This was the biggest Vaper Expo to date and it took place in three inter-connected halls - a cavernous space which for three days would be totally devoted to vaping .
Actually the previous sentence is not strictly true . If the hall was a football pitch then the immediate area either of the centre line was taken over by funfair rides . We had dodgems , a waltzer and a ride that looked like a giant spider , the name of which escapes me . I am all for non vape-related items like this being incorporated into vape events because they add to the uniqueness of the event and only serve to enhance the overall visitor experience .
At other events I have seen giant chess sets , pinball machines and even poker tables but the fairground rides took things to a new level indeed . Vaper Expo organisers Lee and Jay ( and now new-edition Alyson ) always strive to go the extra mile to make each event both entertaining and memorable with a different look and feel to the expos which have gone before .
It was also great that many of the exhibitors also worked hard to ensure that their stands were different to what they had done before and gave visitors an immersive and interactive experience . For example I saw lots of dancing girls who would have looked right at home in an old time music hall troupe , with their elaborate costumes and striking feather head dresses .
Front Line and Riot Squad went out of their way to provide utterly amazing visitor experiences and they were the two stand out exhibitors of the expo for me . Front Line had a fairground-style haunted house experience which is unlike anything I have ever seen at a vape expo .
Riot Squad went for a Scottish castle which was home to the Clan of Iron Bruise to launch their new Iron Bruise e-liquid which looks certain to be a huge hit . ( You can read more about these in our Battle of the Stands feature in this section of the magazine .)
As always Vapouround Magazine was out in force at this event . Back by popular demand was the doubledecker Vapouround bus which served as a meeting point for many during the three days as it certainly stood out as a landmark of the expo . We also created the look and feel of our Vapelounges complete with chill-out sofas and plenty of space for visitors to take a break and relax .
There were exhibitors from all sectors from the vaping industry at this expo . The juice companies and hardware manufacturers were there , of course , but so were businesses selling bottling equipment , packaging , labeling solutions , distribution and advice on regulation and compliance issues . There were talks , competitions , coilbuilding sessions , giveaways and , of course , lots of vapour clouds .
It says something about a three day vaping expo where it is possible to walk around the event for three full days and not get bored . Anyone who has attended a Vaper Expo event will know why this has become one of the leading vape expos in Europe , if not the world .
If you still have not experienced a Vaper Expo event for yourself then you have really missed out on something amazing . Thankfully this is something which can very easily be corrected . The second Vaper Expo UK event of 2017 will take place in October and I have no doubt it will be yet another unmissable event on the international vaping calendar .
VAPOUROUND MAGAZINE ISSUE 11 123