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TOBACCO OUTLET BUSINESS
MAY/JUNE 2012
The
“Happiness Quotient”
(HQ)
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
BY ed o’connor
Remember the “Happiness Quotient” from
Tobacco Outlet Business
, May/June 2011? We initiated the “HQ” as a measure of
exhibitor satisfaction given their investment and experience at last year’s TPE 2011.
The HQ derives from exit interviews with a broad sample of exhibitors, the idea being to distance results from “he-said-she-
said” opinions, creating a more accurate assessment of show performance. Our goal? “Make TPE an
All Star Big Tent Tobacco
Show
, welcoming all tobacco marketers as participants, consistent with the changing item needs of tobacco wholesalers and
retailers today.”
Buyers at this year’s show were asked to provide an aggregate estimate of annual tobacco purchases. The numbers tallied
$14,876,000,000. Can that be right?! $14 billion-plus in annual purchasing power! That’s what the survey concluded.
How did TPE2012 perform for exhibitors versus TPE2011? Here’s the side-by-side comparison:
TPE 2013 raises the bar and creates more “heat!” Under contract with the Las Vegas Convention Center, TPE2013 will provide
a 50 percent increase in available exhibition floor space. The increase will accommodate marketers seeking a larger footprint
while allocating space to those prospective exhibitors that were unable to secure space in 2012…and improving show traffic
flow.
TPE 2013 will herald a new relationship with
Convenience Store News
, a leading publication to the trade.
CSN
will serve as
the official convenience store publication. Watch for
CSN
to help ratchet up buying power to a new level.
What are the benefits? More “heat” means more exhibitors, more diversity, more special, unique products to differentiate
item mix from the store down the street. More “heat” means more buyers. More buyers infuse exhibitor investment, fueling
product development, show specials, expanding your tobacco shelf-space potential. And around it goes in a mutually fulfilling
cycle of opportunity.
TPE2013 continues with the popular cigar lounge centered on the exhibition floor serving complimentary beer, wine and soft
drinks; a big hit with all attendees, providing clubby meeting space and relaxation without having to leave the venue.
Have a great year. See you on campus and at TPE 2013, January 30-31 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. TPE2013; if you
attend, you won’t want to leave. We guarantee it!
51%
Good
26.4%
Very Good
17.1%
Fair
5.7%
Less Than
Satisfactory
40%
Good
37%
Very Good
18%
Fair
5%
Less Than
Satisfactory
Best to you,