his year's Tobacco Plus Expo International drew more than 2,400 attendees to Las Vegas.   
 
As anticipated, the 2011 Tobacco Plus Expo International-which opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 2-drew a record level of attendees. More than 2,400 attendees browsed the 190-plus exhibitor booths showcasing products on the trade show floor, participated in the educational seminars and took advantage of the savings offered through the show specials.
 
By all accounts, the show was a rousing success. "We picked up several distributors in states where we don't currently sell," said Ronald "Big Ron" Bowen, president of Ayden, North Carolina-based RSB Tobacco, who was one of many manufacturers who enthused about the steady stream of attendees on the show floor. "In fact, in two days we did over $1 million in business."
 
Retail attendees were impressed with the sheer number of exhibitors, the wide array of product categories on the show floor and the number of international company exhibitors.  "We come to this show because it's such an efficient way to see what's out there and what's selling, as well as to make new contacts," said Frankelly Santana of Stafford, Virginia-based CoCi International stores. "Two days here goes so much further than spending the same amount of time paging through catalogues and trolling web sites."  
 
Both exhibitors and attendees enjoyed Jose Blanco of La Aurora's session on the different components of a cigar blend and the six key elements that a good premium cigar must have: flavor, strength, aroma, complexity, balance and a finish. "I've been selling cigars for 20 years and hands-down this was the best educational event I've been to-there was something for everyone," said a smoke shop owner who participated in the event.
 
Attendees also raved about the complimentary breakfast and free educational seminar series held each morning of the two-day show. "These were the best trade show educational sessions we have been to in 10 years," said Joan Livingston of Temple, Texas-based Tobacco Junction.
 
Itzel Santana of CoCi International took away helpful tips from speaker Terry McKenna's presentation on successful hiring practices. "Hiring good employees is very difficult in an industry like ours where employee turnover is so high," she notes. "His recommendations how to effectively interview and check references-and where you can go wrong-were right on target."
 
Barry Cohen of New Brunswick, New Jersey-based Barry's Smoke Shop found the session on branding particularly apropos. "I got some fantastic tips at a perfect time, since I'm in the process of rebranding my shop," said Cohen, who recently left a franchise arrangement to go out on his own. Speaking with TOB shortly after placing an order at Perdomo Cigar's booth, Cohen said he also enjoyed networking with the many cigar companies exhibiting at the show, as he's ramping up his selection in anticipation of a month-long promotional event at his store and looking to work directly with cigar companies.
 
Photos and more detailed coverage of the Tobacco Plus Expo International 2011 will soon be available at www.tobonline.com and in the upcoming issue of Tobacco Outlet Business. The dates and details for Tobacco Plus Expo International 2012 will be announced shortly at www.tobaccoplusexpo.com.