EVENTS
EVENTS
By Paul Caplin
Many of our loyal readers may be aware by now that we like to partner up with some of the biggest vape expos across the globe . When we were asked to partner up with a vape expo in the Ukraine we had no idea what to expect , apart from that the fact that it would be COLD !! We were exited to be invited to partner up with Smile Expo , a prominent chain of expos covering the vaping community in eastern Europe . We touched down in Kiev and were instantly greeted by temperatures of minus five and a blanket of snow , nothing you would not have expected from a winter ’ s day in Ukraine . Day 1 – We arrived at the expo and found the signing in process to be quick , simple and effective . There were no long queues , and a fully automated system worked well to allow the many vapers to enter the hall in a timely manner . So far so good … We then entered the main event and , to our surprise , it was very well executed
110 ISSUE 09 VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE and very well organised . Top brands were featured such as Diamond Vapor , Simply Vapor , Café Racer and more . A great mix of American , UK , European and local brands were on offer . One noticeable difference to many of the other shows we have attended was the lack of over the top , excessive stands that made large companies stand out from small . This seemed to be a show that put everyone on virtually a level playing field . There were no big dogs compared to the little fish , the stands were all of similar stature and everyone seemed to have as much exposure as the next company . The way the stands were laid out played a big part in this too , as people were almost forced to do a circuit of the hall , allowing each stand to get visited if that was the wish of the visitor , with the stage being the focal point of the show . The show also hosted the World Series of Vaping , a competition in which vapers got to show off their cloud chasing skills
– I was honoured to be asked to be one of the judges for this competition , and I can confirm that the standard was high . Another highlight of the show was when , totally unexpectedly , ( to me at least ) 5,000 USD was dropped from the ceiling onto the crowd below , a strange but effective marketing tactic adopted by the organisers . I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this expo , even though I originally had my reservations . I truly believe that this is one to watch , and make sure you save the date for the next Ukraine expo , as this is definitely a growing market and one that is not to be ignored . I would personally like to thank the organisers for a totally enjoyable experience and I can ’ t wait for the next one .