23 May Tobacco Plus Expo 2021 Recap – Final Thoughts
This year’s Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE) was held in-person on May 12-14, 2021 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). TPE the largest B2B trade show with premium tobacco, CBD and alternative products.
To say that we were anxious to get back on an airplane and hit the road again is an understatement. This was our first show since the COVID-19 pandemic. We had not packed and traveled anywhere in 16 months. But the excitement to go back to Las Vegas and back to a tobacco trade show was bigger than anything else. It was so big that, our creative director Humberto Areas, forgot all about his 16th year wedding anniversary with his wife! In all fairness (and in his defense), he did not book the flight or hotel himself, otherwise he would have realized the HUGE oversight.
“There is excitement amongst TPE21’s exhibitors and attendees for May to be here so that the industry can come together for a reunion of sorts in Las Vegas,” says Ben Stimpson, managing director of TMG. “This is evidenced by a nearly sold-out show floor and a great start to attendee registration, which opened on Feb. 17, 2021. We believe the TPE21 trade show is the ideal setting to bring the tobacco, vapor and alternative industry back together after so many months apart and we’re all eager to get back to business.”
We at Cigar Package Design have been attending industry trade shows since 2011. Every opportunity we get to attend, it’s our intention to cover the show from a creative perspective. We focus on new design trends, new printing techniques and innovative packaging. This year we did things a little different, in addition to photography, visiting friends and colleagues, we implemented video interviews. We truly believe video is the best medium for capturing the sights and sounds of the trade show floor. We hope we captured the excitement of our interviewee’s as they explained products being showcased and as they walked us around their respective booths.
Most Innovative:
The most innovative and perhaps the coolest technology being implemented to cigars bands, had to be an “electronic chip” that Plasencia Cigars is implementing. This chip is meant to be scanned with your smartphone, then it takes you to a specific website, where you have blend information of the specific cigar. Aside from blend info, this “chip” also proves the cigar’s authenticity. Halfwheel.com did a great interviewing Nestor Andres Plasencia, and you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxTd545-_Y8
Best Packaging Presentation:
The best cigar packaging we saw at #TPE21 was at the Altadis USA booth. We caught up with our friends Mr. Rafael Nodal and Oliver Hyams, and we appreciate them both for taking the time to show us the new Montecristo Epic Blue and the new Romeo Y Julieta ETERNAL. Cigar Dojo did a great interview of Mr. Rafael Nodal as he show of Romeo Y Julieta ETERNAL and Montecristo Epic Blue, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjF79rzrnHg
Now, here’s a recap of Day #1 at #TPE2021
Casa Cuevas Cigars:
We first got to visit Mr. Luis Cuevas Jr. from our friends at Casa Cuevas Cigars and take a first-hand look at the all-new “Patrimonio” – Casa Cuevas’s newest release. The “Patrimonio” cigar brand name translates to “Patrimony” in English. And it is dedicated to Luis Cuevas Sr. and the paternal lineage of the Cuevas tobacco history which began over 100 years ago.
“Patrimonio is a project that is extremely near and dear to my son Alec and myself. When my father left Cuba, he left tobacco behind. Years later, after rebuilding in the U.S.A., he was able to revive our family tobacco history by opening his cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. Because of my father’s perseverance, our family legacy continues to live on.” -Luis Cuevas Jr.
We want to thank Casa Cuevas Cigars and the entire family and staff at Tabacalera Las Lavas in Dominican Republic for allowing us the opportunity to collaborate on such a special packaging project. We are also very grateful for their hospitality at TPE21 and for taking the time to shoot video for Cigar Package Design.
Watch Luis Cuevas’ interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZNVLHXwLBE
Rock-A-Feller Cigars:
Kevin Schweitzer, owner of Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigars, showcases his cigar brands. This includes the new “Art Of Magic” at Tobacco Plus Expo (TPE21) in Las Vegas NV.
Art of Magic is a tobacco collaboration between Rock-A-Feller Cigars and Aganorsa Leaf Cigars. It is also a creative collaboration between artist Jessy Flores and Humberto Areas, Creative Director at Cigar Package Design.
