Fixturelite unveils 4 turnkey micro market solutions | 2025 NAMA Show

Bob Tullio of Automatic Merchandiser catches up with Steve Orlando of Fixturelite at the 2025 NAMA Show. In this exclusive interview, Steve showcases Fixturelite’s latest innovations in micro market design, including the Merchandiser 360 with pull-out shelving, peg product displays and fully pre-assembled units, streamlining the setup process for operators.

Fixturelite’s presence spans both the Due North booth and the 365 Retail Markets Pavilion, highlighting four distinct solutions built for office spaces, breakrooms, hospitality, and multi-family environments. Made in the USA and backed by a growing design team, Fixturelite continues to deliver customizable, premium solutions that seamlessly blend into modern spaces.

Don’t miss Steve’s insights on key industry trends, the role of design, and how Fixturelite’s operator-first mindset provides a major competitive advantage.

To learn more about Fixturelite:

• Visit Fixturelite
• Call 888-697-1508
• Email [email protected]

No time to listen? Prefer to read? Here is a video transcript:

It’s Bob Tullio, Automatic Merchandiser and Vending Market Watch. I’m here at the 2025 NAMA Show with Steve Orlando of Fixturelite. Steve, thanks so much for spending some time with me.

Steve Orlando: Thanks for having me.

Bob Tullio: Talk to me about Fixturelite’s presence at the 2025 NAMA Show.

Steve Orlando: Well, we’re here at the Due North booth where we have our newest micro market solution by Fixturelite on display. Additionally, over at the 365 Retail Pavilion, we have a few solutions that we created for Stockwell, the Pico collection, and their newest ambient tethered product to the Pico technology. So in total, four different solutions on display that work well in the office space or the company breakroom, as well as hospitality and multi-family spaces.

Bob Tullio: So talk to me about some of the features of your collections, particularly the newer stuff that you’ve put out.

Steve Orlando: Sure. So with what we’re calling Merchandiser 360, you’ll see pull-out shelving and a rotational snack display and peg product and hanging products that are easier to access and make the life of the route merchandiser as well as anybody stocking the market a lot easier and allow them to get in and out quicker. But on top of that, this solution ships fully assembled. And the things that one once had to do once they received a micro market at their warehouse facility no longer has to happen because we’re doing it before it gets to them. That’s shelves that are already equipped with lighting and merchandising solutions, pegs that are already in place, lighting that’s already in place. So we’re simply making it easier for you to do business. So very much a turnkey solution.

Bob Tullio: So one of the big issues that we’ve heard a lot about recently is tariffs, and that’s not really an issue for you guys, is it?

Steve Orlando: Not so much. We have four manufacturing plants on the West Coast, one on the East Coast and fulfillment centers on both coasts. So we’re shipping from both coasts to the center of the U.S., and because we have five manufacturing plants now across the United States, the tariff problem is less of a problem for Fixturelite and its customers.

Bob Tullio: Because you’re made in USA.

Steve Orlando: Correct.

Bob Tullio: That’s great. So one of the things I’ve always thought is once you install a smart cooler, there’s really no need for any kind of fixtures or enhancements. Is that not the case?

Steve Orlando: That is absolutely not the case.

Bob Tullio: Okay, tell us about that.

Steve Orlando: When you’re moving into a breakroom space or an office space that’s just been remodeled, the business owner generally is going to want the solution that you provide as an operator to match the remodel and the money that they’ve spent on bringing an office to life and welcoming employees back into the workplace.

When it comes to multi-family or hospitality in hotels, an unfinished solution would be simply dropping a piece of equipment in place. What they’re looking for, we’ve found, especially more now than ever, is a finished decor solution that blends into their space versus stands out as something that doesn’t belong.

Bob Tullio: Why do you think it’s important that you folks were operators for so long, for over 10 years, I believe? How did that give you a competitive advantage right now?

Steve Orlando: Because we understood the challenges that the operator faces and what customer expectations truly are that allowed us to grow our business to the size that it was when we exited and have the success that we did amongst the toughest of our competitors.

Bob Tullio: What do you think is trending right now more than anything else in terms of breakrooms?

Steve Orlando: Well, breakrooms, multifamily, hospitality, the whole mix. The biggest trend is blending into and being a part of a space that looks nicer today and customers invest more in today than they ever have before. So you simply have to accommodate and be a part of that environment. Or you stand out or you don’t land that account in the first place.

Bob Tullio: How much emphasis is Fixturelite putting on design these days?

Steve Orlando: More emphasis than ever. Yeah. We’ve grown our design team, our architectural team. It’s the starting point where it used to be an option. It’s now where we begin.

Bob Tullio: And you don’t have any hesitation supporting your clients with design, meeting with clients, helping them close deals, that type of thing?

Steve Orlando: Not at all.

Bob Tullio: That’s great. That’s great. Well, that does give you a competitive advantage.

Steve Orlando: It’s one of the key components to our business model. And that’s understanding the operator’s needs and the customer’s needs because we were operators ourselves for 10 years. So when we look at a space, we look at that space differently than a lot of our competition does.

Bob Tullio: Fantastic. Thanks so much, Steve. Appreciate it.

Steve Orlando: Thank you.