A retail kiosk (also referred to as a mall kiosk or retail merchandising unit, RMU) is a store operated out of a merchant-supplied kiosk of varying size and shapes, which is typically enclosed with the operator located in the center and customers approaching the vendor across a counter. History The first mall kiosk opened in Boston's Faneuil Hall in 1976. As proprietors and shopping mall design space has become more sophisticated, the model of mall income generation has been adapted to suit, with kiosks evolving to accommodate this transition. They are considered as part of the specialty retail industry, which is worth over 12 billion annually. Retail spending has remained strong through economic ups and downs (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, it totaled about 3.58 trillion in 2002). Placement in walkways guarantees high foot traffic from shoppers, offering opportunities for impulse sales. Many carts are franchised, which provides more support for new entrepreneurs. Leases or rents are often monthly, but may range in length from a weekend to a year. The short leases allow larger retailers to test the market temporarily before committing to a location, and lower costs for new business owners. Design and functionality These units are best exemplified by jewelry-style cases forming a variable size perimeter footprint, perhaps by . These units are located in shopping malls, airports, at sporting events, or inside larger stores (occasionally as "concession stands"). Modern functionalities such as lighting, wireless payment, and seamless aesthetics have developed the kiosk model from a standard wooden cart into a sub-section of the mall commercialization model, referred to as "in-line retail". The industry term for smaller units is RMU (retail merchandising unit). These smaller units were created to avoid lease conflicts with existing stores that had contractual "kiosk" exclusions and local fire codes requiring greater distance between units by placing them on wheels. Usage Costs Leasing Most commonly, mall proprietors and operators of commercial real estate make kiosks available for short-term lease to mall retailers. In the UK, leases are largely available on three-month rolling contracts, often through commercialization specialists who broker the rental lease on behalf of the landlord of the space and/or the kiosk. Alternatively, kiosks can be operated under longer leases of up to ten years. Some consider this more appropriate due to the expense of the kiosk (which often starts at 20,000 and is capable of exceeding 100,000). Licensing RMUs are