Outerwall Demonstrates New Vending Concepts At CES Sampleit In Third Pilot Year

LAS VEGAS -- Outerwall Inc.'s ecoATM, Sampleit and Coinstar Exchange machines made a splash alongside its Redbox DVD vender and original self-serve coin-counting machine at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.

Sampleit kiosks, currently in pilot stage in some U.S. markets, are stocked with sample-size products from leading brands for $1 each. Brands pay to have their products featured. The machines promote them with images and videos and dispense coupons for purchase of full-size items. The pilot, which includes about 100 machines, has been operating since 2012.

Also on display was Outerwall's ecoATM, which pays cash instantly for used cellphones, tablets and MP3 players, and the Coinstar Exchange, which offers instant cash for unused gift cards.

Outerwall's message to CES showgoers was that "smart shopping" is the key to retailers' success. "The brick-and-mortar store, once the 'holy grail' for a point of sale, now has an opportunity to be reinvented as the lines between digital and physical retail become blurred," Outerwall said. "Retailers can transform the shopping experience for their customers -- from a chore to an interactive, personalized experience in the digital age."

CES-goers were shown three demos of next-generation, in-store retail shopping scenarios that use mobile technology to allow retailers to connect directly with consumers during their shopping journey.

Outerwall maintains more than 65,000 automated kiosks nationwide. The company will host its 2014 fourth-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 2:30 p.m. PT