Issue 31 March 2022 Champs Show Magazine

ISSUE 31 - MARCH 2022

Next Shows:

Atlantic City

(May 3-5th 2022)

Chicago

PONSORED ER S BY V : CO

(June 7-9th 2022)

Inside:

Winter Vegas Returns!

(A Look Back)

Pregame Your 4/20

Guest Column: Sean Dietrich

(Using Art As A Tool For Success)

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Content Winter Vegas Returns!

By Amear Mortal

Using Art As A Tool For Success

By Sean Dietrich

420 Pregame For Success

By Bernie Boulders

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ISSUE 31 MARCH 2022

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CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

Advertiser Index 6

1836 KRATOM 31 ABR 38 AFG 16-17, 53 ALTERNATIVE HEALTH 73 B2B CANNABIZ WHOLESALER 81 BDD WHOLESALE 32, 77 BEAR QUARTZ 71 BENTFISH TRADING 29 BLAZER 59 CHAMPS 12, 78-79, 88, 93, 110-111 CHOICE INSIDE FRONT COVER SPREAD DELTA BOSS 34-35 EARTH KRATOM 60 EDITH ROSE 108-109 ELITE GAS 100-101 EMPIRE GLASSWORKS 90 EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORS 105 FLUX 106 GOURMET INNOVATIONS 95 GREENLANE 36, 74, 76, 84, 86 GREEN LEAF 102 HERBAL SALVATION 21 HOMETOWN HERO 39 HONEY 89 HOSS GLASS 96-97 ICONIC DOHKA 75 KASHMIR 67 KR8TOM 42-43 KRATOMADE 64-65 KRATOM KAPS 41 KRAKEN KRATOM 55 MEGA 27 MIAMI DISTRO 103 MT BRANDS 13 MY BUD VASE 40 OMNI VAPES 22-23, 61 OPMS KRATOM 62-63 PARTYNUTS 48-49 PIECE WATER 25 POWERHITTER 51 PURE HEMP SMOKING PAPERS 56-57 PURO CANNAGARS 91 REPUBLIC BRANDS 10-11 ROKIN VAPES 26 RYOT INSIDE BACK COVER SPREAD, BACK COVER SEAN DIETRICH 37 SMOKE HOUSE 02-03, 5, 68-69 SMOKE ODOR 92 SMOKEZILLA 98 SOL TRADING 85, 87 SPRAY420 104 STR8 BRAND 5 SUNSHINE JOY 99 SWAG 44-45 SWEATLEAF 90 TORO IMPORTS 50 VAPOR TECH 28, 58 VOODOO 94 WAKIT 46 WORLD OF LOTUS 47 ZIG ZAG 18-19 ZION HERBAL 8-9

CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

Contacts

ISSUE 31 MARCH 2022

Publisher

CHAMPS Trade Shows

Editorial Director

Kevin Dankman

Ad Sales:

Kevin Dankman Office 818-616-7424

Credits Writing:

Bernie Boulders Sean Dietrich Amear Mortal

Photography: Sly Vegas

Cover Art: Sean Dietrich

Design & Layout: Sixxx

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NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

By Amear Mortal Photos by Sly Vegas

New is going to be the big word for this show. First New Hall, New Realty, New Products, New People, New Winners, and a New Masters Champion!

The number of new things you saw at CHAMPS Trade Shows Las Vegas 2022 is almost overwhelming.

Even walking into a new empty hall before all the vendors started building had a fresh feeling.

CHAMPS 2022 winter show was going to be an epic event. The sheer massiveness of the hall was the first indicator. As the Las Vegas Expo crew began building booths, it was incredible, like a symphony.

Huge booths and signs hanging everywhere. The aisle signs had a new product and newcomer to the scene Kratomade! What a great-tasting product with fantastic effectiveness.

Continues On Page 20

Open Day crowds 14

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Mando showed up seeking a bounty for BobaFett

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Josh Kessleman at the Raw booth

Hillside Glass booth 20

NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

CHAMPS Crew | Xzibit | Xvape | Napalm

...CONTINUED It is exciting to see the floor grow in front of your eyes, but the real pre-show rush comes on vendor set up day. Friends, family, and new faces flood the registration area to get their badges and get to work.

This is when vendors work the hardest. As a veteran of the booth setup and breakdown scene, I can tell you from experience it is a day you don't want things to go wrong.

