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A3232TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2011TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2011santicipatedthe2011TobaccoPlusExpoInternationalwhichopenedinLasVegasNevadaMarch2drewarecordnumberoattendees.Morethan2400attendeesbrowsedthe190-plusexhibitorboothsshowcasingproductsonthetradeshowfoorparticipatedintheeducationalseminarsandtookadvantageothesavingsoeredthroughtheshowspecials.Byallaccountstheshowwasarousingsuccess.WepickedupseveraldistributorsinstateswherewedontcurrentlysellsaidRonaldBigRonBowenpresidentoAydenNorthCarolina-basedRSBTobaccowhowasoneomanymanuacturerswhoenthusedaboutthesteadystreamoattendeesontheshowfoor.Inactintwodayswedidover1millioninbusiness.Retailattendeeswereimpressedwiththesheernumberoexhibitorsthewidearrayoproductcategoriesontheshowfoorandthenumberointernationalcompanyexhibitors.WecometothisshowbecauseitssuchanecientwaytoseewhatsoutthereandwhatssellingaswellastomakenewcontactssaidFrankellySantanaoStaordVirginia-basedCociInternationalstores.TwodaysheregoessomuchurtherthanspendingthesameamountotimepagingthroughcatalogsandtrollingWebsites.BothexhibitorsandattendeesenjoyedJosBlancooLaAurorassessiononthedierentcomponentsoacigarblendandthesixkeyelementsthatagoodpremiumcigarmusthavefavorstrengtharomacomplexitybalanceandanish.Ivebeensellingcigarsor20yearsandhands-downthiswasthebesteducationaleventIvebeentotherewassomethingoreveryonesaidasmokeshopownerwhoparticipatedintheevent.Attendeesalsoravedaboutthecomplimentarybreakastandreeeducationalseminarseriesheldeachmorningothetwo-dayshow.esewerethebesttradeshoweducationalsessionswehavebeentoin10yearssaidJoanLivingstonoTempleTexas-basedTobaccoJunction.ItzelSantanaoCociInternationaltookawayhelpultipsromspeakerTerryMcKennaspresentationonsuccessulhiringpractices.Hiringgoodemployeesisverydicultinanindustrylikeourswhereemployeeturnoverissohighshenoted.Hisrecommendationsonhowtoeectivelyinterviewandcheckreerencesandwhereyoucangowrongwererightontarget.BarryCohenoNewBrunswickNewJersey-basedBarrysSmokeShopoundthesessiononbrandingparticularlyapropos.IgotsomeantastictipsataperecttimesinceImintheprocessorebrandingmyshopsaidCohenwhorecentlyletaranchisearrangementtogooutonhisown.SpeakingwithshortlyaterplacinganorderatthePerdomoCigarsboothCohensaidhealsoenjoyednetworkingwiththemanycigarcompaniesexhibitingattheshowashesrampinguphisselectioninanticipationoamonth-longpromotionaleventathisstoreandlookingtoworkdirectlywithcigarcompanies.epagestoollowoerhighlightsromTobaccoPlusExpoInternational2011includingtakeawaysromtheshowseducationalseminarsandphotosothetradeshowfoorandeveningestivities.InormationaboutnextyearsTPE2012willbeannouncedshortlyatwww.tobaccoplusexpo.com.TOBTPE2011