See You At NAMA

The NAMA Show (renamed last year from the NAMA OneShow) is less than a week away. There will be lots of great education, lots of great products and services on display as well as lots of great networking opportunities.  

If you are still preparing, check out some of our recent articles on the subject, including What To Expect At The 2018 NAMA Show and 2018 NAMA Show Strategies – Prepare And Prosper. They are full of great items.  

Also, you should make plans to visit us at the show.  

Meet the writers 

Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com will be at booth 1612. Come and visit. Bob Tullio, contributing editor will be there to discuss the industry and successful sales techniques from his years working in office coffee service (OCS). He has written about everything from the Amazon mentality to how sales people should follow up with customers over the holidays. Plus, you can ask him about his Friday education session, 15 Ways To Energize Your Sales. It will be taking place on the trade show floor first thing, so pop over before you head back home.  

Gary Joyner, our small operations expert, industry veteran, and writer will be attending the show as well, so keep an eye out for him. Plus, you can meet our new assistant editor Hillary Ashley. If you are looking for me, I pop in and out of the booth, home base, but you are just as likely to catch me in the aisles or at an education session. If you see me tag me in a photo online and we'll give you a shout out. #EditorSpotted #NAMAShow.  

15 Minutes Of Fame 

While you are at the booth get a little free press. Ask for Barb, and tell her you want to leave a quote for the publication. The quote can be about what you've seen at the show, about Automatic Merchandiser, the daily VendingMarketWatch.com Today eNL, industry trends, what you would like to see more articles about – just about anything industry appropriate. Then get your photo taken in front of our logo. We'll review the quotes and put the best of the best in the magazine and online. 

Last, but not least, pick up the new March issue, fresh off the press. It includes a great operation profile about an OCS operator expanding his business outside the norm - inspiring and motivational. In addition, you can see what operators are saying about micro market challenges for 2018. It also showcases the winners of the Products of the Year! Use this as a starting point to explore similar products around the show floor (perfect time for some sampling).    

What I'm looking for 

As always, I will be meeting, seeing and learning at the NAMA Show. I'm on the look out for the new product trends in the industry, so I can report them to operators. I am also hoping to meet operators who are doing unique and interesting things, proving the industry is innovative and profitable. These can be various things from adding solar panels to new vending management software. If you are interested in sharing your story, please let me know (leave your card if I'm not at the booth). We can chat about your operation and see if it would be a good fit for one of our success stories.   

This year especially I'm going to be looking for technology – there's a lot out there that's being tested in the industry that is still cutting edge. With the advancements we are already seeing, I think this will be a must-watch area.  

And finally, I can't wait to see all of you who I have spoken to on the phone. In this age of electronic communication, this is a rare treat. It's a main reason I look forward to NAMA every year. See you there.