Published • 24 Mar 2026
Evergreen Refreshments, one of our partners in Washington and Oregon, has built a strong reputation by evolving alongside its customers. From traditional vending to modern micro markets, the team has consistently adapted to changing expectations around convenience, quality, and overall experience.
One of the heads of that evolution is Arthur Siller, SVP of Operations at Evergreen Refreshments. Arthur has played a key role in helping Evergreen embrace new approaches to self-serve retail while staying grounded in operational excellence.
We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Arthur to talk about his career, his perspective on the self-serve retail space, and how Evergreen is thinking about innovation as the industry continues to evolve.
Let’s start with an easy one. For you, how was it like the first time a customer used a smart store solution?
It was very exciting! With any change, you’re obviously nervous, wondering if you’re making the right decision for your customers, and for your company. From the first customer interaction, we had instant feedback on how much they loved the ease of use, the look of the new equipment, and the product variety that was now a part of their space. Our customers said they truly felt valued by us, and loved the offerings. On our end, we saw a dramatic increase in usage, basket size, and overall sales. At that point we knew – this was the right direction to take our company.
What is it like now? Are they using them more often? Do they appreciate the convenience?
Without a doubt. Across the board, our customers are using our services more often, and are making more purchases. They not only appreciate the convenience, they appreciate that we have brought state-of-the-art equipment and technology into their space – it has a cool factor.
And how did customers take to learning about the new technologies?
They found it very easy. Customers have become very used to interacting with both large and small format points-of-sale, just about everywhere they shop. They’re also used to smart technology at that point. They use self-checkout just about everywhere they make purchases, and computer vision is not something that seems unfamiliar anymore.
To zoom a bit, can you tell us about a time Evergreen utilized a smart store solution?
Absolutely. Actually, a recent project my team completed last year was for a local community college here in Seattle. It was an important undertaking for us to help a local part of our home-office, so we wanted to be thoughtful about the right solution. We explored traditional vending, looked at micro markets, and evaluated how to really serve both students and staff best throughout the day.
Ultimately, we landed on the PicoCooler Vision smart coolers. It just made sense between the compact footprint and the variety we could offer for the campus. I think we have nine total on-site. Since we’ve installed those coolers, we’ve had 24/7 coverage for the campus and zero complaints from the staff or students for up-time or selection options.
What about some of the key locations you are targeting? Where are you seeing the most success?
When it comes to smart solutions, we are focused on locations with high foot-traffic, in public settings, where demand for convenience is high. For us, that means healthcare facilities, higher education, hospitality, and entertainment venues.
Well this has been great, Arthur. We’ll leave you with one final question.
Can you share your own perspective about how smart store solutions have changed your operation?
I would say they have made us a true leader in our market. While yes, our teams have had to adapt to new technologies and ways of doing business, it means we are evolving in the right direction. It's brought new ideas, a fresh perspective, and new life to the teams and our procedures. Whether you have veterans on your team or you’re bringing new people into the fold, staying ahead of trends means your leaders keep growing, and that your company feels relevant to your newer team members. Everyone wins in that scenario.
Looking to the Future
This April, Evergreen Refreshments and their Micro Market Service marks 50 years of history working with communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Listening to Arthur talk about the company’s journey and its future reinforces a simple truth we see across the industry: longevity in self-serve retail comes from embracing change while staying focused on the customer. At 365 Retail Markets, we’re excited to watch Evergreen continue building on that legacy for years to come.