Trendy Vend Ltd

TWO Liverpool sisters who graduated with their own business idea aimed at trendy bar-goers and clubbers have received more than £1m of private investment.

The cash injection by Manchester- based national bar media contractor Hi-tech Media will allow Trendy Vend to roll out installation of its specialist vending machines nationally.

Kayleigh and Talia Baccino graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in 2008 with the idea of a vending machine aimed at the night-time economy providing a range of cosmetics for female revellers.

The idea has since been extended to a Trendy Vend for Him machine.

The first machines were installed in Liverpool bar restaurant Alma De Cuba in November 2008 and now 250 more are in production to be installed in venues around the country.

Kayleigh Baccino said they are developing a network for their machines: "We were in an Earls Court trade show recently and signed up quite a few new names. We have people in Cardiff, Bristol, Sheffield and Newcastle and 250 machines will be installed in the next three weeks."

The cash injection means the girls can install a further 100 new machines each month, with a target of 1,000 in place by this Christmas.

She said the male version, offering items such as hair wax, combs, aftershave, mints and antacids, will extend their appeal, although the private investment was vital for expansion.

"Because the machines aren't leased or off the shelf there was a lot of capital investment required."

She said the investment is part of a three-year business plan.

It gives Hi-tech a majority stake in the business, but she added: "It is a sacrifice we had to make to grow the potential of the business.

"But there is an opportunity for us to buy the shares back in the future."

Trendy Vend Ltd started their business with support from Stepclever and we celebrate their continued success.