On day one, the big crowds showed up, Buyers, Buyers, more Buyers…

Celebrities, Media personalities, and even a friendly emotional support dog or two rolled in.

CHAMPS Registration crew was on point. It was one of the smoothest buyer lines we have ever witnessed.

Smiling faces were passing through in record time. Changes like the self-service lines worked for the CHAMPS Staff; they shined bright that morning.

Inside was a whole new world, and the floor had come to life.

Music, lights, colors, and colorful characters all came to life.

I often refer to it as the traveling carnival experience that is CHAMPS. My first destination, Glass Games, was time to check on Hugh and Victoria; they had assembled 35+ glassblowers, all vying to take home the grand prize of over $10000 in Cash and Prizes. They had glassblowers from all over blowing glass with crowds gathered to watch.

The following new thing to check out… CHAMPS Lounge! Sponsors Continues On Page 24 CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

...CONTINUED

NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

$1000 Winners Group Shot

surrounded it from every part of the industry. I admit it isn't new; I already knew you knew it was there. But many of our new buyers and visitors don't yet know about the great place to take the weight off and put your feet up for a minute.

Maybe play a game, have an adult beverage, or eat some food and network as most I see there.

$1000 Winner - Shawn - Puffmonkey

$5000 Winner - Omar - Wicked Smoke

$1000 Winner - Suleman Kmaluddin - Five Star Smoke Shop

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It was a long walk, but I made it all the way to the back. It was very busy back here. I found some of the newest and most innovative products back here, including the Wak-it Grinder and cone filler.

The floor was filled with amazing booths and vendors from front to back. Exclusive Distributors was in full crush mode as their booth was jam-packed. It was unbelievable.

Every booth I stopped to visit was packed, Beamer, Windship, Herbal Salvation, Flux Smoke, Zig-Zag, X-Vape, Republic Brands. I would have to name every booth to tell you who was busy.

This year CHAMPS Trade Shows gave $1000 to a lucky buyer every day. On the first day, the winner was Suleman Kamaluddin Five Star Smoke Shop from Dallas, Texas. The second day's Winner was Omar of Wicked Smoke Shop Campbell, CA. On day three, the Winner was Esho Odisho at Yolo Smoke Shop Phoenix, AZ. On day 4th day, Shawn, from Puffmonkey Smoke in Arlington, TX. A second drawing to crown the big Winner took place on Day Four. Omar from Wicked Smoke Shop won another $4000! They were super happy and promptly went and spent it with vendors on the show floor.

Continues On Page 30 CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

Wildberry booth

Buddy booth 30

NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

SmokeTokes booth

...CONTINUED The first three days were filled with such great energy that day four had to be one for the record books. That was definite; CHAMPS Trade Shows Glass Games had record voting and attendance. Buyers, Vendors, and even the staff had a renewed interest.

The 39 Masters Competitors: Armor Glass Noah Durin Glass Shuhbuh Glass Moose and Fire Glass Hensley Art Glass Plug a Nug Indigenious Glass Nathan Belmont Windstar Glass Slims Glass Solfire Glass Jonny Carrcass Smitty Glass Art The Wisco Kid Kimmo Glass Kaleb Folck Glass Habitat Glass HicDogg Fourwinds Flameworks Sir Pyro Glass Tony Kazy Glass Clayball Glass Amorphous Symphony Sko Eet Glass Ford 20 Glass Gus Glass Aaron U Glass Natrix Glass Shoeless Glass Zombie Neil Glass Puntington Casta Glass Original Topher Ryedeyer Glass Jes Durfee CMartin Glass Fire Fox Glass Dellaluna Glass Thriving Lotus Continues On Page 33 CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

Vaporite and Puro booth.

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NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

Gourmet Innovations booth

...CONTINUED All brought their A-game. Artists worked hard over two days of live glassblowing and one day of coldwork and display time to prepare for judging. Finally, Celebrity judges, the Public, and Artists got to vote and choose who would join the other previous Master's Winners in the Hall of Flame.

The voting was the closest ever. It came down to a 3-point differential between 1st and 5th place. Because it was so close, tie-breaking sessions of judging had to occur. The Judges examined each piece for ten different elements. This year's celebrity Judges were: Libby from Northstar Glass and Artists N8 Miers and Rob Morrison. Combined, there is a lot of knowledge on both sides of the glass, from manufacturing it to using it to create unique works of art.

This was a group you had to really impress to win.

