruled that a person’s discarded tissue and cells are not their property and can be commercialised,” said Barcia-Colombo. “It’s ridiculous. When it becomes easy to reproduce these things, it brings up a lot of personal questions about rights and you as a personal franchise.”

Other Vending Machine Applications

This is a clever idea to help to promote your toothpaste in this Toothpaste promotion vending machine!

Toothpaste vending machines represent a practical solution for providing essential oral care products on the go. Although not as common as other types of vending machines, toothpaste vending machines can be found in select locations such as hotels, airports, public restrooms, and shopping malls, catering to travelers or individuals who might need these products unexpectedly.

Key features and benefits

1. Convenience: These machines offer a quick and easy way to purchase oral hygiene products like toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, and mouthwash. This is particularly useful for travelers who may have forgotten their personal care items or for those in need of an urgent replacement.
2. Variety of Products: Toothpaste vending machines often stock a range of brands and product types to cater to different preferences and needs. This includes various flavors of toothpaste, travel-sized options, and even eco-friendly or specialty dental products.
3. Hygiene Focus: Given the emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, especially in public spaces, these machines provide a sanitary option for acquiring necessary oral care items without needing to visit a store.
4. Innovative Technology: Some advanced toothpaste vending machines incorporate smart technology that allows for contactless payment methods, including mobile payments or credit cards, enhancing user convenience and safety.
5. Sustainability Options: With increasing awareness about environmental issues, some toothpaste vending machines also offer eco-friendly products, such as biodegradable toothbrushes or refillable containers, promoting sustainable consumer practices.
6. Customization: Certain vending solutions allow users to customize their purchases, such as selecting specific quantities or types of products they need, making it easier for consumers to get exactly what they require.

While toothpaste vending machines are still somewhat niche, they highlight the potential for vending technology to meet everyday needs in a direct and accessible manner. As more businesses and public spaces look for ways to enhance visitor satisfaction and convenience, we could see an increase in the presence and sophistication of these machines.

Other Vending Machine Applications

From sun cream to freshly cut grass. Scented Air Vending machine brings the smell of summer to busy train station.

It is a vending machine stocked with bottles of “summer-scented” air at Slough train station (Berkshire, UK) to help evoke holiday memories among commuters and offer the perfect pick-me-up for those who are feeling down.

This was a promotional stunt rather than a permanent fixture, and it captured media attention in 2015.

What It Was

• Concept: The “Smells of Summer” vending machine dispensed free bottles of scented air capturing classic summer aromas and are national favorites. Top scents included:
  • Freshly cut grass
  • Barbecue (BBQ)
  • Sun cream (sunscreen lotion)
  • Sea air (Mediterranean-style breezes)
• Purpose: Commissioned by Holiday Autos (a car hire comparison site, now part of Lastminute.com), it aimed to brighten up gloomy commuters’ mornings by triggering nostalgic holiday vibes. A survey by the company found that 69% of Brits consider smell the most evocative sense for recalling happy memories, with 82% saying summer scents could serve as a mood booster.
• How It Worked: It was Twitter-activated—users tweeted their favorite holiday memory to @HolidayAutos using #SmellsofSummer, which triggered the release of a matching scent bottle from the machine. No payment required; it was all about the fun and free pick-me-up.
• Design and Setup: Built by vending designer Solomon Rogers and tech firm Rewind in just a week, the machine held about 100 custom-labeled bottles. It was placed in the station’s ticket office for maximum commuter exposure.

When and Where

• Launch Date: Unveiled on July 30, 2015, right in the heart of Slough station—a busy hub on the Great Western Main Line, serving thousands heading to London Paddington daily.
• Duration: It was a temporary installation, running for a short promotional period (likely weeks). Reports describe hundreds of commuters interacting with it immediately, calling it a “storm” of popularity, with plans to tour it to other UK stations—but no evidence it became a long-term thing.
• Location Specifics: Slough station, Brunel Way, Slough SL1 1QW, UK. If you’re there today (as of November 2025), you’d find standard vending machines for snacks, drinks, and tickets, but nothing scent-related.

Why It Made News

This quirky setup went viral for blending tech, nostalgia, and marketing in a delightfully British way—think ambient advertising meets sensory therapy. It tied into Holiday Autos’ goal of inspiring travel bookings by “injecting fun, freedom, and frivolity” into daily routines. Media outlets like the Daily Mail and Belfast Telegraph hailed it as a clever mood-lifter for rainy commutes.

