EVENTS
ADVOCACY AT THE EXPO:
NEW NICOTINE ALLIANCE
One of the industry’s leading charities finds open minds on
the show floor - By Leo Forfar
“Expos have always been
good for advocacy …
We don’t just present our
concerns, but listen to
the concerns of others,
especially business
owners”
The New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) are
also synonymous with pro-vaping
advocacy and were found seated in the
Meet & Greet area of the Vaper Expo
in May, providing literature, campaign
stickers, front line insight and advice to
any who would listen.
We spoke with NNA Administrator
Jessica Harding, member Andy Morrison,
and new trustee Martin Cullep – a prolific
writer and enthusiastic vaper – about
what the trade show circuit (especially
the expo) does for this important work.
“The NNA has been present at every
expo since its launch, and we’ve seen
the landscape for UK vaping change
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with it,” says Jessica. “Expos have the NNA is that it’s a registered charity
always been good for advocacy. Vaper – an organisation made of consumers,
Expo UK organisers Lee and Jay have also working for them. Consumer choice
bent over backwards to accommodate and quality is our goal. It’s been a slow
us and value our work. Here at the expo, process, but people on the trade show
we don’t just present our concerns, circuit are becoming more receptive
but listen to the concerns of others, to advocacy. It all starts with greater
especially business owners.”
exposure.”
Last year, Andy shared the main stage Martin Cullip was pleased to see as
with David Dorn, taking the crowd much enthusiasm on B2C day as on
through a series of passionate speeches Friday.
about what the TPD represented and
the work which would have to be done. “We’ve had quite a diverse range of
He recently updated us on the situation: people come over, including members
of the international vaping community,
“Advocacy has always been hard work; both consumers and business people.
you never stop getting the word out, You’re always better off exhibiting here.
nor finding new problems that arise We’ve been able to tell them about
with every victory. To be specific, the our Challenge Prohibition Campaign,
contemporary landscape for UK vaping tackling bans in public places such as
is having issues with branding and IP pubs. It’s been fruitful. People who didn’t
theft. There’s also controversy over know about the NNA hear the message.”
short-fills. Many vendors have spent
an awful lot of money ensuring their It may not provide the instant
products are TPD-compliant and that gratification and quick fire results we
the MHRA received correct notification. usually associate with trade shows, but
They see the short-fill trend as an advocacy finds a vibrant voice in the
attempt to bypass this process.
Vaper Expo UK.
We’re not a vendor industry or group,
what people need to remember about