Yesterday I got a call from an East Coast vending operator who was mad.He was mad about the calorie posting mandate in the health insurance reform bill.He was mad that the government is trying to require vending operators to post calorie information.He was mad that the industry isnt fighting it.He was also mad at me for my October column. I suggested operators should consider video screens as a way to meet the requirement.This operator felt that a trade magazine should speak out against a proposed rule that places an onerous burden on vending operators.He had a lot of good points about the rule and the way in which the industry is responding to it. The problem: There are simply too few operators like him who will take the time and trouble...

The National Expo took place at Chicagos picturesque Navy Pier under some of the lowest expectations ever for a National Expo, but a bust it was not. Attendance records werent set, but the low expectations many held going into the show gave way to pleasant surprise soon after arriving at Navy Pier. Expectations were low mainly due to the economy. Many operators felt uncomfortable going to a convention during a year they had given pink slips to some employees. Some exhibitors, anticipating low attendance, took smaller booths. Some also felt the fact that another expo will be held within the year in Chicago made this falls expo less important. The industry is undergoing some severe growing pains, and conventions are naturally...

The Coffee Summit in Cherry Hill, N.J. once again hit a bull's eye. Some thought there was no way that the 2-day education summit could repeat the outstanding success that it delivered last year, given the state of the economy, but it did. In fact, as a second-time observer, I can attest the response surpassed last years in both attendance and quality. In a challenging economic time such as the present, industry organizations have to get members to think more creatively, and the National Automatic Merchandising Association certainly accomplished this at the recent Coffee Summit. One thing that business owners have to remember is that every change brings new opportunity. Those who are embracing this today are succeeding. There is a lot to...

G&J Marketing in Palm Harbor, Fla. held one of its educational conferences a few weeks ago in which 60 industry members brainstormed ways to make this industry more profitable. Actually, the range of topics covered was a lot more extensive, but the underlying purpose for all attendees was to agree on what to do about this very challenging business environment.A summary of this 2-day meeting was prepared by Dr. Ron Cichy, a presenter at the conference and a director and professor at the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University, Dan Mathews, senior vice president and chief operating officer at the National Automatic Merchandising Association, and Greg Sidwell, president of G&J Marketing. Their summary is available on...