We at Cigar Package Design thank Kevin Schweitzer and Jessy Flores for allowing us the opportunity to collaborate on such a special packaging design.
For more information on Vintage Rock-A-Feller Cigars, visit: http://www.vrcgcigars.com
Watch Kevin Schweitzer’s interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZV4obX7Htg
Altadis USA Premium Cigars:
Oliver Hyams, Trade Marketing Activation Manager at Altadis USA Premium Cigars, takes us a tour of their booth and gives us a first hand look at the brands being showcased, new packaging redesigns and more.
We at Cigar Package Design thank Oliver for taking the time to show us around.
For more information on Altadis USA Premium Cigars, visit: https://www.altadisusa.com
Watch Oliver Hyams’ interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwqDJIEjyRU
TPE2021 Day #2
Vorieo Cigars:
George James, Owner of Vorieo Premium Cigars, takes us a tour of his booth and gives us a first hand look at the brands being showcased. Vorieo Cigars is a new exhibitor this year at Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas, NV.
We at Cigar Package Design have been working with George for several years now, and this is the first time we meet in person. We thank George for his hospitality and for taking the time to show us around.
For more information on Vorieo Premium Cigars, visit: https://www.vorieo.com
Watch George James’ interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWBiVEHVTMo
Carolina Blue Cigars:
Chris Moore, Owner of Carolina Blue Cigars, takes us a tour of his booth and gives us a first hand look at the brands being showcased. Carolina Blue Cigars is a new exhibitor this year at Tobacco Plus Expo in Las Vegas, NV.
We at Cigar Package Design have been communicating with Chris for a while now. And although we have not yet collaborated on any packaging design projects, we are BIG fans of what they’re doing with their presentation. We thank Chris for his hospitality and for taking the time to show us around.
For more information on Carolina Blue Premium Cigars, visit: https://www.carolinabluecigars.com
Watch Chris Moore’s interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_au8yxePpg
Martinez Cigars:
Mr. Jesus Martinez of Martinez Cigars in NYC introduces his cigar company/factory and showcases the new Patrimonio Cigar at this year’s Tobacco Plus Expo.
Mr. Martinez is the owner of Martinez Cigars, the oldest tobacco factory in New York State, and this is the second year they exhibit at Tobacco Plus Expo. We hope you enjoy this video and Mr. Martinez shares his passion for tobacco at #TPE21.
One of the highlights of our trip was meeting Mr. Martinez at this year’s Tobacco Plus Expo 2021 trade show in Las Vegas, NV. We at Cigar Package Design thank Jesus for taking the time to shoot some video for Cigar Package Design.
For more information on Martinez Cigars, visit: https://www.martinezcigars.com
Watch Jesus Martinez’s interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae1izyL—U
TPE2021 Day #3
Crowned Heads and ACE Prime Cigars:
On the last day of #TPE21 we were able to catch up with our dear friend and colleague Miguel Schoedel from Crowned Heads Cigars and Mr. Luciano Meirelles from Ace Prime Cigars. Check out this video and see what they had to say about being back in Las Vegas and the first tobacco trade show in since the COVID-19 pandemic.
We at Cigar Package Design thank Miguel and Luciano for their hospitality and for taking the time to shoot some video for our channel.
For more information on Crowned Heads Cigars, visit: http://www.crownedheads.com
For more information on Ace Prime Cigars, visit: https://aceprime.com
Watch Miguel and Luciano’s interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnxWysp7ShU
In conclusion, we experienced an amazing Tobacco Plus Expo, and we want to thank Ben Stimpson and Antoine Reid of TMG for extending the invitation to TPE2021. We had great time during the entirety of the event. Great to relive and experience an in-person trade show once again. Safety was a big concern for everyone and the thermo scanning of attendees was another great implementation by TMG. We at Cigar Package Design, cannot wait for next year’s TPE2022.
For more information on Tobacco Plus Expo, visit: https://tobaccoplusexpo.com
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