Josh Rosenberg's family business elevates operators and suppliers to a new level

What is Josh Rosenberg up to now? It is question Josh hears, especially when he is not in the industry's spotlight, where he has spent so much time as a high profile player in and around convenience services. Bottom line: He's back.

In this episode of Automatic Merchandiser's Vending & OCS Nation podcast, host Bob Tullio sits down with Josh Rosenberg to talk about his 30 year industry journey and new family business, Forward Thinkers, a consulting firm and a dream come true for him.

Here is an insight sample from Rosenberg, when Tullio asked him what small operators need to do to land bigger accounts.

"This isn't a pity story for me, but I grew up on the streets. I went in and out of homes and didn't have the best upbringing. What I really was was undereducated. I didn't have the experience and the exposure. I walked into Coke as a merchandiser because they were hiring for six weeks during the Kentucky Derby and I needed to pay for school because somebody encouraged me to go to college or you're not going to ever get off the streets. But I was failing in college. I was making more money as a merchandiser and I was perfectly happy to be there until I saw somebody in a suit, driving a company vehicle that looked like they made a hell of a lot of money and I knew they weren't doing as good a job as I could," he said.

"And when I kept going in begging for that job and they wouldn't give it to me, somebody finally pulled me aside and said, if you want that job, you gotta act like that job. Meaning, dress like it, behave like it, and work towards it. Not much different for a small operator. If you want that account, your brand has to look like it, it has to feel like it, and you have to present like that."

There are plenty of good insights in this podcast from a man who has seen ups and downs in business, but has now combined a young, tech savvy team that includes his sons, with his many years of business experience, to offer something powerful for both operators and suppliers.