By Kevin Dankman
By Ron Kolb
By Amear Moretall
ISSUE 69 | MAY 2025
Writing
Ron Kolb
Amear Moretall
CHAMPS Show Magazine Staff
Kevin Dankman
Photography
CHAMPS Show Magazine Staff
Dabsel Adams
Design & Layout
DJ Sixxx
Publisher
CHAMPS Trade Shows
Editorial Director
Kevin Dankman
Ad Sales
Kevin Dankman
Becca / Ron Kolb
Office 818-616-7424
By Kevin Dankman
Man, peeling out of AC as the sun decides to put on a full-blown color show across the sky? That's a feeling that just hits different. It's the start of a fresh day, the electric buzz of the city is still practically humming behind you, but the open road and whatever's next? That's all ahead. Unlike the usual airline escape from Philly, leaving AC often means hitting the asphalt, and that drive gives you this cool, lingering perspective as the iconic skyline gets smaller and smaller. Plus, this time? The weather gods were totally smiling on us – clear skies and just the right temp made everything feel even better, from walking the floor to hitting those evening hangouts.
But here’s the real kicker – every single time I make that drive, heading towards Philly for the flight home, there’s that little whisper of "What did I miss?!" Did I walk right past the most insane new product drop? Skip that one random conversation that could've been a game-changer? Was there a hidden gem of an eatery I didn't find? Seriously, if you weren't plugged into the Atlantic City scene with us, you didn't just miss an event; you missed the whole entire experience!
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You know, comparing these regional shows, like the one in Atlantic City, to the colossal events in Vegas is like comparing your favorite local band's killer club gig to a stadium tour. Vegas is massive, sometimes overwhelming, all about the biggest and the loudest. But AC? That's where the real connections are forged, where the heart of the industry gets down to business. It's the spot for the independent brands, the driven entrepreneurs who load up their cars, invest a couple of packed days networking, and make things happen.
The vibe here is just… better. More relaxed, genuinely friendly. Buyers aren't just sprinting down aisles with a checklist; they're stopping, chatting, really looking at products. There's time for real conversations, not just hurried pitches.
And WOW, talking about energy –this show was absolutely buzzing! Day one foot traffic was off-the-charts incredible. You literally saw lines forming at booths for companies like Mellow Fellow, Demand Vape, and J Brands. People were genuinely stoked to see the latest innovations, and you could feel that excitement bouncing off the walls.
I kept hearing it loud and clear from the exhibitors: the buyers were in a fantastic mood and they were SPENDING! Like, enthusiastically opening their wallets and stocking up. Chatting with buyers myself confirmed it – they were aggressively acquiring inventory. Whether it's because their businesses are thriving right now or they're strategically getting ahead of potential tariffs, the focus was definitely on BUYING.
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The Glass Games had some amazing new faces with super exciting Collaboration Stations filled up, and six great artists creating pieces. Kurt B, Rose Glass Art, Rocko, Steven Baker Art, Amorphous Symphony, and Casta Glass At the end of the show the Glass Games Team wrapped up thanking all their great sponsors as well as giving away a piece valued at $500 Retail to five lucky stores.
The big Winners Were:
Medicate Yourself Shop, Green Dude Smoke Shop, So Inside. But the Atlantic City experience wasn't just confined to the convention center. The networking spilled out everywhere! The High Rollers Lounge in the evenings became the go-to spot for effortless run-ins with all your favorite industry personalities – it felt less like forced networking and more like a spontaneous, super-fun family reunion. And a huge shoutout has to go to Dom and the incredible team at Esquires in the train station – they make everyone feel so welcome, turning it into the unofficial, must-visit headquarters for catching up with industry leaders in a relaxed setting.
And the food scene? An absolute takeover by the CHAMPS Family! From grabbing a classic, comforting meal at Angelo's Fairmount Tavern to diving into the lively, can't-miss Wednesday night party vibe at Kelsey's Soul Food, you couldn't grab a bite anywhere without bumping into someone you knew and loved. The whole city just felt like our playground for a few days.
Yeah, we love Atlantic City, and you can genuinely feel that love right back. The good times, the connections, the business – it all comes together.
So, as we hit the highway, cruising towards Philadelphia for those flights home (maybe even plotting a quick, essential food stop in South Philly for a cheesesteak or some classic Italian before heading to the airport!), we're already thinking about the next gathering. Speaking of amazing regional vibes and connecting with the absolute best in the business –Chicago Land Region, listen up! We're bringing that same energy, that same opportunity, right to your doorstep. Don't miss the next chance to be part of this incredible community and discover what's new. Clear your schedule and come join the fun, the connections, and the business at our next show at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont! Seriously, you won't want to miss being part of this!
