USA Technologies Powers High-End Sneaker Kiosk Game

USA Technologies (USAT), a payment technology provider of cashless and mobile transactions in self-serve retail, announced Tuesday (April 11) that Sneaker Syndicate, a high-end athletic shoe boutique in Orlando, Fla., has launched a series of self-serve amusement kiosks that allow consumers to win sneakers using USAT’s ePort Connect cashless payment systems.

In a press release, USA Technologies, citing AnythingResearch, said the amusement arcades market is approaching a market size of $2 billion and cashless payments represent a huge growth opportunity for the still largely cash-based market. Sneaker Syndicate has deployed USAT’s cashless payment technology on an amusement “Crane Game” as part of a marketing strategy for its retail location. For $5, shoppers can test their luck at winning high-end footwear such as Adidas Yeezy Boosts or Nike Air Jordans, sneakers that range in value between $300 and $2,000, the company said in the press release.

“Because of USA Technologies, we are developing franchise agreements with companies across the East Coast for our popular high-end shoe amusement machines,” said Stewart Bryant, owner of Sneaker Syndicate, in the same press release. “The ability to easily accept payments using the ePort platform has made a critical difference for us. This technology has opened the door to a new world of amusement and vending games.”

According to USA Technologies, one month after installing USAT’s ePort Connect cashless payment systems onto a small number of the store’s amusement machines, sales nearly doubled, with cashless transactions accounting for around 45 percent of the machines’ intake. The company now plans to expand its business over the next two years with additional machines at a variety of East Coast locations, the companies said in the press release.

“The opportunity for the unattended retail market is greater than ever. In the amusement and gaming industry, going cashless not only enables more payment options and increased revenue potential, but also allows for the sale of game credits. Additionally, the MORE loyalty program facilitates repeated sales of games,” says Maeve Duska, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at USA Technologies, in the same press release. “More and more consumers are also going cashless simply recognizing that the convenience of paying with their mobile wallet is as simple as tap and go.”