Guidelines for submitting a product announcement or press release to VendingMarketWatch.com
Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com accept submissions about new products, technologies, equipment and developments related to the convenience services industry at no charge.
Know the audience first
Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com serve the professionals, operators and solution providers shaping unattended retail across workplace, hospitality, transportation, healthcare, education and other self-service convenience environments.
In unattended retail environments, consumers select products and complete purchases themselves using self-service technology, without a staffed cashier.
In the convenience services industry, this can include:
- Micro markets
- Office coffee services and apntry
- Smart stores
- Smart coolers
- Autonomous retail formats like vending machines
- Self-checkout kiosks
- Mobile checkout systems
These environments are commonly deployed in workplaces, hotels, healthcare facilities, education campuses, airports and other high-traffic locations where operators want to provide grab-and-go food, beverages and essentials with reduced labor requirements.
The strongest submissions clearly explain why the announcement matters to operators and the unattended retail business — not just why it matters to the company issuing the release.
What kinds of announcements are a good fit
VendingMarketWatch.com is most interested in news that impacts convenience services operations, profitability, technology, products or customer experience. Examples include:
Product launches
- Micro market kiosks
- Smart coolers
- Payment systems
- Telemetry solutions
- Route management software
- OCS equipment
- Fresh food programs
- New vending machines
- Beverages and snacks relevant to unattended retail
Technology updates
- AI integrations
- Frictionless checkout
- Inventory management
- Consumer engagement tools
- Mobile ordering
- Data and analytics platforms
Company news
- Acquisitions
- Partnerships
- Leadership appointments
- Expansions
- Distribution agreements
- Manufacturing updates
Industry research or surveys
Especially if findings affect operators, labor, consumer behavior or profitability.
What editors are looking for
A strong submission should answer:
- Why should a convenience services operator care?
- What operational problem does this solve?
- How does it improve revenue, efficiency, service or customer experience?
- Is this genuinely new or noteworthy?
- Is it relevant to unattended retail or convenience services?
Avoid overly promotional language or broad marketing claims without specifics.
Recommended press release structure
Headline
Use a clear, factual headline.
Good:
- “XYZ launches AI-powered inventory management system for vending operators”
- “ABC introduces refrigerated smart cooler for workplace micro markets”
Avoid:
- “Revolutionary game-changing innovation transforms retail forever”
Opening paragraph
The first paragraph should immediately explain:
- What was announced
- Who announced it
- Why it matters
Editors should not have to dig for the news angle.
Include operational relevance
The best submissions include concrete details such as:
- Operator benefits
- Labor savings
- Deployment scale
- Payment compatibility
- Reporting capabilities
- Product capacity
- Installation footprint
- Consumer engagement features
- Pricing model (if relevant)
Quotes
Include 1 to 2 concise quotes from executives or customers.
Good quotes:
- Explain strategy
- Provide context
- Reference operator value
Weak quotes:
- Generic excitement
- Empty buzzwords
- Overuse of words like “transformational,” “innovative” or “synergy”
Image and media guidelines
Preferred images
To greatly increase the chance of your produce being used, submit at least one high-resolution image (900x900 pixels minimum, ; in .jpg, .png, .bmp or .tiff format) whenever possible.
Recommended:
- Product photography
- In-location deployment images
- Equipment in use
- Dashboard screenshots
- Team photos for executive announcements
Preferred specs
- Horizontal images (16:9 aspect ratio) work best
- At least one horizontal image is required due to site layout constraints
- Images provided in other aspect ratios will be cropped to fit 16:9 aspect ratio
- Image size: 1920x1080 pixels or larger preferred
- If not provided in 16:9 ratio, the minimum width is 900 pixels
- JPG or PNG
- Avoid heavily branded marketing graphics, such as those with overlaid text highlighting brand marketing positions
Video
Links to product demos or YouTube/Vimeo videos are welcome if they support the story.
Formatting and submission best practices
Preferred formats
- Plain text in email
- Word document
- Link to published press releases on established sites such as prnewswire.com
- Google Doc link
- PDF (acceptable, but not preferred; must be able to extract text)
Avoid:
- Image-only releases
- Text embedded in graphics
- Poorly formatted pasted content
Include this information with every submission
- Company name
- Contact person
- Email address
- Website
- Product/company description
- Relevant booth number (for trade shows)
- Product availability date (if relevant)
Trade show announcements
If tied to an event such as the NAMA Show, include:
- Booth number
- Demo information
- Product launch timing
- Media availability
- Show-specific relevance
What can help or hurt your chances of getting published
What typically gets better editorial consideration
Submissions that:
- Include operator impact
- Explain business relevance
- Provide strong visuals
- Contain clear facts and specifics
- Tie into broader industry trends
- Avoid excessive promotional language
What hurts a submission
Common issues include:
- No clear news angle
- Generic marketing copy
- Missing visuals
- Overuse of buzzwords
- Lack of relevance to the convenience services industry
- No explanation of operator benefit
- Sending consumer-focused content with no unattended retail connection
Editorial note
Submitting a press release does not guarantee publication. Releases may be:
- Edited for clarity and style
- Condensed
- Reframed for operator relevance
- Combined with broader industry coverage
VendingMarketWatch.com prioritizes content that provides value to convenience services professionals and reflects current industry trends.
Connect with us
For all editorial inquiries, reach out to Head of Content Linda Becker. Use the links below to find guidelines for contributed content.