Gana Prakash
CITTA Mall now houses Malaysia’s first succulent dispensing vending machine. This machine, created in collaboration with Cactus Boy Nursery, houses up to 108 succulents for sale via an accessible, cashless, 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 increase our green spaces within the community,” commented John Tam, General Manager of CITTA Mall.
The succulent vending machine is a pet project by the Owner and Founder of Cactus Boy Nursery, Koh Kuan Meng, to cater to his customers’ demand for pretty potted plants while he travels for work.
“I have always desired 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.” Kuan Meng said.
Modified to transport plants
Succulent plants, commonly called succulents, are drought-resistant plants with thickened, fleshy, and engorged leaves, stems, or roots, typically to hold water in arid regions or soil conditions.
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! My next challenge is to dispense bigger pots of plants.”
“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, 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 on 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 cactusboynursery on Facebook or @cactusboy_nursery on Instagram.
CJMY
