Cheerful succulent seller turned a passion project into a thriving business.
Drinks, snacks and now – succulents! The use for vending machines has been revolutionised for more than just dispensing convenient eats. Today, you can find Malaysia’s very first succulent dispensing vending machine at CITTA Mall. In collaboration with Cactus Boy
Nursery, this machine houses up to 108 succulents for sale, through an accessible, cashless, and unmanned retail system.
“CITTA Mall has always prioritised being a ‘green mall’ where we try to add an element of nature to your shopping and leisure
experience. Supporting novel ideas like the Cactus Boy Nursery succulent vending machine is just one of the ways we
encourage entrepreneurship and increasing our green spaces within the community,” commented John Tam, General Manager of
CITTA Mall.
Own new succulents at a press of a button.
The succulent vending machine is a pet project by Owner and Founder of Cactus Boy Nursery, Koh Kuan Meng, to cater to his customers’ demand for the pretty potted plants while he travels for work. “I have always desired for a retail space to sell succulents without me being on-site and having to manage the sales in person. When CITTA Mall agreed to support me in bringing my vending machine idea to life, I jumped on the opportunity immediately.”
Commercial vending machines are not designed to sell live plants; Koh had a hand in customising the design to carefully move the succulents from the display rack to the collection space in the vending machine. “It took several trials and errors, but with a few modifications, the plants can now be transported safely from all display rack levels without toppling over! My next challenge is to dispense bigger pots of plants.”
Koh’s inventive modifications has simplified sale of his succulents
“There are a few plus points to selling plants this way; I can store them at a consistent temperature, install grow lights to ensure sufficient light, automate the watering system, and also maintain the plants’ condition and monitor sales through an app. Now, plant mums and dads can come, purchase, and leave with their new plant babies without me having to be there! That’s a great victory for me,” the 31-year-old added.
Succulent enthusiasts can purchase a single pot from RM15 upwards to two pots for RM50 at the vending machine located at the Ground floor of CITTA Mall, outside Nando’s eatery, by the glass elevator. To watch a tutorial on how to use the machine, click here.
For more information, visit: @CITTAMall on Facebook or @cittamall on Instagram or @cactusboynursery on Facebook or @cactusboy_nursery on Instagram.