IPCPR 2011 Las Vegas

[Fia]

Dinner? Opening night? Fia what ARE you smoking. YOu know it is a couple of watered cocktails and some finger food...not what you would call dinner. But I will see you there.

LOL...we didnt want to cater it to keep the costs down. However, they will have menus for us to order ala carte. Menu has very reasonable pricing too. I heard from Stinky that the steak sliders are pretty ono.:clap:

With Jon and myself its more of "whole hand full" food rather than "finger" food, so we hope it does not reflect negatively on the rest of the Hawaii guys there! By the way do they allow doggie bags in there? See you in Vegas!!!

Doggie bags??? I was thinking tupperware or at least gallon size zip locks!!! :rolling:

 

[BrandonP]

Can't wait to see you all there. I didn't think I was going to be in town on Sunday, but it has made itself possible so I plan to attend. Gonna be great to meet a bunch of great brothers and share some spoils with you all!

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

LOL...we didnt want to cater it to keep the costs down. However, there will have menus for us to order ala carte. Menu has very reasonable pricing too. I heard from Stinky that the steak sliders are pretty ono.:clap:



Doggie bags??? I was thinking tupperware or at least gallon size zip locks!!! :rolling:

Bill is "good people"....did he say he would attend the get together?

 

[Cyrann]

With Jon and myself its more of "whole hand full" food rather than "finger" food, so we hope it does not reflect negatively on the rest of the Hawaii guys there! By the way do they allow doggie bags in there? See you in Vegas!!!

Whole hand food?

You eat like a killer whale, what... you no like no vegetables?

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

 

[Fia]

Bill is "good people"....did he say he would attend the get together?

Stinky will be there. He was my contact person to put us in touch with their food and beverage manager!!!:applause:

 

[Mowee]

Of course, Bill IS MR. Las Vegas in addition to being Stinky.

 

[jerseyjay]

Hmmm ... and how are you guys getting in ? As Bloggers ? Manufacturers ? Retailers ? Friends of Retailers ?

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Hmmm ... and how are you guys getting in ? As Bloggers ? Manufacturers ? Retailers ? Friends of Retailers ?

I'm representing Empire Cigars myself!

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Hmmm ... and how are you guys getting in ? As Bloggers ? Manufacturers ? Retailers ? Friends of Retailers ?

This method is apparently being cracked down on this year.

lol. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Markswam]

This method is apparently being cracked down on this year.

lol. I'll believe it when I see it.

Yea, i dont get it, how would you be able to find out if a person attending the event is not a customer that got in on a "buddy" pass? The categories to register for the event are: Authorized Buyer / Make decision with others / Evaluate and Recommend. Although this is a buying show, I believe the guys that do cigar blogs are helpful in that they keep the hype going. We are a small wine shop that does cigars and acquired a couple of customers from the post that cigarfeed put out so we don’t mind the press whether it comes from the print side or the internet. Like my partner says "I'm just saying...." See ya all in Vegas - no matter what part of the business you from!

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Yea, i dont get it, how would you be able to find out if a person attending the event is not a customer that got in on a "buddy" pass? The categories to register for the event are: Authorized Buyer / Make decision with others / Evaluate and Recommend. Although this is a buying show, I believe the guys that do cigar blogs are helpful in that they keep the hype going. We are a small wine shop that does cigars and acquired a couple of customers from the post that cigarfeed put out so we don’t mind the press whether it comes from the print side or the internet. Like my partner says "I'm just saying...." See ya all in Vegas - no matter what part of the business you from!

Who is this cigarfeed? lol.

Bloggers are different than friends of retailers, given that they are raising the standards for which bloggers can get passes, it would be a bit counter-productive if all those who didn't get passes as bloggers just went on retailer passes.

 

[BrandonP]

They say they are cracking down but it would be very hard for them to prove that someone is a buddy of a retailer. I have members here that cover for us in the shop from time to time. They aren't considered employees per-SE, we consider them friends of the business. I guess there could be some reps who rat you out if they know the shop well enough, but I REALLY REALLY have a hard time believing any rep would do that for fear of losing business over something so small. I would cut back/out on product if one of my reps were to get someone kicked out over them being a buddy. I understand if they don't want to give the buddy the freebie cigars that come with being at the show, but don't kick them out.

From a rep perspective, I will say this. My biggest feedback from reps is they are always concerned with my customers hearing what our cost on cigars is. This is just a bigger concern at the show due to the deals we as retailers get for placing orders there. However I have no issues personally with my customers knowing what I pay for a product, as it is pretty widely known in the industry anyway what markup in a B&M is.

