Especially for those who did not attend the CTW and hear Ethan King's keynote address, the December 16th Podcast with King was impactful. Host Bob Tullio said he heard from several listeners who wanted to learn more. 

In that podcast, King explained how AI can eliminate busywork and help convenience services operators focus on growth, relationships and greater productivity.

Tullio and King discussed the fact that AI is a productivity multiplier, not a replacement for people. Used correctly, it handles repetitive tasks so teams can spend more time on far more important functions. He mentioned that speed and connectivity with clients and prospects is more important than ever. AI can help operators respond to leads, service issues and customer questions faster — a critical advantage in today’s on-demand environment.

Best of all, you don’t need a technical background. King was an art major. If your team can type, copy and paste, or talk into a microphone, they can start using AI tools effectively.

Today’s episode is part two – we take the conversation to another level. If you are serious about gaining a competitive advantage – this episode is a must listen.

According to business broker Mike Kelner, the M&A market for convenience services is red hot. Valuations are higher than ever. It’s a good time to be a convenience services operator and with these market conditions, many operators are pondering their options for 2026.

Mike Kelner, owner of VBB Advisors, said he has learned over the years that selling a business is as much a psychological and life-planning decision as it is a financial and transactional one. In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio sat down with Kelner and asked him to talk about the key questions an operator needs to ask before finding the exit door.

The podcast discusses part 5 of Kelner’s M&A Best Practices series, written for Vending Market Watch.

The first four parts of his series, available at vendingmarketrwatch.com, were focused

For any operator who is considering a sale in 2026 or beyond, it’s a thought provoking listen, as Kelner shares those questions and the answers he receives from operators.

At the Coffee, Tea and Water event in November, podcast host Bob Tullio interviewed around 25 operators and suppliers, asking them about their impressions of CTW. Every one of them was impressed by one thing in particular: keynote speaker Ethan King’s presentation about the power of AI.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation – part one of a two-part episode – Tullio is talking to Ethan King. Ethan King explains why convenience services operators should view artificial intelligence not as a threat but as a practical business ally that can help them deal with staffing challenges, margin pressure and myriad demands on their time.

Ethan King is a bestselling author, and award-winning entrepreneur who helps business leaders simplify success through the power of AI and automation. His client work has appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, and even the Grammys. 

As the author of "ChatGPT to Double Your Business In 90 Days," Ethan teaches non-technical business owners how to save time, boost sales and scale operations without stress. His workshops are known for being both inspiring and tactical. This is conversation worth listening to. If you are serious about the future success of your business, this is a conversation you will appreciate.

On the surface, taking over a family business would seem to be a dream scenario. But each time a new generation takes the reins, especially in a well-established operation, there are inherent stresses that come with the job. So far, Patrick and Michael Sheehan have been up to the task.

What kind of stress does the third generation of a family-owned business typically deal with? Patrick Sheehan of Sheehan Brothers Vending sits down with host Bob Tullio in this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation. During his many interviews with operators, Tullio has picked up some common examples.

Many successors feel the weight of preserving the family’s legacy. This aspiration can create pressure and lead to decisions rooted in tradition rather than what is best for the business’s future.

It is certainly a great opportunity – stepping into a family business – but it also comes with challenges. After nine years of leadership, Patrick and Michael are taking a well-established company to a new level and are having some fun along the way.

This episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast features more conversations and insights with industry leaders (some big names in the industry) from the Connection Hub at the CTW – NAMA’s Coffee, Tea and Water Show.

Three questions were asked:

This podcast features comments from:

EPISODE BONUS: Podcast host Bob Tullio has not been this emotional since he ate at Mary Mac’s Tearoom during the NAMA Show in Atlanta – an unforgettable experience. In Miami, in between interviews, he discovered a compelling reason to return to Miami. Tune in to learn more, and be prepared to get hungry.

The 2025 CTW in Miami – NAMA’s Coffee, Tea and Water show – is in the books. Both suppliers and operators said very good things about the engagement opportunities, and the two keynote speakers were quite compelling.

If you did not attend the event, this podcast will take you down to the convention floor, also known as the Connection Hub, where podcast host (and event emcee) Bob Tullio spoke with industry operators and suppliers.

