The Sandbox - All your beach needs, delivered!

[TheSandbox]

Hey SoWal! We'd like to take a moment to tell you about our new business! We just recently launched our "Beach Shop in a Box" right next to the beach bar @ Pompano Joe's. It's a vending machine that dispenses all kinds of beach goodies! You can read more about it in this article from the Destin Log.

Obviously, not everything you need for your day at the beach can fit in a vending machine, so we also offer delivery! We rent premium beach chairs, umbrellas, tents/canopies, coolers and beach carts. In addition to the rentals, we also sell (and deliver) all sorts of other beach necessities (sunscreen, goggles, floats, toys, and more!).

You can place an order right on our website and we'll deliver it to your vacation home or condo anywhere in South Walton.

We'd love the chance to help make your vacation be as relaxed and enjoyable as possible!

 

[Teresa]

Thanks for the shout out Sandbox and WELCOME to SoWal.com.
Sounds like a very interesting and needed service! Good luck!
Be sure to post more about your business here on the SoWal Community Forum.
If you delivered food and drink, then we would be completely covered! or do you???

‘Beach shop in a box': Sandbox offers everything you'll need for a day in the sun, surf and sand
June 24, 2012 8:10 AM
Jordan Swanson

Forgetting beach essentials after arriving at your favorite spot on the sand can now be the least of your worries.
Greg and Lauren Alsobrook of Santa Rosa Beach introduced their clever beach vending machine called The Sandbox to the public on June 14. The pilot location is in the downstairs area of Pompano Joe’s, next to the beach bar.

“It's a beach vending machine that carries all of the toys and necessities that you'd need for a day at the beach,” said Greg.
The concept for the beach vending machine came about after Greg said he got tired of forgetting stuff when arriving at the beach. He and Lauren then brainstormed how to fix the problem “economically” and that’s when the vending machine idea popped into their heads.

“We’re locals and we forget things, and we run out, or you see something that somebody else has and you think ‘oh, that looks like fun, I wish I had that’ … you can just come up here and get it,” said Lauren of the inspiration for the machine. “You don’t have to wait for next time or leave to drive to the store and come back.”

The air-conditioned vending machine sells sunscreen for $6-$8, sunglasses for $14, beach balls for $3.50, towels for $9.75, mesh beach bags for $6, seashell collector bags for $4.50, disposable underwater cameras for $12.50, beach necklaces for $7, and more.

“I think you’re going to find that the prices are really competitive with a convenience store,” said Greg.
The machine accepts credit cards and cash, and is set up on a system that notifies Greg and Lauren by e-mail every night about which items were sold, so that they know which items need to be restocked.

“The reception of this has just been incredible,” said Greg. Sunscreen has been the most popular item.
Both necessities and toys — whichever items aren’t as popular as others — will get switched out as the couple keeps track of what’s selling the most and what’s selling the least.

“There’s nothing better than a beach shop in a box, right on the beach,” said Greg.

They ordered the machine from a distributor in Birmingham, and said that they adapted it to cater to the beach accessories as opposed to the typical drinks and snacks that most vending machines dispense.
It took about two months, from the inception of the idea to the vending machine being placed on the beach for 24/7 public access.

Greg said that he chose the beach behind Pompano Joe’s because it’s a popular public beach with many tourists frequenting it. He said that it’s got the “whole package” with its restaurant, beach bar, volleyball, and chairs and umbrellas.
“The goal, really, is to expand and to have more machines — to be in more locations,” said Lauren.
The Sandbox is the Alsobrook’s side job. Greg is a web site designer and Lauren is an accountant.

To find out more about The Sandbox, visit its website at ShopTheSandbox.com, or find it on Facebook at facebook.com/ShopTheSandbox.
theDESTINlog.com​

 

[TheSandbox]

Hey Teresa! Thanks for the welcome and the kind words!

We don't currently deliver food... but maybe we should consider a new division. How about "The Lunchbox"?

 

[LowProfiling]

Best of luck with the new venture, We grabbed an item the other day from your box at Pompano's. Saved a trip to the store down the road and losing our parking spot. Great concept!

 

[TheSandbox]

We were featured in a CNN.com article this morning about unique vending machines! Check it out - http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/16/travel/odd-vending-machines