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
24TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2009NATONewsThe2009TobaccoPlusExpoAnindustryupdatefromTomBriantexecutivedirectorofNATO.Whetheryouownandoperateatobaccostoreconveniencestoregrocerystoregasolineservicestationorliquorstoreeveryretailerwhosellstobaccoproductsshouldplantoattendthe2009TobaccoPlusExpoTradeShow.ThisyeartheTobaccoPlusExpowilltakeonanewlookwithNewOrleansbeingthenewlocationorthisannualtrade-showevent.MarkyourcalendarsnowtoattendtheTobaccoPlusExpowhichwillbeheldMay6-72009attheNewOrleansMorialConventionCenter.AsistraditiontheNATOAnnualAwardsDinnerwillbeheldontheeveningprecedingtheshowx19sopening.ThisyearthedinnerwillheldonTuesdayMay5immediatelyprecedingtheopeningothetradeshowonWednesday.ShowhighlightSBecausetobaccoproductsareasignix1cantcategoryornumerouskindsoretailerstheTobaccoPlusExpooerstheopportunitytoimproveproductmixsharpenmerchandisingstrategyandimproveoperatingprocedures.Hundredsoexhibitorswillbedisplayingtheirproductsinthetrade-showexhibithalloraulltwodaysgivingretailerstheopportunitytoseeandengagewithalargeassembledgrouposuppliersandmanuacturersocigarettesspecialtycigarettescigarssmokelesstobaccoRYOMYOtobaccoproductspipetobaccoandaccessories.TheTobaccoPlusExpoalsooersoureducationalseminarsorretailersandwholesalersonthemorningsoMay6and7.Thetopicsotheseminarsincludethepurchasingandmarketingopremiumcigarsexpandingbusinessbyopeningadditionalstoresevaluatingnewproductsandbenchmarkingthetobaccoindustryromanationalbusinessperspective.Asamembershipbenex1teachNATOretailmemberwillbeabletosignuptwopeopletoattendtheourseminarsatnocharge.ThroughcorporatesponsorshipsNATOisabletoprovidethesetwocomplimentaryseminarpassestoeachNATOretailmember.Theinormationromtheseminarsisinvaluableandattendingreeochargeisjustanotherreasonretailersbenex1trombeingaNATOmember.PleaSeSmokeThe2009TobaccoPlusExpoisoneothelargesttobaccoindustrytradeshowsintheU.S.x14anditistheonlyshowattheNewOrleansMorialConventionCenterthatallowssmokingontheexhibithallfoor.Retailersareurgedtocomeandseenewproductsandnewideasandlearnnewstrategiesthatwillhelpexpandtheirtobaccosales.ShowRegiStRationRetailerscanvisittheTobaccoPlusExpoWebsiteatwww.tobaccoplusexpo.comorcompleteregistrationandtravelinormation.InadditionNATOandtheTobaccoPlusExpowillbemailingoutregistrationinormationinthecomingweeksthatwillprovidemoredetailsabouttheshow.natoawaRdSdinneRBeoretheTobaccoPlusExpotradeshowox1ciallyopensonWednesdayMay6NATOwillhostitsannualawardsdinnerontheeveningoTuesdayMay5attheOmniRoyalHotelinNewOrleans.ThisindustrywideeventisanopportunityorallNATOmemberstosocializeduringacocktailreceptionandthenenjoyaormaldinner.TheguestswillbeupdatedonNATOx19slegislativeactivitiesandtheassociationwillalsopresenttheannualPinnacleAwardstomanuacturerandretailermemberswhohavedemonstratedextraordinarysupportoNATOandshownthehighestdegreeocommitmentanddedicationtoassistingNATOontobaccolegislationissues.Withthisannualgatheringoeringx1rst-classaccoladestheNATOAnnualAwardsDinnerwillbeaneventthatNATOmemberswillnotwanttomiss.Memberswillbeabletoattendthedinnerbyinvitationonly.IyouarealreadyaNATOmemberlookoryourinvitationinthemailbymid-March.ThomasBrianttheexecutivedirectorofNATOcanbecontactedat1-866-869-8888orviae-mailatinfonatocentral.org.TOBTRADETALKByThomasBrianT