I got back yesterday from a Vegas were I had the good fortune of attending the Total Products Expo, 
formerly the Tobacco Products Expo. This year was a little different for me, as I spent the first two days helping out my friends at CigarMedics as a product ambassador, or evangelist, whichever works. It was interesting working that side of the table for a change, and I got to meet some new folks from around the country and educate a lot of folks on the Humidimeter and their other products. I continue to be a big fan of CigarMedics products, and watch for some new items in the future!
The TPE is a huge show, spanning two floors of the south hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Id guess that premium cigars and related items is less than 5% of the exhibitors. Most of it was vape, both nicotine and cannabis, nicotine pouches, “glassware”, and other items that are in smoke shops and convenience stores (we used to call Smoke Shops “head shops” years ago). The vape vendors seemed to have the most elaborate booths, and they seem to have incorporated digital screens and lights in to the devices for some reason. The pouches were a big thing it seemed. Lots of cannabis related stuff too, in which I’m neither familiar nor interested. I ventured off 
the red carpet (the cigar portion is designated by red carpeting) and was very uncomfortable. There were some interesting marketing tools and there was plenty of wild stuff to see. The cigar side was more traditional, although since there really weren’t a lot of premium cigar brands there (I counted around 20), there were some large lighter displays and some various accessory companies. Drew Estate’s booth 
was modest, J.C. Newman, Altadis , Davidoff and Perdomo had sizable booths, but the rest were reasonably simple. It didn’t seem like there were a lot of traditional cigar merchants there doing business, I ran into a few, but not like it’s been in years past that I’ve been to the TPE. Besides it being a more affordable overall trip, I’m not sure I’d go again, if I do it’ll be for one day, and the rest will be personal vacation.
I decided this year I was going to do something a little different from collecting video interviews with cigar brands, I interviewed some of the media in attendance. If you want to hear from the brands, check out these guys, they were all interviewing exhibitors, and no doubt, have the same content I would have gotten. My first one was with Patrick from Halfwheel. I’ve known Patrick since 2011, and I chatted with him for a few minutes. I later saw Charlie there and he passed on being interviewed say Patrick was a better interview anyway.
I also ran into Matthew Tabacco (his real name) who was there with his mother, who is also a cigar fan. Check out the Smokin Tabacco podcast and website, they have a good team and are very nice people. Keep an eye open for their annual raffle event benefiting the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. I always enter, but never win! That’s OK, I have plenty, and the money goes to a great charity!
I met Cigar Show Tim at the 2020 TPE. and run in to him from time to time. He has the luxury of being able to drive the Vegas from California and has quite the professional rig. It’s tough doing video as a one man team, as evidenced be my own, Tim has a tripod on wheels and does a great job. Check out his YouTube channel.
I met Darrell of the Cigars Liquor and More podcast in the media lounge and found him to be a likable guy, and have subscribed to his podcast, but, admittedly, haven’t listened yet. They concentrate on pairings, and tech talk, so except for the booze part, I’m looking forward to adding this podcast into my rotation.
Finally I managed to meet Nick, the Bishop of the Burn, from the Cigar Pulpit Podcast. I’ve been enjoying this show for a few years now, and somehow managed to miss meeting Nick at previous TPE shows. Nick was joined by Noah at the show, a listener and frequent contributor to the show.
Hopefully you enjoy my slightly unusual coverage of the TPE show, thank you to CigarMedics for sponsoring this year’s coverage. If you don’t have a Humidimeter, what are you thinking? Get one! Anyway, it was fun, I’m pretty boring and was pretty much either in my hotel room, ar at the airport whenever I wasn’t on the show floor. Until the next time,
CigarCraig
