Vending & OCS Nation Podcast

Holiday House Distributing – Making an impact as a supplier and a supporter of the industry for over 30 years

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, the podcast for the convenience services industry, host Bob Tullio sat down with Holiday House co-founders Butch and Lynn Winkler, partners for 48 in marriage and business, Barbara Russell, the vice president of sales and marketing for the company. You won’t believe what Barbara’s role was the first time she worked for Butch and Lynn.

This is a story of hard-working people who have evolved within an industry — in this case, the coffee service business. Butch and Lynn started as operators from 1981 to 1991, when they sold the company and launched Holiday House, selling a few plumbing parts.

Today, their massive catalog has products that serve 3900 operators and is growing. They are also the driving force behind the Holiday House Technician Training and Trade Show. Barbara Russell is the brainchild and quarterback of the event, which will take place from September 30 to October 2 at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, Calif.

It's a great story. Butch and Lynn share their journey, looking back and looking forward.

Quality Vending & Coffee – Part I – Dean Prather talks about the journey and strategies that work

Dean Prather's story at Quality Vending & Coffee in Kansas City, might remind you of Jon Holden's story at All Star Services in Michigan. Proof that son-in-laws can be a great hire!

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, Prather takes host Bob Tullio on a company tour of Quality Vending & Coffee, a company that has served the greater Kansas City metro area for decades. He also shares the company journey and his own personal route to becoming a prominent figure in the convenience services business. As it turns out – he has emerged as an inventor and his product is having a positive impact with operators around the country.

This is part one of a two-part episode, because once Dean Prather gets going in an interview, he has some excellent insights to offer. Part two will be released on Tuesday, September 3rd.

Like so many great companies - Quality Vending and Coffee was started in a garage. In 1991, Don Miceli and his late wife Jo Beth launched the company, a bold move following Don’s 30 years in the business working for Interstate United and another local independent operator. Don and Jo Beth decided it was time to do their own thing and they brought in their son Carl as well.

Less than a year into their new venture and with a growing list of accounts, Don reached out to his son-in-law, Dean Prather, about joining their team. Over 30 years later – Prather, now a co-owner, knows he made the right choice.

 

Born on a college campus, Gimme celebrates 10 years as an industry innovator

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 offers a classic entrepreneurial story. Host Bob Tullio talked to Evan Jarecki, CEO and co-founder of Georgia based Gimme Vending, a leading software company that builds management, delivery, and invoicing tools for micro markets and vending operators.

Gimme was built around three core values.

Empathy – caring deeply about their customers and how their teams operate.

Determination – not stopping until the job is done and being passionate about quality.

And Problem-Solving - embracing challenges and working with partners to find solutions.

Those core values have served the company well during what has been a very eventful 10-year ride. Jarecki shares his journey - the pivots, the milestones, the progress and how his product has evolved over the last decade. It’s a great listen - 15 minutes well spent - for operators, suppliers and entrepreneurs.

With so much to offer, “ACE in Space” is drawing interest from well beyond the Atlantic coast region

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 in Space” event. Planned for October 10-12 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., ACE is where operators and suppliers from across the United States gather to attend educational sessions and see and show new products and equipment.

Podcast host Bob Tullio talked to Carl Moser, an industry veteran and currently a district manager for Canteen running the Forest City Branch attached to Canteen's Charlotte facility. Moser also is the chairperson of the 2024 Atlantic Coast Exposition, where the vending, office coffee, micro market and food service industry meets on the East Coast.

According to Moser, the show will offer quite a bit of fun, education and training as well as a compelling guest speaker — Astronaut Steve Smith — in its package of unparalleled networking opportunities. Listen to the podcast to get the inside scoop on what to expect at “ACE in Space.”

What operators can learn from Angel Salvador - realtor to the stars

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 Hollywood crowd, and Jerry Bolin, an agent himself and a long-time real estate coach who has mentored some top industry producers.

Let’s face it: If you are in sales, chances are, at some point, you said to yourself, “If this coffee service and vending thing or whatever you’re selling, doesn’t work out, I can always go sell real estate. That has to be like printing money, right? It’s easy.”

Well, as Bolin points out, just because they send you a real estate license in the mail, there’s no guarantee that the checks will follow.

Angel’s story is one of perseverance and determination. He and Jerry have learned a few lessons along the way and are happy to share along with some “real estate war stories.” There is one thing he learns every time he takes a journey outside the industry, Tullio notes. “The challenges we face in the convenience services business are not ours alone, and there is always something new to learn.”

The industry is tuned in to Orrin Huebner - a legendary operator and now a leading consultant

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 Huebner, for a candid conversation about the state of the industry and what it takes for operators to succeed in today’s business climate.

As he puts it, after 50 years in the business (he started in high school) there was plenty left in the tank and plenty to give, so in 2022, he became an industry consultant and he has been busy, working with operators of all sizes and helping suppliers to find their way in the industry.

Huebner talks about sales, training, managing people, account retention, the importance of giving back, how to increase profitability, some lessons he has learned along the way and the one important bit of advice he dispenses that seems to truly connect with  operator clients who seek his help…

“Always run your business like it’s for sale.”

This podcast is a conversation that every operator and every entrepreneur will enjoy and benefit from.

As he celebrates Newco’s 50-year run, industry legend Joe Webster is still going strong

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 convenience services industry, host Bob Tullio sits down with Joe Webster, an OCS pioneer and industry legend. Webster tells us about the twists and turns of his journey, which ultimately led to quite a successful company and career.

One of the keys to his success – always keeping “the golden rule” in mind when it comes to customers and employees. Webster shares some advice for operators, discusses the state of the industry and what he sees for the future of OCS.

In 2013, Webster was honored as a NAMA Coffee Legend, awarded each year to recognize an individual who is passionate about coffee and willing to share that passion to educate and help others succeed.

A Michigan product himself, Jon Holden is creating customer loyalty and strong support for local brands

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.

Tullio and Holden talk about his journey from the La Cross field to Coca-Cola to All Star Services, where he is clearly a driving force in business development and customer service. Holden is personally inspired by many things - his family, the industry, products that come from Michigan and the business he works for, which is a strong, family-owned operation.

Holden shares his view of the competition, his philosophy of customer service and his approach to sales. He names the suppliers that have helped drive success at All Star Services. He explains why his support of local products makes sense on many levels. Best of all, his description of his three little boys is worth the price of admission.