“Federated Department Stores Inc. is bringing consumer electronics back into its stores with a robotic vending machine that will roll out in 180 Macy’s stores this fall,” Lisa Cornwell reports for The Associated Press. “Federated’s top executive announced at Friday’s annual shareholder meeting that the company has signed an agreement with San Francisco-based Zoom Systems to provide the self-serve, robotic “Zoom Stores” at Macy’s locations in 32 cities beginning this fall.”

“‘This is exciting because it brings most-wanted merchandise into our stores in a unique new way,’ Terry J. Lundgren, Federated’s chairman, president and CEO, told shareholders while demonstrating one of the machines. ‘It gets us back into a category we know our customers want.’ Lundgren demonstrated the 28-square-foot unit to shareholders, using his Macy’s Visa card to buy an iPod. Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod music players and accessories make up the primary assortment of merchandise displayed on shelves behind glass,” Cornwell reports.

Full article here.

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