By CHAMPS Magazine Staff
Summer: for some retailers, it's a season of surging sales and bustling, while for others, it marks a noticeable slowdown. For independent smoke and vape shops, the summer months present a unique landscape of opportunities and challenges, heavily influenced by location. Whether nestled in a sun-drenched vacation hotspot, a quiet college town, or a steady rural community, shops can implement targeted strategies to ignite sales and make the most of the warmer weather.
This article explores how smoke and vape shops across different regions can leverage the summer season through tailored promotions, product spotlights, and community engagement.
Summer brings a distinct shift in consumer behavior. Vacationers are acting on their more materialistic needs for fun and excitement. Students in college towns, however, often disperse, leading to a significant dip in the local customer base. Rural areas may see a steady flow of local patrons, potentially supplemented by seasonal visitors enjoying the outdoors. Understanding these demographic shifts is the first step in crafting effective summer promotions.
Before diving into location-specific strategies, let's consider some overarching summer trends in the smoke and vape world. Lighter, fruitier, and more refreshing flavors tend to gain popularity in warmer months. Think watermelon, berries, citrus, and cool menthol or ice varieties in e-liquids and other products.
The move towards more sustainable and convenient options is also a continuing trend. Reusable vape devices and larger capacity disposables (where regulations allow) appeal to consumers looking for cost-effective and longer-lasting options for their summer adventures. Portable and durable smoking accessories, like smell-proof bags and travel-friendly pipes or water pipes, also become more desirable. CBD and Delta-8 products, often associated with relaxation and wellness, can also see increased interest as people unwind during their time off.
Smoke and vape shops in vacation areas are poised for a busy season. The key here is to capitalize on the influx of temporary residents and tourists.
Partner with local hotels, rental properties, or tourism centers to offer small discounts or coupons to visitors. This can be as simple as a "Welcome to [Town Name]Show Your Room Key for 10% Off" offer.
Bundle
Create convenient travel bundles featuring popular disposable vapes, pre-rolled cones, lighters, and perhaps a small, discreet storage solution. Market these as "Beach Ready," "Hiking Essentials," or "Vacation Vibes" packs.
If you carry products from local glassblowers or regional e-liquid manufacturers, prominently feature them. Tourists often look for unique souvenirs and local experiences.
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Extended Hours: Consider extending your operating hours to accommodate the varied schedules of vacationers.
"Forgot Something?" Essentials: Stock up on often-forgotten items like phone chargers, sunscreen, and basic snacks, positioning your shop as a convenient stop for more than just smoke and vape products.
Social Media Geo-Targeting: Utilize social media advertising to target individuals who are currently in or planning to visit your location. Highlight your summer specials and convenient location.
When the students leave, college towns can feel significantly quieter. However, there's still a local population, and often summer students or temporary residents. The strategy here is to engage the remaining community and potentially attract those passing through.
Local Appreciation Discounts: Offer special discounts to year-round residents, emphasizing your commitment to the local community.
Summer Student Specials: If there's a summer session at the local college, target these students with specific deals on budget-friendly options or study-break essentials.
Host Events (Where Permitted): Organize events like "Game Night" or "Open Mic" nights, creating a reason for locals to gather at your shop. Ensure compliance with all local regulations regarding such events and on-site consumption.
Loyalty Program Push: Encourage sign-ups for your loyalty program, rewarding repeat customers and building a base for when the regular student population returns. Offer bonus points or a special summer reward for signing up.
Partner with Local Businesses: Collaborate with other businesses that see an uptick in summer, like local pools, parks, or summer camps (for adult-oriented promotions, of course, like a "Cool Down Combo" with a nearby ice cream shop, focusing on complementary, legal products).
Inventory Adjustment: Adjust your inventory to cater to the tastes of the remaining local population, which may differ from the student demographic. Rural smoke and vape shops often benefit from a consistent local customer base. Summer might bring a few extra visitors, but the focus remains on serving the community.
Community-Focused Promotions: Tie promotions into local summer events like fairs, farmers' markets, or town festivals. Offer a discount with a ticket stub from a local event.
Bulk Buy Discounts: Rural customers may appreciate the opportunity to stock up. Offer discounts on larger purchases of popular items.
While vacation areas can push trendy new items, a rural market might respond better to a slower introduction of new products, perhaps with sample opportunities or trial sizes.
Highlight Practical Accessories: Focus on durable, practical accessories suited for outdoor activities common in rural areas, like sturdy cases, reliable lighters, and easy-to-clean pieces.
Personalized Recommendations: Leverage your relationship with your regular customers by offer ing personalized recommendations based on their preferences. Summer can be a good time to intro duce them to slightly different flavor profiles or product types they might enjoy in the warmer weather.
Local Heroes Discount: Consider a standing discount for local service members, first respond ers, or agricultural workers who are often the back bone of rural communities.
Regardless of your location, a few key strategies can help spark summer sales: Refresh Your Inventory: Bring in new, seasonal products and consider limited-edition summer offerings.
