Apparatus and method for marketing products, distributing product samples and capturing consumer personal data

A method of at least one of delivering product marketing information to consumers, delivering a product sample to said consumers and capturing consumer personal data, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an apparatus capable of storing a predetermined quantity of at least one product and for incrementally delivering one of said at least one product;
• (b) storing, within said apparatus provided in step (a), at least a portion of said predetermined quantity of said at least one product in a position for delivery to consumers;
• (c) issuing a request, by said consumers using a selection means disposed within said apparatus, to receive said at least one product;
• (d) receiving, by a control means disposed within said apparatus provided in step (a), said request issued in step (c);
• (e) obtaining one of said at least a portion of said predetermined quantity of said at least one product stored in step (a);
• and
• (f) delivering said one of said at least said portion of said predetermined quantity of said at least one product obtained in step (e) onto a serving means for use by said consumers.

A method of at least one of delivering product marketing information to consumers and capturing consumer personal data, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning, in preselected locations, a plurality of devices capable of at least one of capturing and recognizing personal data of a consumer;
• (b) using any one of said plurality of devices for at least one of capturing and recognizing said personal data of said consumer;
• (c) using at least one other one of said plurality of devices to at least recognize said personal data of said consumer;
• and
• (d) delivering said product marketing information to said consumer based on said personal data recognized by said at least one other one of said plurality of devices in step (c).

A method of determining number of consumers present in at least one predetermined location, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning, in said predetermined location, a device capable of sensing a presence of said consumers;
• (b) using said device positioned in step (a) to sense presence of said consumers;
• and
• (c) assigning a count value to each occurrence of sensing said presence of said consumers.

A method of marketing a plurality of products to consumers present in at least one predetermined location, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning, in said predetermined location, a device capable of sensing a presence of said consumers;
• (b) using said device positioned in step (a) to sense presence of said consumers;
• and
• (c) delivering preselected marketing information upon sensing said presence of said consumers.