Overview
Retail kiosks have become more popular over
the last several years, in part thanks to the high cost of renting a
traditional storefront. You'll find at least a few at any mall. These
are businesses that sell things from jewelry to cell phones without
having an actual store within the mall. Instead, they use kiosks, which
are much smaller, independent storefronts that are located in the middle
of the walkway. Each individual table at a craft fair could be
considered its own kiosk, and small businesses that seem to be located
on the sidewalk, like those that sell food or newspapers are also
considered kiosks.
Another type of kiosk is now becoming popular for retail purposes:
the computerized kiosk that delivers information or sells a very narrow
range of products in a self-service format. These cost thousands of
dollars, usually well into five figures; so, only the largest and most
well-established businesses will use this type of technology in the near
future. Traditional kiosks, however, are available to everyone.Many companies manufacture kiosk carts, like Cart and Kiosk, which will take your business needs and design idea and create a custom cart to fit your products. Cart-King International and Carriageworks are also large kiosk suppliers for hotels and malls.
How it Works
Kiosks work as visual advertising solutions. They are displayed with pictures of the products sold or display the product itself. This will help retailers market their products much efficiently. It is just as a small room built with glass for transparent reflection of what is displayed, but the owner or the sales person does not have space to accommodate himself with in it. It is like a trolley that can be moved around easily.Benefits
Using a kiosk to sell goods and services instead of a traditional storefront makes it possible for businesses, especially small ones, to save on overhead and other costs while still being able to present a product to consumers. In a mall, for instance, to rent actual store space, the low-end cost is $250 per square foot of space, but it's common for the cost to be a hundred dollars or more above that.Renting a kiosk costs a fraction of that amount, even if the mall supplies the kiosk stand. It also costs less to keep a mall kiosk stocked with inventory than it does to fill a much larger store, so start-up costs are reduced, too.
Kiosks also have the added benefit of being located where people walk-on the sidewalk and in the middle of the mall. Customers don't need to go out of their way to go into a store; they're walking right by the same spot where they can browse and purchase, and makes impulse purchases much easier. The steady flow of foot traffic can keep businesses brisk.
Costs
Costs vary depending on the type of kiosk and the size. The actual kiosk stand can range from $3,000 for a small food and beverage cart, to over twice that for a used 10x15 kiosk, which is perfect for placement in the walkway of a mall.Rental space, like in a mall, can range from $750 to $2,000, depending on the size of the kiosk. When you consider the cost of a store in the mall that can reach prices of $10,000, a major benefit of using kiosks becomes clear.