We want to inject fun, freedom and frivolity into holidays by giving people back that holiday feeling and something to smile about

Michael Callaghan (Holiday Autos)

Other Vending Machine Applications

Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall has hosted many quirky pop-ups over the years, but the Nature Exchange Vending Machine stands out as a wild, one-of-a-kind promotional stunt. Launched by Procter & Gamble’s Old Spice brand, this oversized, interactive vending machine ran for just three days—from February 12 to 14, 2015—turning the bustling Midtown hub into a makeshift urban jungle. It was all in celebration of Old Spice’s “Fresher Collection” of body washes (scents like Timber, Amber, and Citron), blending eco-adventure vibes with the brand’s signature absurdity. Think: swapping a squirrel tail for a drone, because why not?

What Was the Machine?

• Concept: Dubbed the “Nature Exchange,” it wasn’t your standard snack dispenser. Instead, it invited commuters and tourists to “trade” natural oddities for manly prizes. Deposit an item from the wild (e.g., a pinecone, snake skin, or owl pellet), and out popped a reward—no cash required. It was framed as a “reward for fans” who embraced the great outdoors, even in NYC’s concrete chaos.
• Setup: Nestled in East Vanderbilt Hall (the grand event space off the main concourse), surrounded by fake pine trees, prickly plastic grass, and faux wilderness backdrops. The machine itself was a massive, custom-built beast—taller than a person, with slots for “deposits” and dramatic reveal mechanics.
• How It Worked:
  1. Pick a category on the touchscreen (e.g., “Exotic Finds” or “Everyday Nature”).
  2. Insert your nature item into the designated slot—judged by hidden sensors or staff for authenticity.
  3. Receive a randomized prize, scaled to the item’s “wow factor.”
• Why February 12–14?: Timed for Valentine’s Day weekend, it tapped into spontaneous romance (or bromance) with a nod to “fresher” scents for dates. The short run built hype—lines formed quickly, and it went viral on social media.

Trade Examples & Prizes

The exchanges were delightfully bizarre, emphasizing rarity and humor. Here’s a snapshot of what people traded and got back:

Prizes totaled over 100 items, all Old Spice-branded, with a focus on grooming essentials. No item was too weird—staff verified deposits to ensure they were genuine nature-sourced (no fakes!).

Impact & Legacy

Post-2015: It didn’t return, but inspired similar experiential marketing.

Crowd Draw: It pulled massive lines during rush hour, with hundreds participating daily. Media outlets like Adweek called it a “generous and oddly specific” stunt that humanized the brand. Social buzz exploded, tying into Old Spice’s irreverent ads (remember “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like”?).

Other Vending Machine Applications

Algramo strategically places its vending machines in lower-income communities – the very areas hit hardest by the economic phenomenon known as “small-format punishment.” In these neighborhoods, large supermarkets with their bulk discounts and bargaining power are rare. Residents rely instead on small bodegas and mom-and-pop stores, where everyday goods can cost up to 40 % more than in wealthier districts simply because of higher overhead and lower purchasing volume.

Breaking the Poverty Premium

Algramo’s machines directly challenge this inequality. The first 20 units deployed in Santiago dispensed core staple foods – rice, lentils, beans, and chickpeas – at prices significantly below those of traditional staffed stores. By eliminating the need for employees, advertising, rent for shelf space, and individual packaging, Algramo passes the savings straight to the customer.

Pay Only for What You Need

Customers choose the exact weight they want or can afford – 200 g, 1 kg, or anything in between. This “by-the-gram” model means families never have to buy more than they need or stretch their budget for a full pre-packaged size.

Zero-Waste Refill System

On a customer’s first visit, the machine dispenses a durable, RFID-tagged reusable container at minimal cost. From then on, users simply bring the same container back for refills, drastically reducing single-use plastic waste while earning loyalty discounts.

Triple-Impact Mission in Action

Algramo’s core philosophy is to generate positive economic, environmental, and social outcomes simultaneously. By delivering bulk-quality prices to the families who need them most, in a packaging-free format placed inside existing neighborhood stores, these vending machines embody that “triple impact” promise.

The Road Ahead

Starting from its proven base in Santiago, Algramo is expanding to additional cities across Chile and into neighboring countries. The company is also developing new dispensers for liquids such as cooking oil, detergents, and cleaning products, further broadening affordable, sustainable access to everyday essentials for underserved communities.

Other Vending Machine Applications