10 operator strategies for the 2026 NAMA Show in Los Angeles
If you’ve been around this industry for any time at all, you know the NAMA Show 2026 isn’t just another trade show. It’s where the business gets done in the convenience services industry.
I wrote a column back in 2018 about how to “prepare and prosper” at the NAMA Show. The fundamentals haven’t changed. What has changed is the pace of innovation, the number of exhibitors and the stakes for operators trying to stay competitive.
In 2026, the operators who win aren’t doing different things. They’re doing the same things with more discipline, more intention and a lot more urgency.
Here are 10 proven strategies to make sure you don’t just attend the show, but you get real value from it:
1. Treat the show like a business investment
Let’s start here. If you think this is a “trip,” you’ve already lost.
As Ryan Harrington of Royal Refresh put it during a recent Vending & OCS Nation podcast, the show is a “working session for your business.” One product, one technology, one supplier relationship can pay for your entire trip. Approach it like a capital allocation, not a travel expense.
2. Build a plan before you arrive
The NAMA Show can be overwhelming, especially this year with 400+ exhibitors and a surge of new companies. Define your objectives:
- What problems are you trying to solve?
- What categories are you evaluating?
- What decisions need to be made?
You need a plan. Talk about it with your team.
3. Schedule supplier meetings in advance
If you want real conversations, book them. The best operators don’t wander booth to booth hoping to bump into the right vendor. They set appointments, carve out time and come prepared with questions. That’s how you turn the show floor into a decision-making environment.
4. Use the show for side-by-side comparisons
There is no better place to evaluate equipment, technology and partners. Micro markets, kiosks, smart coolers, office coffee systems, point of use water: it’s all there, under one roof. This is your chance to compare options in real time and make informed decisions.
5. Don’t skip the education sessions
Get up early. Plan in advance. Send the right people to the appropriate sessions.
The education program at the NAMA Show is designed to be actionable. You should be able to take something you learn and apply it within 30 days.
6. Mine the operator network
Here’s where real value resides at the NAMA Show.
7. Leave some clear space in your schedule
Yes, you need a plan. But don’t overdo it. If your calendar is packed from open to close, you’re going to miss the spontaneous conversations that often lead to the biggest breakthroughs. Build in time to walk, talk and think.
8. Use curated experiences to find what matters
The NAMA Show has done a great job of helping operators cut through the noise.
- Imagination Way
- New Product Zone (with Best Of awards)
- Guided show floor tours
These are shortcuts to innovation. Use them to quickly identify trends that are worth your time. Do not hesitate to impress a client back home by sending them a text with a photo of a product that you know will excite them. Even in LA — at the show — you are thinking about how to satisfy your valued client. It has a lot of impact: I have done it many times.
9. Focus on what you can take home and execute
It’s easy to get distracted by “cool” and “new.” Always ask yourself:
- Can I implement this in the next 60 days?
- Will this improve revenue, efficiency or customer experience?
What do other operators think about it? Ask them.
10. Don’t wing it in the evening — this is Los Angeles
Here’s a pro tip from someone who knows the city well. LA Live and downtown Los Angeles will be busy. Add the NAMA crowd, and suddenly that “We’ll just figure it out” dinner plan doesn’t work so well. Make reservations.
The truth is, some of the best networking happens over great food, whether that’s Sushi or Mexican cuisine — two things that Los Angeles does as well as anywhere.
The NAMA Show is still what it’s always been: The one place where this entire industry comes together. But in 2026, showing up isn’t enough. The operators who win are the ones who show up with a plan, work the plan and leave with ideas they can execute.
Bonus: Inside and outside the convention center
One more thing. On the plane, make sure to listen to our Automatic Merchandiser’s Vending & OCS Nation podcast, dropping on Tuesday, April 21.
We’ll break down must-see exhibitors inside the show and what you absolutely need to do while you’re in downtown Los Angeles.
Because if you’re going to invest the time and money to be at the NAMA Show, you might as well do it right and have a fabulous time!
See you at the NAMA Show!
About the Author
Bob Tullio
Bob Tullio is a content specialist, speaker, sales trainer, consultant and contributing editor of Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com. He advises entrepreneurs on how to build a successful business from the ground up. He specializes in helping suppliers connect with operators in the convenience services industry — coffee service, vending, micro markets and pantry service specifically. He can be reached at 818-261-1758 and [email protected]. Tullio welcomes your feedback.
Subscribe to Automatic Merchandiser’s new podcast, Vending & OCS Nation, which Tullio hosts. Each episode is designed to make your business more profitable.