After a short and heartfelt speech by the Shows Founder Jeff Hirschfeld, the mic was let loose to a new MC. This year's MC was a first-time experience for everyone. Kevin Dankman took over the reins on the mic and put on one hell of a performance for the crowd. The energy was high, and it looked as if everyone was having fun.

Continues On Page 52 Kik KaliBloom booth

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Ad Sales:

Kevin Dankman Office 818-616-7424

Winter Las Vegas Master 1st Place - Nathan Belmont

3rd Place Casta Glass

...CONTINUED

NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

Artist Choice Nathan Belmont

Let's get to the winners!

I am starting with the People’s Choice — this vote stamps the buyers' approval on the artist for sure.

Windstar Glass Shayla

1st Place Nathan Belmont

Next, let's get into the Artist Choice, which is definitely a tough category.

Your peers can be brutal!

Nathan Belmont

4th Place Windstar Glass

2nd Place Shubuh

Jeff and Dankman starting the awards

Glass Artist Group Shot MC Dankman

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Continues On Page 54 1st Place Nathan Belmont

5th Place Habitat Glass

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8th Place - Solfire Glass

...CONTINUED

NEW LIFE FOR WINTER VEGAS

6th Place - Kaleb Folck Glass

8th- Solfire Glass 7th- Aaron U Glass 6th- Kaleb Folck Glass 5th- Habitat Glass 4th- Windstar Glass Double Dipped with a Peoples Choice win.

3rd- Casta Glass 2nd- Shubuh 1st- Nathan Belmont Double dipped!

Winning both Artist Choice and The Masters It was a touching Moment When Dankman announced the Winner. Smiles, hugs, and tears of joy followed. You could see in how he reacted; it meant the world to him.

Holding back his tears, Nathan graciously accepted his award. $10,000 and a prize bag worth thousands more and a full year to be The Master’s CHAMP!

7th Place Aaron U Piece

As always, the Glass Games Awards ended the show with a bang. The Next Master competition starts at our Next Show in Atlantic City! May 3-5th 2022.

Judges

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Cannabis Now booth

Flux Smoke booth

CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

IS YOUR SHOP THE SHIT?

By Sean Dietrich, owner Dietrich LLC/Sean Dietrich Art

I spend a good amount of my year traveling the country, selling my artwork at major rock festivals, and making stops into smoke shops that carry the products that are graced with my art. I've seen quite a few shops, and all are different, but some embrace the uniqueness and quirkiness of being a smoke shop, and others.... well... don't.

Some shops blossomed... their doors opening like a temple gateway, allowing visitors to step in and grab a pack of one of the sixty million rolling papers available, as well as experiencing a gallery of the finest in glassblowing and offering accessories with fantastic art.

But, unfortunately, some shops remind us of a strange substance in a horror movie bubbling up from the sewer or the lost screams in an alleyway and are the ones that NEVER have the papers you want, just the empty box staring at you every time you walk in.

Some shops have fantastic customer service, and ones with their inventory overflowing from the back room in corners, the boxes reminiscent of homeless people gathered around a barrel fire. Some shops take their entire parking lots and erect stages and booths for 420, bringing in vendors, bands, comedians, and more to show their customers a good time. Other shops greet you with handmade Post-It note signs to signal clearance bins, and their glass cases are shoved so full of random pipes it conjured up images of cattle at the Chicago stockyards a hundred years ago.

So is your shop one where customers get badass service and recommendations, or are your customers walking around Continues On Page 70

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IS YOUR SHOP THE SHIT?

...CONTINUED endlessly like Adrian Brody looking for anything to open that damn pickle can in 'The Pianist'?

The examples I've given are obviously extremes covering both ends of the spectrum, but what if you're in the middle? What if you're a shop that just needs a bit of refreshing to spice up your marketing, or you want to bring a bit more creativity to the shop but aren't sure how. Well, you're in the majority, so don't feel as if you have to throw hundreds of thousands of dollars into marketing or PR just to get the shop to do better; it's about making your smoke shop stand out by engaging in what the customers want — attention and recommendation.

--Make sure displays promote what's fun and unique. If you have some new stuff, promote it as such!

Just throwing things in a case and then wondering why it didn't sell doesn't mean the product was garbage; it just means it didn't have its time in the sun. Having each product organized by the company also works well — I've seen some display cases that look like their grinders started a mosh pit in the case, and you have no idea who produced what or what the differences are.

