Vending & OCS Nation Podcast

Is the breakroom becoming the most important room in the office? Increasingly, the answer is yes. Fortunately for the convenience services industry, that’s creating a major opportunity. Operators are delivering more than coffee, snacks and refreshments. In the best locations, they are tasked with delivering an experience that will influence corporate culture.

Companies aren’t just asking how to stock a breakroom. They&...

What do Walt Disney, Hugh Hefner and today's convenience services operators have in common? More than you might think.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation, Bob Tullio sits down with communications strategist, author, and public relations pioneer Marty Cooper, whose remarkable career includes working directly with Walt Disney at Disneyland, Hugh Hefner at Playboy, the Academy Awards and some of ...

The 1990s were one of the most disruptive decades in the history of office coffee service. Starbucks was reshaping consumer expectations. Filterfresh was introducing single-cup brewing. Flavia was creating an entirely new beverage platform. Keurig was preparing to launch a product that would transform the industry. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch's Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio welcom...

In Part 2 of his conversation with Josh Rosenberg of Forward Thinkers, Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch's Vending & OCS Nation podcast host Bob Tullio begins the discussion with an in-depth look at the evolving mergers and acquisitions landscape within the convenience services industry before turning to a deeply personal conversation about family, leadership, health challenges and the tragic loss of Josh's son, I...

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch's Vending & OCS Nation, it’s the first installment of Bob Tullio’s powerful two-part conversation with Josh Rosenberg, the founder of Forward Thinkers, who delivers an unfiltered look at the forces reshaping the convenience services industry. Drawing on decades of leadership experience from his years at The Coca-Cola Company to building and scaling...

As Gary Arwin explained, "After becoming a partner in a supplier to the hospitality industry, I had figured out very quickly that I had made a lot of other people a lot of money and I wanted to do something on my own. We dissolved the business and I went to a business broker and said, 'Hey, I'm interested in purchasing a business. What do you have available?' That is how Arwin got into the vending business. 

On this episode of...

Marc Rosset’s approach to M&A is very hands-on. In many ways, he serves as a matchmaker, connecting the seller to the right buyer. With more than 33 years of experience and over 350 completed transactions, representing nearly $1 billion in transferred revenue, the process clearly works.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, presented in cooperation with Professional Vending Co...

While there were rave reviews and plenty of excitement surrounding all the new technology at the 2026 NAMA Show in Los Angeles, the beverages, snacks and legitimate dining options on display and available for tasting are always a big part of the show experience.

In Part 3 of our coverage from the 2026 NAMA Show, Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch’s Vending & OCS Nation Podcast host Bob Tullio walks ...

In his five years with AVS Companies, Keith Krail has seen some significant and welcome changes in the convenience services business. What was a more traditionally focused automated retail solution business has become a dynamic AI integrated industry where new solutions have been put forward and are changing the way that companies and operators do business.

On this episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcas...

After exploring smart market innovation in Part 1, Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch’s coverage of the 2026 NAMA Show shifts the focus from hardware to something just as critical: The technology, infrastructure and support systems that are powering the industry forward. Back on the convention floor in Los Angeles, contributing editor Bob Tullio continues the conversation with a wide range of suppliers and o...

Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast host Bob Tullio did so many interviews from the convention floor at the 2026 NAMA Show in Los Angeles that he will be dedicating three episodes to the event. Part one is about the clear theme of the show, smart markets. Walking the floor of NAMA Show 2026, one thing became immediately clear: smart cooler technology has arrived in a big way. What just a few years ago ...

Headed to the 2026 NAMA Show in Los Angeles? This episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcast is your insider guide to making the most of your trip - inside and outside the convention center.

Podcast host Bob Tullio highlights the must-see booths at this year’s show, featuring cutting - edge innovations in AI, smart retail, and frictionless commerce. Then, he interviews downtown LA expert Johnna Hughe...

Danni Sra, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, has enjoyed a successful career as an human resources manager, and she wants businesspeople to know that the job of running an HR department goes well beyond rule enforcement – a typical stereotype of what HR managers do. With years of experience in the convenience services industry, she has plenty of valuable advice for operators.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch&r...

What began as a single smart cooler has evolved into a fully modular smart store ecosystem, giving operators unprecedented flexibility, scalability, and revenue potential.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, presented in cooperation with 365 Retail Markets, host Bob Tullio interviews Michael Wood, manager of product management at 365 Retail Markets, to expl...

Patrick McGinty of VendVue is offering a compelling proposition to convenience services operators: a fully outsourced, end-to-end sales solution. From prospecting to closing, VendVue manages the entire sales process, allowing operators to focus on what they do best — execution, not business development. In this episode of the Vending & OCS Nation podcast, presented by Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com, in...

The convenience services industry is gearing up for one of its most important annual gatherings, as the NAMA Show 2026 takes over Los Angeles from April 22–24. Hosted in and around the Los Angeles Convention Center with a strategic footprint extending into LA Live, this year’s event promises to be more immersive and impactful than ever. In this episode of Vending & OCS Nation, presented in cooperation with NAMA, ho...

Aaron Lawton used “books on tape” to enter the world of real estate investing. While doing that, he was a vending route driver, starting early and tending to his rental property in the afternoon. Ultimately, he decided that he hated real estate but loved the vending business. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, Aaron Lawton from Oasis Break Room Servic...

We talk a lot about sales on Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation. This time, we shift gears and tackle something that may be even more important: customer service.

In this episode, host Bob Tullio sat down with Brian Wolfe, vice president of global customer service at Harman International and the leader behind JBL’s global customer experience operation, to talk about what really separates average service f...

She is an industry veteran turned consultant. Tammy Stokes has plenty of advice to offer operators and suppliers, old and new, developed over the years in multiple roles. On this episode of Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, host Bob Tullio sat down with Tammy Stokes, president of Insight Edge Performance. It’s another edition of our consultant series.

She offers some u...