National Bulk Vendors Association Hails Success At Amusement Expo Renews Deal

LAS VEGAS -- The National Bulk Vendors Association has chalked up another successful convention and trade ­show. The 65th annual confab, collocated with Amusement Expo 2015 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from March 24 to 26, is being hailed as a success by both operators and exhibitors.

According to association officials, NBVA registrations for the event totaled an even 300, up from last year's 224. Although there was a slight decrease in exhibitors -- the show attracted 20 (in 40 booths) at the NBVA pavilion, down from 22 in 2014 -- the decline was not noticeable nor widely commented upon.

This year is the fifth of NBVA's collocation with Amusement Expo, which is jointly sponsored by the Amusement and Music Operators Association and American Amusement Machine Association Once again, the combination proved successful.

Getting Educated

This year's Amusement Expo followed the "New Ballgame" format first adopted in 2014, in which the first day is devoted entirely to educational programming. The NBVA presented a full day's schedule of seven seminars. They ran the gamut from Bulk 101 moderated by industry veteran operator and NBVA secretary John P. Winters, Winters Vending (Wayne, MI), to the annual industry Bull Session, moderated by NBVA president Judi Heston, Theisen Vending (Golden Valley, MN). Initial apprehension regarding seminar attendance was quickly allayed, with strong turnouts from start to finish.

A high point in the seminar schedule came with the annual competition for Most Innovative Operator, featuring vendors describing their most successful strategies. Audience members then cast secret ballots for their favorites.

Taking top honors as Most Innovative Operator (and $300 prize money) this year was Don Goletz, Vendomatic (Frederick, MD), for his company's Prize Zone program. The concept involves a key, placed in a capsule vender, that unlocks an adjacent bulk head containing a single item, like a plush toy. The lucky consumer who vends the key also receives instructions for retrieving the larger toy from the slightly reconfigured nearby bulk head.

The remaining two days included the trade show, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. An early tally of showgoers registered a jump from last year's 2,672 to an estimated 3,000-plus this year.

Let's Do It Again!

NBVA president Judy Heston said the association has signed a new five-year contract to continue collocation with Amusement Expo. The pact's renewal marks the longest commitment to collocation made to date.

"This is a change from the previous agreements," Heston said. "When we began collocating it was a two-year, then a three-year commitment. Now we're going for five years. And since the AMOA and AAMA just signed a five-year agreement, we're on the same line with them."

Heston reported that next year's show will return to Las Vegas on March 16 and 17 (Wednesday and Thursday) in the Convention Center's North Hall 1. A daylong education program again will be held on Tuesday, March 15. The Westgate Hotel remains the official lodging and meetings host.

In 2017, the NBVA and Amusement Expo will relocate to Dallas, where it's scheduled for March 14 through 16. The Sheraton Dallas Hotel will host the combined event.

At this year's convention, Heston began the second-half of her two-year term.

NBVA, founded in 1950, maintains an office at 1202 E. Maryland Ave., Ste. 1K, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Information on NBVA programs and activities can be had by calling (888) NBVA-USA [828-2872] or visting nbva.org.

INNOVATION PAYS:Don Goletz (left), Vendomatic (Frederick, MD), took home top honors (and $300 cash) for Most Innovative Operator during this year's NBVA convention at Amusement Expo 2015. Goletz nabbed the award for his Prize Zone concept in which customers gain larger prizes by winning a key that opens a modified bulk vender with a single large prize inside. Presenting the cash prize is seminar moderator Matt Miller, Marz Vending (Stephen­ville, TX). Goletz was chosen by vote of his peers after several operators described successful sales promotions.

PRESIDENTIAL SMILES:National Bulk Vendors Association presidents past and present get together for group photograph at the annual NBVA banquet. Pictured, from left, are Bernie Schwarzli, Beaver Machine Corp. (Newmarket, ON, Canada); current NBVA president Judi Heston, Theisen Vending Co. (Golden Valley, MN); Steven Schechner of Capital Vending (Florence, AL); and Dan Case (right), Tejas Distributors (Round Rock, TX). The banquet was one of the highlights of the 65th annual NBVA convention and exposition, held for the fifth consecutive year in conjunction with Amusement Expo. Since 2011, NBVA has collocated its membership conference and exhibition with the annual music and amusements show cosponsored by the Amusement Machine Operators Association and American Amusement Machine Association, and has just renewed the pact for another five years. Collocated exhibits reflect increasing overlap of street music and amusement operations with bulk vending businesses occasioned by continued proliferation of prize cranes and merchandisers, and interest in more upscale bulk vending equipment and products.