CigarCon – A New Premier National Cigar Event in 2020!
The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Association announced on June 28th, 2019 that consumers will have an opportunity to attend CigarCon as part of the Association’s annual trade show for the first time in 2020. To date, the IPCPR has prohibited consumers from attending this industry event with only retailers and manufacturers in attendance.
UPDATE: CigarCon is delayed until 2021.
The IPCPR also announced a change of their name to the Premium Cigar Association (PCA). I guess the pipe and pipe tobacco manufacturers are out of luck on this one.
Cigar consumers have wanted an opportunity to attend the trade show for many years. Some have found creative ways to attend the trade show over the years, generally as an “authorized representative” from a cigar shop.
In a discussion with JR Cigars, Rocky Patel said,
“We really decided we want to add some excitement to the show. Look at these beautiful booths everywhere. You’ve got all of the manufacturers displaying and showcasing some of their new cigars, some of their new blends, in a beautiful venue. We want the consumer to have the experience and be able to enjoy that. They would come here, get to mingle with Carlito, Jorge, myself, whoever they want to meet. And get to experience all the new products. Learn about the products. Taste the products. The show, the music, the spirits. We want to bring this culture back and want to add excitement to the show. So, they’ll go back. Go back to their retailers and want to buy these products. And really learn more about them. And that’s what we want to bring, this experience of the cigar world, back to them.”
Event Details
The new consumer-focused events, tentatively called CigarCon will take place on Saturday, July 11th, 2020 from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. The PCA briefed members in attendance at an industry brief at the trade show on the general plans for CigarCon. The PCA plans to sell up to 4,500 tickets to CigarCon in the first quarter of 2020. Consumers can purchase tickets only through one of the 2,500 PCA member retailers. There will be no online sales of tickets.
The focus of CigarCon is to provide a knowledge-based experience to consumers rather than to walk away with a stockpile of cigars like other national cigar events. Tickets will cost $400, $600, and $1,200 each and ticket holders will receive 20, 30, and 40 cigars respectively. Consumers will receive other goodies and privileges to be determined in the future. Some ideas include premium food, celebrity chef demonstrations, and alcohol pairings. Unlike the coupon-based approach of the other national events, consumers will have points loaded onto badges and can use the points to purchase cigars. Higher end cigars will cost more points than lower end cigars.
Backstory
Why the new consumer-focused event? Legal costs. The IPCPR has spent $2.6 million so far fighting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) quest to eliminate cigars from the face of the earth.
Future Plans
In 2021 and 2022, the PCA plans to sell 6,000 and 8,000 tickets to CigarCon.
The PCA is also planning to release a smartphone app to let manufacturers learn directly from consumers their take on new cigar releases.
Industry Response
The cigar industry response is varied with some manufacturers vowing to skip future PCA trade shows and others embracing the concept. Most indicate they’ll hold their opinion until the PCA releases more details about the event.
Our Take
This is amazing. The opportunity to visit the PCA trade floor to see the various booths, have an opportunity to meet cigarlebrities, and obtain new cigar releases before an official release makes this event a “must attend”! We’ll see you there next year!
For our master list of all cigar events throughout the United States, click HERE.
For a map of the United States with the ability to select events in a specific state, click HERE.
