Vending & OCS Nation Podcast

More than ever before, technology is being associated with vending and micro markets. For many, it seems to have all happened overnight, right after the pandemic. In reality, pioneers like Evan Jarecki have been at it for a decade. Today’s episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, the podcast for the convenience services industry, focuses on a company and industry leader who of...

There are plenty of reasons why the Atlantic Coast Exposition — often known as ACE — has emerged as more than just a regional event. It attracts attendees from beyond their core states of North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. In partnership with the Atlantic Coast Exposition, today’s episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast provides a preview of the upcoming “ACE...

Every now and again, Bob Tullio, the host of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, steps out of the convenience services industry and talks to people who sell something else for a living to see if he can learn anything new about sales. In this episode, Tullio talks to Angel Salvador, a Beverly Hills real estate professional who has hit some real-estate home runs with the Holly...

As an operator, Orrin Huebner has worked for an independent company, started and sold two of his own, and managed a large branch for an industry giant. This wealth of experience has made him a sought-after consultant. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, the podcast for the convenience services industry, host Bob Tullio sits down with another industry legend, Orrin...

1974 was quite a year. United States President Richard Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought for the heavyweight title, disco was becoming very popular, and a young man named Joe Webster started Newco Enterprises, a game changing event for many OCS operators. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, the podcast for the c...

Jon Holden loves being an operator. He is grateful for the people he works with, the clients he serves and the job that he gets to perform every day. In this episode Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation – the podcast for the convenience services industry, host Bob Tullio talks to Jon Holden of All Star Services in Michigan, in a podcast that is both entertaining and inspirational. Tul...

There is growing interest in the convenience services industry by newcomers – entrepreneurs who aspire to be operators. These newbies were seeking solutions at the 2024 NAMA Show while experienced operators found plenty of things to be impressed about. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation Podcast, host Bob Tullio explores the new operator phenomenon, talking to some...

Just about everyone who attended the event agreed that the 2024 NAMA Show in Dallas was the biggest gathering our industry has seen in a long time, if not the biggest ever. Beyond the expansive convention floor and large crowds, there was an unmistakable vibe – a clear change of direction, pointing to positive days ahead. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, podcas...

With the NAMA Show landing in Dallas, Texas this year, Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation Podcast host Bob Tullio thought this would be a good time to explore the journey of a Dallas operator,  Louis Baresh of Executive Refreshment.  Tullio says the first time he met Louis Baresh, he knew Baresh was on his way to being a bright star in the industry. In 2022, Baresh was recognized as...

Fixturelite, based in Phoenix, Arizona, has been the industry’s leading supplier of micro market retail displays, equipment and design tools for ten years. But they didn’t start out that way. Steve Orlando and Troy Geis were successful operators who discovered the micro market business early on and realized that this new solution was going to be big. Orlando and Geis kept hearing from industry exp...

The 2024 NAMA Show in Dallas is just a few weeks away and from all indications, it will be one of the biggest gatherings the convenience services industry has ever seen.  On this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation Podcast, in partnership with NAMA, it’s all about the NAMA Show in Dallas – May 7th through May 9th.  Podcast host Bob Tullio talks to Kristen Griffith, Vice Pr...

Kim Miros doesn’t think much about being a successful female business owner. What she is truly proud of is where her business is now – capable of providing for herself, her employees and their families. Talking about it brings a tear to her eye. This new episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, Bob Tullio focuses on the journey of Ocala, Florida, based Kim Miros – Owner of DAC...

A recent Wall Street Journal article points to vending as a strong investment trend of the 2020’s. Reports on social media portraying the vending business as easy money are drawing entrepreneurs toward the vending business. Can they be successful competing against established operators? This edition of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation Podcast explores the world of small operators,...

For Linda Saldana, the co-founder of Seventh Wave Refreshments in Atlanta, there is plenty of joy to go around. That's why Vending & OCS Nation host Bob Tullio decided to tell her story in two parts.  In our first podcast episode this month, we focused on Linda's journey.  That episode was entitled, “To deliver joy, Linda Saldana brings faith, passion and energy to her work.” Then we talked ab...

Storytelling is a powerful way to communicate with people - personally and in business. Knowing the fundamentals and understanding certain key strategies can make the difference when using storytelling to help clients and prospects make the right choices.  In our last episode, featuring Linda Saldana of Seventh Wave Refreshments, she made reference to storytelling, a sales technique that Vending &...

Chances are, if you are in the convenience services business, you have heard the name, Linda Saldana. In 2023, Automatic Merchandiser named her as one of the "Most Influential Women in Convenience Services." In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio sat down with Linda Saldana to talk about her professional and her closely connected spiritual journey. La...

A family business can change dramatically from one generation to the next. That’s exactly what happened after Jim Evans joined Evans Quality Coffee. He followed societal shifts to move the company from industrial/mobile catering to vending and coffee. On this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio gives you a view from the big apple – a conversation with indu...

Bob Tullio, the host of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, is the first to admit that he loves telling his listeners a good success story, whether it is the story of an operator or supplier who has something special to offer.  In this episode, we explore the journey of an entrepreneur who is a bit of a disrupter. Now in his early 30’s, Jonathan Noori has taken his operation – Royal...

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, host Bob Tullio explores two sides of Jennifer Fox, owner of Fox Vending in the Chicago area. It's about overcoming personal challenges and doing what it takes to succeed in business. You will hear the dramatic story of Dragonolia and Herren project, all driven by the loss of her brother and how these philanthropic effor...

In 2023, Automatic Merchandiser recognized Jennifer Fox, president of Fox Vending in the Chicago area, as one of the industry’s most influential women. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, host Bob Tullio talks to Fox about her journey and her courageous approach to doing business.  Jennifer Fox’s story will be told in two parts, Bob Tullio is sure you will...

How often do you think about lighting? In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, host Bob Tullio talks to some leading micro market consultants and to Cam Cloeter, the founder of Lighting for Impact, a company that is literally dominating the retail lighting market from coast to coast. Based on the data presented by retailers that are served by Lighting for Impa...

Bob Tullio, the host of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, admits that the title of this podcast makes a bold claim, but he stands by it for good reason. “I know these three business development strategies work, because I have seen them work. This will guarantee success for operators in 2024,” he said. Tullio is a firm believer that there is a certain time, place and market conditi...

In this 25th episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, the podcast for the convenience services industry, host Bob Tullio brings listeners a Special Edition – it’s the best of 2023, featuring some of the most interesting comments and insights that we heard this year from operators and suppliers. Enjoy excerpts from 18 different episodes, with comments from Bob Tullio, Matthew M...

After David Ashforth sold his vending business in the UK in 2008, he came to San Francisco, expecting to see high tech everything, including vending machines. He was shocked by what he saw. Vending machines in America were anything but high tech.     In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio talks with David Ashforth, who saw an opportunity, launched Dig...

One of the things Bob Tullio loves about hosting Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, is having the opportunity to learn about the journey of both suppliers and operators. For him, this episode, “A down to earth conversation with Dan Welch of World Cup Coffee,” turned out to be a most enjoyable interview.                When his dad, Don Welch, purchased their company in Port...