Three questions were asked:

Of course, when questions are asked, the conversations tend to expand, offering some interesting insights from industry leaders. 

Hear from:

In the last episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, host Bob Tullio discussed five powerful sales strategies with convenience services operators and industry consultants. In this episode, he is back with five more — with an objective to help operators and sales reps finish the year on a high note, with more closed deals than ever.

In our last episode, Tullio focused on cold calling, the importance of doing your research before an appointment, cause marketing, storytelling, and the criticality of face-to-face meetings. In this episode, Tullio brings in three consultants: Josh Rosenberg from Forward Thinkers, Orrin Huebner and Sandy Schoenthaler — experienced industry professionals with excellent insights to offer.

Additionally, Tullio gets a frontline operator perspective from Charles Long of One Source Refreshments, Tre Johnson of Aramark, and Terry Adelstein and Robyn Azus, two reps from Corporate Coffee Systems in New York.

This podcast offers strategies that are “out of the box” and ready to be put to work immediately. Listen today to get in on some simple ways to elevate your sales performance and finish strong in 2025.

In September, Vending & OCS Nation podcast host Bob Tullio delivered a three-hour presentation at the Holiday House Tech and Sales event in Frisco, Texas. While leading their first ever sales track, Tullio noticed that certain sales tips and strategies truly resonated with the sales professionals in attendance.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation, Bob Tullio shares those keys sales tips with podcast listeners and talks to some of the sales professionals who attended the presentation, plus industry experts Orrin Huebner and Sandy Schoenthaler.

According to Tullio, these key sales strategies and the deep dive discussion around them, gives operators and sales professionals some strong ammunition – tools they need to take their sales game to another level. That means more opportunities and more closed deals.

Interviewed in this podcast: Chuck Long from One Source Refreshment, Terry Adelstein from Corporate Coffee Systems – in addition to our consultants, Orrin Huebner and Sandy Schoenthaler.

What are those key tips and strategies all about? Tune in, see for yourself – then get out there and give them a try.

While Patrick McGinty was certainly an excellent operator, his favorite part of the business was selling new accounts, and he was good at it. Ultimately, he parlayed that skill and his team into a marketing and sales machine that is working overtime to generate new business for operators across the country.

This episode of Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation is sponsored by VendVue.

Podcast host Bob Tullio spoke with Patrick McGinty, founder of VendVue, a company that offers an end-to-end business development solution for convenience services operators.

Tullio notes that it took him a while to wrap his head around what VendVue is doing for operators.

“In my 37 years as an operator, I saw plenty of second-tier locators, lead generation companies, third-party national account suppliers – with results that were mediocre at best – I finally realized that what VendVue offers is a total business development solution. They do the prospecting, the lead generation, the sales presentation and they ultimately sell the account,” Tullio said.

“Any operator who has ever tried to sell and run a company – or manage a sales staff – knows what a challenge that can be. It’s costly, time-consuming, and exhausting at times. If an operator can get in sync with VendVue’s program – and they have plenty of success stories to share – it seems like a no-brainer,” he added.

In fact, McGinty said his 18-month-old company is actively seeking to partner with operators – offering exclusive relationships in many market areas – to meet the demand as his sales team is running in high gear.

For more information on partnering with VendVue, visit

The company has always been known for reliable coolers and freezers. While they are certainly preparing for the next wave of innovation and technology, Due North remains focused on operational efficiency and reliability.

As host Bob Tullio points out in this episode of Automatic Merchandiser & VendingMarketWatch's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, a couple years ago, he was talking to Due North’s Randy Skyba about glass door coolers and freezers. “Skyba noted, “Nobody cares much about the coolers and freezers in a micro market until they go out of order, then it is a crisis.”

In this episode, Tullio spoke with Sean McGrann, MBA - the CCO – chief commercial officer, of Due North. He is excited about his role at Due North and is enjoying the concept of partnering with operators to help them meet their unattended retail needs.

When it comes to technology – think smart coolers – Due North is playing a major role. They provide refrigeration, while multiple technology partners add payment devices, cameras, scales and every other bit of technology that is required to make a smart cooler happen.

When it comes to looking ahead to the future, McGrann said that AI will continue to be important and that anyone who is not leveraging AI to the best of their ability is going to be passed up.