TPE 2024: Day 2

The first day of February 2024 started off with a rare rain shower in Las Vegas. Given how light the rain was in the morning, I would have expected it to clear up, but even towards the end of the day, it still seemed like there was a light shower.

And with the weather report out of the way, let’s talk TPE.

Patrick Lagreid has written many of the same thoughts that I have had during my three days in Las Vegas, so I won’t rehash thoughts on celebrities making appearances.

1. Cigar Store Attendance Might Be Down, but TPE Seems Larger — There is no question that there are fewer cigar stores here. As Patrick mentioned, the proximity in dates between TPE 2024 and PCA 2024—56 days—has seemingly had an impact on TPE’s cigar shop attendance. I suspect that was part of the reason why the PCA moved its dates forward, especially after the excitement of TPE 2019, 2020 and 2021. I also think the general state of the cigar market has played a role, as I hear that even retailers that aren’t here in Las Vegas seem relatively agnostic to taking advantage of TPE discounts. While import numbers remain strong, inventory has built up at retailers. TPE’s hosted buyer program for cigar stores—a program that saw exhibitors pay for hotel rooms of select retailers—seems relatively absent, which also hurt as well.

That said, TPE 2024 seems larger than ever before. Strolling through the other parts of the show is walk through a mind-blowing amount of vapes of all types and flavors. That’s nothing to say of the CBD, kratom, various cannabis alternatives and other related products. That side of the show—which physically dwarfs the smaller cigar section—seems to be thriving, both in exhibitors and attendees.

TPE partnered with Glass Vegas, a glass show that now takes place under the same roof as TPE, even if they are two separate trade shows. A quick walk through that area was also eye-opening. While it’s definitely set up in a more flea market way—smaller tables, tighter aisles—the products on display were cool to look at.

2. More New Cigar Accessories Than Cigars — While I don’t know what the current state of our TPE 2024 New Cigars and TPE 2024 New Cigar Accessory posts are, it definitely feels like there are more new cigar accessories here than cigars. I don’t think it’s companies saving items for PCA 2024 as much as other reasons. Historically, TPE hasn’t been a show of new cigar launches and that trend continues this year.

3. New Booths — When you walk into the downstairs trade show floor, two of the first things you see are new booths from Drew Estate and Plasencia. I suspect we will see both of them—perhaps an expanded form—at PCA 2024 in a couple of months. Both booths seem very modular. It will be curious to see whether these booths will go to TPE 2025, hosted in late January in Vegas, and then PCA 2025, hosted in New Orleans in April, next year. It’s a reminder that the tension between PCA’s date changes isn’t going to let up, at least for the immediate future.

Caldwell Cigar Co. also debuted a new booth.