Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
18TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSJULYAUGUST2010NEWSTRENDSJULYAUGUST2010ATrade-ShowIndustryIconLostTOBjoinstheindustryinmourningThomasF.Byrne.ThisspringtheexhibitionindustrylostaniconinthepassingofThomasF.ByrneIII.TomByrnewasacornerstoneintheindus-tryenteringthescenewhentradeshowswereintheirmereinfancy.AfteranhonorabledischargefromtheArmyAirCorpsandthroughacollegeplace-mentappointmentTomgothisrstjobintheexhibitionindustrywithBrooklynNewYork-basedIvelDisplays.EachdayTomwouldtakehispocketfulofnickelstoGrandCentralTerminalandwithaphoneboothforanofcesethisappointmentsandcoldcallsforeachday.AshissuccessesgrewTomdevelopedanunendingpassionforhismediumandworkthatwouldcontinuethroughouthisillustrious50-plus-yearca-reer.AftertwoyearsTomx19srestlessentrepre-neurialspiritandgrowingreputationforindustrialdesignandfabricationledtohisfoundingwithapartnerStructuralDisplayCo.inLongIslandCityN.Y.HisreputationgrewnationallyandinternationallywithhisGeneralCigarexhibitattheNewYorkWorldx19sFairandthesimulatedspaceshotshecreatedforNASA.Tomwouldneverset-tlefortheordinaryx14onlytheextraordinarywoulddo.Hismanycareerdesignawardsareaccoladestohismasteringofhistrade.In1970againwiththeentrepreneurialacheTomstruckoutonhisownfound-ingtheThomasF.ByrneOrganization.Thetrade-showindustrycontinuedtobehisconsummatepassion.Tasteinven-tivenessandattentiontodetailmarkedalltheexhibitshecreated.Tobaccowasx1ckingx1dinTomx19sorganizationinthex1980sandx1890swithTFBOrepresentingama-jorityoftheprominenttobaccocompa-niesintheexhibitionarena.Withtherecognitionoftheclimatechang-escominginthetrade-showindustryTomwasaheadofthecurvecreatinghisownmodularexhibitsystemdesigningrentalpavilionsforthecountriesofSpainFranceandtheCaribbeanandpublishingtherstbookletofhow-tox19sforsuccessfultrade-showmarketingwhileplantingtheseminarrootsforboothtrainingcon-ferencesforclientrepresentatives.Hisindustrycontributionswereappreci-atedbythemultipleassociationsdesigninstitutesexecutiveclubsandconventioncenteradvisoryboardshefosteredandpar-ticipatedinaswellasbytheclientsandin-dustryassociateshementored.AlthoughnolongerwithusphysicallyTomByrnex19svoiceandspiritliveoninthosehefosteredandtheassociatesheworkedwithoverhiscareer.Hislegacywillliveonthroughhiscompanyandthroughallofthosetouchedbyhispassionanddriveforperfectionintheindustry.TomByrnewasatruegentleman.Hislarger-than-lifepersonawillbesorelymissedonthetrade-showoor.TomByrneissurvivedbyhiswifesixchil-drenandeightgrandchildren.SmokerFriendlyStrengthensNumbersTwonewretailersjointhecompanyx19sAuthorizedDealerProgram.SmokerFriendlyInternationalproudlyannouncedthesigningofnineCiga-rettesForLessstoresinwesternKen-tuckyandTwoBrainsLLCinPhoenixAriz.CigarettesForLessstoreslocatedinPaducahDraffenvilleMayeldandWickliffeKy.areownedandoperat-edbysiblingsKimOverbyandRandyKingcade.OverbywhoopenedtherstCigarettesForLessstorein1997handlesoperationswhileherbrothermanagescomputersystemsmerchan-disingandremodels.Kingcadejoinedthecompanyin2000takinganearlyretirementfromR.J.ReynoldsTobaccoCo.after20yearsofservice.TheCiga-rettesForLesschainismadeupofsixfull-linetobaccoshopsandthreecon-veniencestores.TwoBrainsLLCjoinedtheSmok-erFriendlyranksafteracquiringtheSmokerFriendlystoresinLakeHavasuCityandPeoriaAriz.fromColoradoSpringsColorado-basedS.R.FlaksCo.TwoBrainsisownedandoperatedbyBrendaandRichardBrain.PreviouslyemployedbyS.R.FlaksCo.asadistrictmanagerBrendaBrainbeganherca-reerwiththatcompany14yearsagoasastoreassociate.ThesestoresnowcarrytheexclusivelineoftheSFSmokerFriendlytobaccobrandfamilyalongwithothertobaccoandtobaccoaccessoryofferings.Withmorethan700storesacrosstheUnitedStatesSmokerFriendlyisAmericax19slargestcigaretteandtobaccostorere-tailer.ItsAuthorizedDealerProgramisdesignedforexistingretailtobaccostoreoperatorswhowanttoenjoytheadvantagesofbelongingtoabuyinggroupinteractingwithothercigaretteandtobaccostoreretailersandbeingapartofthegreatersynergiesprovid-edbyanationallyknownprivate-labelbrand.