Back in the day, vending machines used to be for one thing – snacks.
But nowadays – especially in countries like Japan – you can buy just about anything from one of the huge gadgets.
Hot meals, groceries, cocktails, milk, gifts, toiletries, you name it, you can buy it without setting foot in a shop or speaking to a single human.
It was only a matter of time until Manchester got in on the vending machine action, and there are some very high-tech options springing up around the Arndale.
The first that caught our eye in this huge shopping centre is a robot machine selling candy floss creations.
At the touch of a few buttons and depositing £5.20 of your hard-earned cash, a robotic arm will spin sugar into flowers, love hearts, and stars, in an array of pretty pastel colours, before politely handing it back to you through a cat flap.
Located right in the corner of the Manchester Arndale’s food court (bewilderingly close to the toilets), this flashing neon attraction is definitely about as cute as vending machines come.
But it’s not alone.
Down in the main shopping area, just outside Next, stands another pink machine, this time filled with beauty products.
A vending machine selling false lashes in the Manchester ArndaleA vending machine selling false lashes in the Manchester Arndale
There are false eyelashes disguised as cheese and onion crisps, lipglosses dangling on a keychain, eyebrow gels, lip oils, and false lashes in just about every shape, size, colour and volume you could think of.
They’re cheaper than a lot of lashes too, with pairs starting at £3.
Right next to this is another machine where you can rent a power bank for charging your phone.
Not too long ago there was a cupcake vending machine right outside Wilko (RIP), but in all the months it was there I never once saw it operating.
It’s now been replaced by a Marvel arcade machine.
A toy vending machineAnd a false nails vending machine next to it
But just around the corner opposite one of Manchester’s many Subways is another row of pastel-hued flashing vending machines.
One sells items for as much as £23. And what do you get for that? A toy.
This one is the ECTOYS Robo Shop, where you can buy collectable characters like Hello Kitty, Shinwoo and Farmer Bob, plus adorable pandas undertaking different activities.
And just next to that is another beauty-focused vending machine, this one specalising in press-on nails.
Prices for the false talons range from £4.99 to £8.99.
Aldi is looking for people to send FREE wine to in exchange for reviews
Emily Sergeant
Consider yourself a wine connoisseur? Well now’s your chance to get sent some freebies and put your skills to the test.
Wine tasting and reviewing used to just be the domain of qualified experts, but now with the rise of affordable options, a new wave of wine lovers are taking to social media to share their passion for vino and make the experience more approachable, all while breaking down jargon in a relatable and engaging way at the same time.
So, in a bid to tap into this growing world of wine enthusiasts, Aldi is redefining its popular wine-lovers fan group and launching an all-new Winefluencer Club
The aim of the ‘club’ is to make wine tasting more accessible and fun for everyone.
Aldi is looking for people to send free wine to in exchange for reviews / Credit: Aldi UK
Aldi’s programme is designed to give passionate wine lovers the chance to share their reviews of the retailer‘s latest Spring / Summer wine range on social media.
The supermarket is looking for 10 wine connoisseurs to join the club, where they will receive free bottles from Aldi’s award-winning wine range in exchange for authentic social media reviews.
Over three months, members will uncover gems from Aldi’s new collection and provide valuable feedback that will help shape future wine selections along the way.
Beyond complimentary wine, club members will also enjoy a sneak peek at Aldi’s Autumn / Winter range before its September release too.
Applications are now open for the perfect vino-loving candidate / Credit: Simon Hadley (via Aldi UK)
“At Aldi, we’re embracing the changing world of wine,” explained Julie Ashfield, who is the Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK.
“With the launch of our Winefluencer Club, we’re not just offering great wine, we’re creating a community where passionate wine lovers can share their thoughts on the range. It’s all about making wine something that everyone can enjoy, no matter their level of expertise.”
To be in with a chance of landing the role, budding tasters simply need to send an email to winefluencerclub@aldi.co.uk with their full name, proof of age, links to their social media handles and follower counts, reveal their favourite Aldi wine and why, and round it off with 150 words explaining why they should be chosen.
Entries are now open, with T&Cs applying, and you have up until Tuesday 18 March to apply on the Aldi website here.
Featured Image – Matthieu Joannon (via Unspalsh)
Shopping
Flashbacks: The timelapse of the Trafford Centre construction that’s gone viral
Danny Jones
The Trafford Centre might look like some decadent Roman emperor’s palace or as if it was plucked from the heart of Ancient Grecian city, but as anyone old enough to remember it’s opening and/or construction will tell you, it seems strange to think its not even been around for three decades yet.
As Greater Manchester’s and one of the North West’s most famous shopping centres full stop, the iconic attraction first began being built back in 1996, when John Major was Prime Minister, Manchester United were still Premier League champions, Britpop was at its peak and George Michael was number one.
It’s fair to say that a lot has changed since then and although Oasis might be back come 2025, The Trafford Centre and surrounding area are pretty unrecgonisable compared to nearly 30 years ago.
All told, it took approximately 27 months to erect the neo-classical epicentre of all things shopping, leisure, food and fanciness – and here’s what the process looked like:
With the initial 14 million sq ft shopping centre being completed in September 1998 following approximately 810 days of work, The Trafford Centre debuted to the Manc public and beyond.
It took more than 3,000 builders to bring the 60 hectare site to life at the peak of construction and since then the plot has only grown bigger, bolder and more ambitious over time.
Present day, it has everything from cinema screens and a mini Legoland to a Sea Life location, multiple bowling alleys and countless other forms of entertainment beyond just rows of shops and restaurants – hence why it remains busy pretty much year-round.
Back then, British celebrities, popular local names of note, politicians, dignitaries and prominent figures from the retail industry got to visit as part of exclusive preview events in the days before its launch date.
You can see the spectacle and fascination surrounding the official opening event here:
Seems surreal watching this today but the construction of the Trafford Centre was a huge moment not just for 0161 but all of the North.
But of course, the entire complex itself has seen multiple extensions over the years, including massive developments such as Barton Square and The Great Hall.
At the outset, it cost more than £600 million to build The Trafford Centre; the major renovations mentioned above which took place in 2008 cost another £100m and the Trafford Palazzo revamp around a decade later came in at around £75m.
There has and always will be lots of money put behind this intruguing monument to modern consumerism, and big brands will continue to flock to open units within the huge expanse whenever they can: some of the most recent being Archie’s, Flying Tiger, Sephora, Tiffany, Gymshark and more.
We’ll admit the aesthetic still makes us double-take from time to time (though not as much as confused Londoners visiting for the first time), but it’s not like this part of the world hasn’t boasted plenty of other curiosities in the past…
Daisy Jackson -
17th February 2024 