Seasonal Merchandising: Decorate your shop with a summer theme to create a fun and inviting atmosphere. Train Your Staff: Ensure your staff is knowledgeable about summer trends and promotions and can make informed recommendations.
Utilize Social Media: Post regularly about your summer promotions, new products, and events. Use engaging visuals and relevant hashtags. Remember to adhere to all platform-specific advertising regulations for vape and smoke products.
Email Marketing: If you have a customer email list, send out newsletters detailing your summer specials and events. Run Contests and Giveaways: Social media contests or in-store raffles can generate excitement and encourage visits. Prizes could include summer-themed bundles or popular new products.
Monitor Sales Data: Track which promotions are performing best and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Summer offers a unique opportunity for retail smoke and vape shops to connect with customers and boost sales. By understanding the nuances of their location and tailoring their approach, shops in vacation areas can capitalize on tourist traffic, those in college towns can engage the remaining local community, and rural shops can continue to serve their loyal patrons while perhaps attracting some seasonal visitors. By focusing on relevant products, engaging promotions, and smart marketing, smoke and vape shops can truly spark their sales and enjoy a successful summer season.
"Ask and keep certificates of analysis for any product that contain cannabinoids," advises retail compliance expert Tara Washington. "And don't just stash them away—really examine them to verify products comply with your state's unique criteria."
3. Employ complete age verification.
With growing emphasis on youth access, paying for robust ID verification systems is no longer a choice. One recent survey of enforce-
ment action taken against smoke shops indicated that 73% of fines were age verification failures, either direct sales to youth or inadequate checking procedures.
4. Foster relationships with local authorities.
Active communication with local regulators and law enforcement can offer very important information about forthcoming developments and assist in the avoidance of gray areas.
"I take care to visit city council meetings at which smoke shop regulation may be debated," says Dave Miller, a smoke shop operator in Michigan."Being there and being professional has allowed me to prepare for changes and adjust prior to them being implemented."
5. Educate employees comprehensively and extensively.
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Employee education is gener ally the weakest link of a com pliance program. Repeated and ongoing training on age verification, product informa tion, and legal constraints builds up a first line of defense against transgres sions. Preparing for the Unex pected with that degree of uncertain ty surrounding the regula tions, astute shop owners are also instituting contingency planning:
"We've started diversifying our stock from the most legal ly vulnerable products," says Susan Taylor, owner of three smoke shops in the South west. "We've also made stron ger relationships with our bankers and insurers so we're protected if regulatory change disrupts our business model."
Other retailers are doing formal risk analyses for different product categories, weighing each on the basis of:
• Current legality
• Probability of regulatory change
• Financial impact if banned
• Other product choices
Attaining the Balance Despite these drawbacks, industry watchers note that careful compliance can be a source of competitive edge, rather than
Consumers appreciate knowing they're shopping from a legitimate, compliant retailer. The retailers that are performing well in the long term are those welcoming compliance into their brand image, not just a box to check.
For the smoke shop entrepreneurs willing to put in the money to get ahead of the regulation curves, there is more at stake than staying out of hot water—it means establishing a longer-term, trust-based business within an industry where trust is
With the industry further maturing, the gap between professionally run, compliance-based retailers and the do-it-yourselfers who shortcut is only set to increase— only the former are going to survive the next round of regulation change.
By Amear Moretall
Las Vegas in the summertime. The very phrase conjures images of shimmering heat, vibrant energy, and poolside relaxation. But for industry professionals, it signifies something equally exciting: the summer edition of the CHAMPS Trade Show. And if you've ever wondered, "Why twice a year?", you're not alone. It's a question we hear frequently, and the answer is simple yet crucial to the show's unique success and vibrant atmosphere.
The reason for hosting CHAMPS twice annually is all about accessibility and timing for our diverse attendees. Businesses in sun-drenched vacation spots and bustling ski towns often hit their peak seasons during the winter months, making attendance at a Winter show challenging. Conversely, shops located in summer hot spots and seasonal areas find themselves swamped when the weather turns warm. By offering a summer show, CHAMPS ensures that these vital segments of the industry have a dedicated opportunity to connect, source products, and stay ahead of market trends without sacrificing their busiest periods.
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This strategic timing results in a dynamic mix of attendees; in fact, only about 20% of participants attend both shows each year. This keeps the exhibitor and buyer landscape fresh and offers a distinct experience each season. The vibe? It's simply amazing – a buzzing hub of innovation, networking, and deal-making under the bright Vegas sky.
Las Vegas itself transforms in the summer. While the temperatures outside climb, the city embraces the heat with open arms (and world-class air conditioning!). The famous pools are in full swing, offering a refreshing escape after a day on the show floor, and the entertainment scene is always at its peak. That summer heat also plays a role in keeping hotel rates more accessible than during prime convention season, offering a welcome benefit to travelers. And truly, once you step indoors in Vegas, the AC is so efficient you might even find yourself reaching for a light jacket or, dare we say, a hoodie!
