Whether you’re looking for a competitive edge against your c-store competitors or the latest and greatest opportunities to boost incremental sales and profit mar\gins, Tobacco Plus Expo has the information you need. Every year, retailers, manufacturers, and tobacco category experts gather at this unique Las Vegas event to share industry insights, network, and learn about new products and merchandising strategies.
In today’s ultra-competitive tobacco retail world, taking advantage of this opportunity to attend seminars geared specifically to tobacco retail and to discuss strategies with peers in the industry is more important than ever. “As the largest tobacco show in the U.S., Tobacco Plus Expo’s exhibit floor offers the most extensive mix of tobacco products under one roof,” notes Phil Viscidi, publisher of Tobacco Outlet Business. “Retail attendees will be able to visit with hundreds of manufacturers and learn about new tobacco and accessory products firsthand, as well as to meet and mingle with one another to discuss operational issues. It’s a not-to-be missed industry event.”
Tom Briant, executive director of NATO, agrees. Briant and his organization will kick off the Tobacco Plus Expo by hosting the NATO Annual Awards Dinner, an evening of cocktails, fine dining, and award presentations. An invitation-only event held on April 23, the night before the show opens, the event will gather retailers, manufacturers, and wholesalers to celebrate the tobacco industry. “With state legislators and now Congress continuing to target tobacco products with ever higher excise taxes and more regulations,” says Briant, “the NATO Annual Awards Dinner and the Tobacco Plus Expo are events that bring the industry together and reaffirm that by working together we can accomplish a great deal.”
Opening day of the show will began with an exciting educational seminar on competition between convenience stores and tobacco outlets given by speakers Don Longo, Chief Editor, Convenience Store News, and Michael Kirkwood, TOB’s executive vice president. Their insights on the competitive advantages for tobacco retailers will be the start of a series of informative and educational seminars geared toward helping retailers run their businesses better through category management, competitive differentiation, partner relationships, and new technology (see box, p. 40).
Retailers will also enjoy numerous show specials provided by exhibitors at the Tobacco Expo exhibit hall, which opens at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 24. “The exhibit hall offers the largest assembly of suppliers of cigarettes, specialty cigarettes, cigars, snuff, loose leaf, roll your own, humidors and accessories under one roof in just two days,” says Viscidi. “It’s also the only show where you are able to sample tobacco products on site. Any tobacco outlet owner who does not make time for this show will miss a great opportunity to visit with almost all of his or her vendors under one roof.” •
Following are links to important pages on the Tobacco Plus Expo website. We also encourage you to visit the TPE 2008 Home Page and tour the entire site to view all the attractions at the Expo.
Seminars = Learning Opportunities
Thursday, April 24, 2008 Friday, April 25, 2008
A Class Act
Don’t miss the NATO Annual Awards Dinner!
Exhibitor List (Updated weekly)
List of exhibitors and their booth numbers