Businessman's novel approach to preventing retail crime

A businessman has come up with an innovative way to overcome the recent spike in Melbourne's retail crime and cut costs at the same time.

Hari Shotham has a thriving 24-hour convenience store in St Kilda.

But he doesn't spend any money paying security or shop staff, unlike the 7/11 next door.

Mr Shotham's novel approach to retail: a shop filled with nothing but vending machines.

"We want to be a convenience store at a price that people are happy with, as well. We're not here to rip off the customer, we are here to make the customer happy," he told A Current Affair.

Mr Shotham started the business earlier this year and now each vending machine in his store is raking in more than $1000 a week.

It's not just soft drinks and confectionary in the machines, the store sells everything from cosmetics to pet food.

Also on sale are toiletries, DVDs, batteries, games vitamins and even underwear.

"I'm pretty sure we're on the right track," Mr Shotham said.

Store manager and vending machine engineer, Tom, says security is not an issue as staff have access to CCTV from the shop on their phones at all time.

"It's open 24 hours, seven days a week. Customer service is great because you don't talk to anybody," he said.

The store has alarm systems that are triggered by a button inside the CCTV monitoring app.

"Anyone that is in the store that feels they've triggered an alarm, they will leave. And it will also attract people from outside the store to come and check out whatever has gone," Tom said.

Mr Shotham and his business partner have just returned from China, where they attracted new investors.

"Everyone in China thinks this is the next best idea to sliced bread and they're throwing money at us to open up not only here in Australia, but take this idea over to China and launch it in all the condominiums that they have out there," he said.

Nearly 20 new vending machine stores are about to open at major Sydney train stations in the coming months and Mr Shotham would also like to bring the vending machine store concept to regional areas.

He believes the sky is the limit for his bourgeoning business.

"It's got everything you need under one roof," Mr Shotham said.