 

[Fia]

I can see the part about bloggers and their usefulness to promote the products, the event, etc. The problem becomes how do you control that. There is a big difference from a blogger who is very active, has a large following, etc vs some guy who has just a few people following his blog and occasionally posts to it. How does IPCPR differentiate between all that? It can be an easy case where a person can abuse the situation and just say they are a blogger to gain entry to the IPCPR. The people in print media IMO are a different situation. Its easy for IPCPR to asses who is legit and who isnt.

The part that I know concerns many retailers is when too many people are at the IPCPR that arent there to do business whether they be bloggers, friends, "evaluators", etc. It becomes hard for the retailer to do their purchasing. You can imagine how frustrating it is to not be able to try new product, speak to a rep, put in an order, etc cause the booth is inundated with people that arent actually there to buy cigars. I know of some retailers who had to go back to a booth 3 or 4 times before they could put in an order.

Im guessing the reason IPCPR cut their retailer passes down from 4 to 2 per store was to cut down on the people who really dont need to be there to do business.

In any event, IPCPR wont be able to make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time.

Just my .02

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

This year we booked a private area downstairs from Benny's Bullpen at Binion's for our little get-together. It will be on Sunday, July 17 from 8:30pm.

Brudda Fia set it up so that we'd have our own cocktail waitress as well as the option to order food. :thumbsup:

Any of you BOTL who would like to come and hang with us are invited.

I hope to see all of you guys who were at Dos Jefes in New Orleans with us last year. :yes:

Aloha,
Marvin

The IPCPR Convention itself is at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Venetian Hotel & Casino. Where is Benny's Bullpen at Binion's compared to it? Where are most attendees staying that are attending the convention?

I should be flying in Sunday afternoon but don't have the exact time as yet.

 

[Fourtotheflush]

Binions is on the old strip

 

[GoingPostal]

The part that I know concerns many retailers is when too many people are at the IPCPR that arent there to do business whether they be bloggers, friends, "evaluators", etc. It becomes hard for the retailer to do their purchasing. You can imagine how frustrating it is to not be able to try new product, speak to a rep, put in an order, etc cause the booth is inundated with people that arent actually there to buy cigars. I know of some retailers who had to go back to a booth 3 or 4 times before they could put in an order.

Im guessing the reason IPCPR cut their retailer passes down from 4 to 2 per store was to cut down on the people who really dont need to be there to do business.

In any event, IPCPR wont be able to make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time.

Just my .02

I would love to see the IPCPR do a fan/media day. This would give a chance for the general public to see whats new, bloggers could "live blog" from the floor. Leaving the reps and shops more time to do buisness. Hey maybe even the possibility of people putting in pre-orders with thier local shops. Ahh a man can dream.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Hey maybe even the possibility of people putting in pre-orders with thier local shops. Ahh a man can dream.

Believe this already happening for some shops.

 

[Fia]

The IPCPR Convention itself is at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Venetian Hotel & Casino. Where is Benny's Bullpen at Binion's compared to it? Where are most attendees staying that are attending the convention?

I should be flying in Sunday afternoon but don't have the exact time as yet.

Binions is downtown. Don't know what the cab fares are now but last time was there it was about 15.00. Most are planning on just sharing cabs.

I don't know where everyone is staying but Harrahs is right next door to the Venetian and has some good rates. I got my room for 38.00 a night with their special. Looking forward to it.

 

[Fia]

I would love to see the IPCPR do a fan/media day. This would give a chance for the general public to see whats new, bloggers could "live blog" from the floor. Leaving the reps and shops more time to do buisness. Hey maybe even the possibility of people putting in pre-orders with thier local shops. Ahh a man can dream.

That's actually a great idea.

 

[CigarMan Andy]

I will be there, but have to attend the IPCPR Gala that night. Coming in on Saturday and having a little smoker Saturday night in anyone is coming in that early, let me know.

Be careful guys. They ARE cracking down this year. This is posted on the IPCPR Website.

Admission to the IPCPR Trade Show is free to members of the IPCPR and is not open to the public.

As the Annual Convention & International Trade Show is for IPCPR members only, consumers who are brought as guests by exhibitors and/or attending retailers are not permitted on the show floor or IPCPR-sponsored events.

Any consumer discovered on the trade show floor or event will have their badge confiscated, escorted off the trade show floor, and will be barred from future trade shows.

This is a link to the page. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^