If you're planning your summer trip and wondering where to stay, CHAMPS has secured two fantastic hotel deals for attendees: Resort World and The Tuscany Suites and Casino. Both offer convenience and value, making your stay as comfortable and affordable as possible.
First, consider the Tuscany Suites & Casino. Available from July 20th to 28th, 2025, room rates start at an attractive $89 per night, with Friday and Saturday nights at $209. A major perk here is that there is no resort fee! Plus, the Tuscany offers a convenient shuttle service directly to the Convention Center, taking the hassle out of your daily commute to the show.
Alternatively, Resorts World is another excellent option, with rooms starting from $85 per night from July 20th to 27th, 2025. Friday and Saturday rates are $215 per night. While there is a resort fee of $46 per night, Resorts World offers easy access to the Convention Center via the Tesloop for just $5 for an all-day pass. Act fast though – the special deal rate at Resorts World ends on June 20th!
A crucial note on booking: CHAMPS will never contact you through a third party to solicit hotel rooms. Always book directly through the links provided on the official CHAMPS website to ensure you receive the negotiated rates and to avoid scams. CHAMPS employees will only ever direct you to these legitimate booking channels.
Now, let's talk about a section of the show floor that is always hot, regardless of the season: The All-American Glass Section! This summer, prepare for an unprecedented showcase of talent and creativity as they feature a Master's Qualifier like never before.
The CHAMPS Glass Games will host the First Ever Mini Masters! This exciting competition gives artists 7 hours to complete a complex entry based on a specific theme (get ready for an exciting challenge!). Expanding your Concesness! Following two full days of intensive "Mini Masters" work, the focus shifts to a "CBS Dichro Day" Competition. Using premium Dichro materials supplied by CBS, artists will again have 7 hours to craft a stunning, dichro-focused piece, which will be judged on the subsequent day.
The stakes are incredibly high! The top 7 entries from the "Mini Masters," as well as the single top piece from "Dichro Day," won't just win CA$H and Prizes – they will earn a coveted SPOT in the 2026 CHAMPS Masters Final! With only 8 places available through this qualifier, the competition promises to be absolutely fierce and a must-watch for any glass enthusiast. If you're an artist ready to throw your hat in the ring and showcase your skills, you can apply for the upcoming Summer Games by filling out the Glass Form linked on our website.
Beyond the structured competitions and dedicated sections, what else can you expect at CHAMPS Vegas in the summer? As is typical with any Vegas show, you never quite know who might appear! The city is a magnet for celebrities and industry figures, and it's not uncommon for notable personalities to simply "pop up" on the show floor, adding an extra layer of excitement and potential networking opportunities.
The other new and exciting action will be in the back of the first floor, where the all-new Culture Retailers & Board-
sports show will be going on. This great addition is a growing new section dedicated to the skateboarding industry and action sports. With Industry stars like Danny Way, Dave Duncan, and Stevie Williams on the team, you can guarantee the skateboarding competitions will be fierce!
Stores and Vendors can enter their best sponsored rider for a chance to win part of the $40,000 in prize money!
However, here's what you can always count on: Deals, Deals, Deals! Summer is historically a prime buying season, and vendors consistently bring their best offers to the show. You can arrive confident that you'll find unparalleled value from all the best suppliers in the industry. Depending on how the current economic and administrative landscape evolves, this summer could very well present some of the best buying.
When the day is over on the show floor and it’s time to grub, the CHAMPS Show Magazine team has a few recommendations you might enjoy, ranging from trendy to classic:
Sparrow + Wolf: This modern American spot is a delight and an experience! “It is all good” Sean Dietrich. [https://sparrowandwolflv.com/menu/]
The Lakes Lounge: This off-the-beaten-track spot has great prices and amazing food, it is definitely worth the 20-minute ride. [https://www.thelakeslounge.com/menu/]
Mulberry Street Pizzeria (at Resorts World): If NY Style Pizza is your thing, this spot at Resorts World is a great pie! [https://www.rwlasvegas.com/dining/mulberry/]
Tacos El Gordo: If you haven’t been… GO! This is a very popular choice for CHAMPS attendees [http://tacos elgordobc.com/]
Blueberry Hill: Breakfast all day and some of the best diner food around. [https://www.blueberryhillrestaurants.com/]
So, mark your calendars for July 23-26th, 2025. Whether you're a retailer looking for the best deals, an artist ready to compete, or simply seeking to connect with the industry's best, CHAMPS Las Vegas in the summer offers a unique and valuable experience. Don't let the heat deter you – the real energy and opportunity are waiting for you inside!
Sparrow + Wolf
