Forgive the cheesy pun in the title, but I had to do it…
Two things I love – vending machines and books – combined in one: the Biblio-Mat!
The Monkey’s Paw, a secondhand book shop in Toronto, built a one-off vending machine to sell off its hard-to-move titles for a toonie (Canadian $2 coin).
While it’s sized like the food and snack dispensers which allow you to choose what you want, it functions more like a random gumball machine – loaded with the promise of a general item, but the exact thing which falls out the flapped door is a surprise.
Brilliant concept and video. Gets people in, moves stock, it’s fun, looks good and gives the shop a unique feature. Will be hoarding a few toonies for the next time I’m in town…
>> Story via NPR: Book-Vending Machine Dispenses Suspense
>> The Monkey’s Paw