Until recently, vending machines provided us with basic products. They were all about fizzy drinks and chocolate bars. Even when they were introduced into hotel lobbies to dispense toiletries that guests had forgotten to pack, the emphasis was still on the "basics". But now a new breed of luxury vending machine is showing up in hotels, airports and malls around the world, offering a very different level of choice and convenience.
Although the luxury vending machine trend may not have started in the UAE, the gold bar dispensing machine installed in the Emirates Palace hotel last year was the first of its kind in the world and set a certain tone for this trend. I will let you decide if it is a tasteful tone or not.
This year, not one but two gold bar vending machines were installed in the Burj Khalifa, and there are plans for more such machines in malls in Dubai. Suddenly, purchasing items from a vending machine requires so much more than a few coins.
Meanwhile, over at the Mondrian South Beach Hotel in Miami, guests can select from more than 60 items in a huge, glossy white vending machine in the lobby. Items range from $10 (Dh37) to $1.2 million (Dh4.4m), so if you fancy buying a Jean Paul Gaultier dress, Sony PSP-2000 or Bentley Azure convertible without the advice of a sales assistant, this is for you.
And perhaps this is where the attraction of "automated retail" truly lies: many shoppers prefer making purchases without interacting with sales assistants. The solitary calm and convenience of shopping online is attractive to most of us, and vending machines essentially offer the best elements of online shopping but in the real world. Plus you get your purchase immediately - instant gratification.
Although many luxury vending machines seem more about offering customers a novelty rather than meeting a genuine need, there are exceptions. U*tique Shop, for example, pushes all the right trend buttons, even down to the very "now" colour of the interactive LED lighting.
The shop offers 56 premium products that are carefully curated according to each machine's location, and therefore answers the genuine needs of people on the go. Machines are stylishly stocked with must-have items of the moment including Smashbox and Stila cosmetics, Bliss Spa, Dogeared jewellery and Lady Gaga Heartbeats headphones. Touch screens allow buyers to learn about the products before buying, providing short video demos, ingredient lists and information on which brands give back to charity. Machines can even dispense a product sample.
The founder, Mara Segal, brilliantly recognised that people are increasingly time-strapped, and shopping could be made simpler and more convenient. As she rightly says: "Time is the new luxury of today, and by focusing on only the must-have premium items, U*tique Shop is saving consumers valued time and making the shopping experience easy and fun."
Currently only present in locations across the US, U*tique Shop has plans for international placement. Here's hoping it arrives in the UAE soon.
For more information on U*tique Shop visit www.utiqueshop.com or log on to the company's Facebook page.
Victoria Redshaw is the managing director of Scarlet Opus. For more information, visit www.trendsblog.co.uk or www.scarletopus.com
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
RESULT
Australia 3 (0) Honduras 1 (0)
Australia: Jedinak (53', 72' pen, 85' pen)
Honduras: Elis (90 4)