Self-service retrenched
Robo Tom's, a Forerunner of Redbox, Closes Shop
Robo Tom's, a Forerunner of Redbox, Closes Shop
December 24, 2003
YORK, PA -- One of the convenience store industry's more innovative offers has ceased operation, at least in its original format.
In early December, Shipley Energy Group closed its two Robo Tom's outlets in Lancaster and York, Penn. Robo Tom's, which opened in 2001, was a forerunner to the media-hyped but also recently closed Redbox automated convenience store.
The Robo Tom's sites were actually much more of a bundled offer than Redbox. The York site--in addition to several vending machines that offered convenience store staples and hot-food items like pizza--provided unattended fueling, and developed a cash pay-at-the-pump option and loyalty programs.
"We are stepping back" from the overall concept of Robo Tom's, Rob Iosue, Shipley's vice president of marketing, told NACS Daily. "It's still a good concept," Iosue said, "but may have been ahead of its time," especially in introducing the many unique customer offers all at once, he noted.
Still, Iosue said that the innovativeness of Robo Tom's developed a core clientele for the company not just at its two Robo Tom's sites, but also at Shipley's 35 other Tom's convenience stores. Iosue said that the company likely would reintroduce some of the Robo Tom's concepts, such as the loyalty program and cash pay-at-the-pump option at attended locations to offer cash-paying customers added convenience.
Automated convenience stores have proven to be much more successful in other countries, particularly in Europe and Asia, but several experts still believe that the idea can succeed in the United States. Among the automated convenience store operations still in operation is SmartMart, a drive-thru automated convenience store in Memphis.
Posted by Craig at December 31, 2003 04:29 PM