Vaper Expo Showguide 2019 October 2019 | Page 121

If the current vaping crisis in America is a hot discussion topic here at Vaper Expo, you can be certain it will be a huge focus at VapExpo Las Vegas next month. The event takes place on November 22-23 at Las Vegas Convention Center and it could not come at a more critical time for the US vape industry. Vapouround Magazine is proud to be a media partner for this expo and we are acutely aware that our friends and colleagues in America need as much help and support as they can get right now. Last year’s inaugural event was a huge success, attracting more than 7,500 attendees over two days, with representatives from 50 countries, covering 277 brands. In addition there were two social media live streaming studios, a cloudworks arena, a DIY extravaganza and even a Netflix special - making it one of the best shows of the year. This year the organisers plan to build on that success and produce something even better than last year. Word has spread about the show and more than 15,000 visitors are expected to attend. Friday will be the business day where top distributors from the US and around the world will be in attendance and Saturday will be open to the public. Robb Hackett, CEO for VapExpo Las Vegas, said there would be a huge push for advocacy at the show because of the current climate in the US. There are also around 70 speakers lined up for the event and the full lineup will be released about a week before the show. The show will also have a big focus on bringing in international distributors and buyers to help American companies who are looking to move into other countries which have a more favourable attitude to vaping. Robb thinks it is very important that an event like this should allow US companies to meet as many international distributors as possible so that they can fi nd new business opportunities - especially in those States which are clamping down hard on the vape industry. In tandem with VapExpo Las Vegas is the CBD trade show CBD. io which will also be taking place at the event for the second year running. Given that so many vaping companies have also moved into the CBD space, this makes perfect sense and proved hugely popular at last year’s event. Robb believes that the vaping community can do a lot to help put the record straight about the recent spate of deaths and illnesses in the US. He said: “We are fortunate with the timing of this show so that people can come together and come up with ideas about what we can do now and how we can best fi ght these attacks on our industry. “We need to work together to help protect this industry which has already saved so many lives and VapExpo Las Vegas will play its part in helping educate people so that they can get the message out there that the vaping industry is really worth fi ghting for.” Any readers of this Show Guide can gain free admission to VapExpo Las Vegas so if you happen to be out there when the show is on, then come along and show your support. For more information about the show - or to book a booth - then just search online for “VapExpo Las Vegas.” VAPER EXPO 121