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TOBACCO OUTLET BUSINESS
JULY/AUGUST 2012
with a three-day pipe-making class.
Every year they bring in world-famous
professional pipe carvers who set up
a workshop in the back of the exhibit
hall and teach pipe-carving from start
to finish.
By Thursday afternoon the whole place
starts filling up, and by Friday, exhibitors go
in and set up part of what they’re going to
display and sell inwhat is known as the “Pre-
Show.”Serious buyers and collectors come in
from all over the world and it’s a chance for
them to previewwhat’s available in a smaller
setting before the mammoth show opens.
The
major
pipe
tobacco
manufacturers are there and ready
to talk about their blends. It’s a good
opportunity for retailers to discuss pipe
tobacco blends in detail. They can tell
manufacturers what they’re looking for
and manufacturers can suggest what
they should try.
But this just scratches the surface of what
can be accomplished, both at the show
during the day and at social events at night,
including those that take place at vendor
hospitality suites. And there’s near round-
the-clock opportunity at the Smoking Tent.
It is a big part of the social scene at The
Chicago Show, opening at 6 a.m. each day
of the show and staying open throughout
the day and night and into the very early
hours of the next morning. Show-goers
can relax inside with drinks, food and some
comfortable seating.
You can learn any aspect of the pipe-
smoking hobby or the pipe-smoking
experience at this show. You can meet
carvers that make the pipes and pipe
tobacco blenders who work for various
tobacco companies. You can make
wholesale deals. It’s an opportunity
to meet many of the people in this
industry in person, including many
who come from Europe and overseas
that you might never meet otherwise.
You can buy something at the show and
use it, then get back home and decide
to order a case of it for your customers.
This show is also about the pipe
brotherhood and creating long-lasting
friendships. Sometimes, it’s with people
you only see once a year at this show,
other times it’s with people you may
see at other pipe shows throughout the
year, taking place around the country.
Three-quarters of the faces I see are very
familiar to me, even though I don’t know
their names and maybe I’ve never talked
to them, but I see their faces every year at
this show and we look at each other and
nod. I know I’m connecting with pipe
people all over the world.
The Chicago Show is the biggest
and the best pipe show in the world
and well worth looking into further at
www.chicagopipeshow.com. There are
also pipe clubs that meet every month
in various states, connected to local
pipe shows. I encourage you to do your
homework and get your show groove
on.
TOB