--Having a featured item section or showcasing those companies that offer more unique POP and display options is one thing I would love to see spawn creating more competition between companies.

The benefit would be much better swag for your customers, for example, or better posters to hang Continues On Page 72

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IS YOUR SHOP THE SHIT?

...CONTINUED on your walls. Just because it's a smoke shop doesn't mean all walls need to be covered with boring product photos.

Ask Vendors for better promo material since they ask that you carry their product.

My studio has a mural program, for instance, whereby a store can pay to have me paint a mural on the shop wall, and in exchange, the store gets a percentage of the cost back in product to sell. This way, they can recoup some of their cost, get access to all of the products the studio produces (not just what's in stock at a distributor), and I work with them on material for social media, promo, etc. I can also sign products for people who stop by and offer custom items for their shop only. This way, I'm able to help curate the artistic nature of the shop in person and deliver way more than just run-of-the-mill cheap posters, etc.

--If something is hot, make sure to reorder. I can't tell you how many times we call shops up, and they say, "OMG, your grinders sold out in just a few days from when we received them!". And that was 3 months ago. So now we make great efforts to follow up with shops to maintain that relationship and see how the products are doing. Still, sometimes it can take months to get the buyer on the phone or find out that our stuff sold out in record time, so make sure to put in the effort to keep the hot stuff in stock.

--Let the employees guide you on trends, what the customers are looking for, and things they may Continues On Page 80

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IS YOUR SHOP THE SHIT?

...CONTINUED have sourced from friends, etc. They are with the customers the most, so let them have fun. For example, a smoke shop in Kentucky made the most incredible display of my products just before a visit I made to the shop; they sold all of that product that was on display in record time. This shop also features a black light room, a Chaotic Hyena, a Fraggle, chalkboards to draw on in the bathrooms, and an all-knowing and awesome as hell staff. The space will soon feature a 50ft mural indeed done by yours truly. This shop's efforts show why they are immensely successful and known far and wide.

--Try to find out about, and support, artists that are creating original glass, art, and products. One of the more critical aspects that hit my business is the art side of the products available to smoke shops.

First, there are the apparent bootleg pop culture products that open up shops to lawsuits, and then there's the fine art side of things, including accessories and glassblowing, made by artists who take their 80

careers seriously and want to create the best for the shops. Where shops, and artists, for that matter, fall short is promoting the artist and the stories behind their art. Like a liquor company that tells the tale of how Grandpappy started distilling in the woods and grew that to the company now called XYZ Uber Whiskey, the story behind the art or craftsperson is just more ammunition to help sell the products. For my products, I offer backstories on my website, a folder with custom images that we shot in-house for the shops to use, and I'm at the store's request if they want to do an interview or talk about the products for social media. This is what it means to really back an artist producing exceptional products and utilize what they offer as additional content.

Remember, just because a company slaps some art on their product doesn't make it an 'artist series'; you have to actually promote and stand behind the artist. You have to make it a part of your marketing and work with the artist. Otherwise, it's just lipstick on a pig.

In the end, it all really comes down to knowing what resources are available to you and how much energy you're willing to put in, as well as how much you delegate to your employees.

The more fun you make it, the more engaging it is for the customer (even if it's just FINALLY filling that empty box of papers!), the more your store will be known for being a fantastic spot to hang. Consumers will know that if they want to get the answers or recommendations they seek, you're the store they want to go to, not the other one down the street. Cheers!

CHAMPS SHOW MAGAZINE

420 PREGAME FOR SUCCESS

By Bernie Boulders

I know it is only March but next month is our month. April holds our most crucial industry Holiday, 420.

Many stores equate 420 to the big box stores holiday Black Friday.

Planning for this holiday should have already started while you were at CHAMPS Trade Show in February.

I am sure many of you ordered planning on 420 sales.

Not everyone goes to the show or has the capital to stretch out over that many months. So many stores will be ordering this month to have stuff in stock for 4/20. That is the single most important thing, having inventory in time and on hand for your big day.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

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Photo by Grav on Unsplash

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Ad Sales

Kevin Dankman Office 818-616-7424

420 PREGAME FOR SUCCESS

...CONTINUED An advantage of ordering now is you have some time to convince your vendors to throw in some free merch to give away.

Your vendors always have something on hand to give away this time of year. They know as well as you do that getting your name in the consumer's hands is one of the most important marketing tools at their disposal.

SWAG… I know, I know.

It is weird how the name for the worst weed that's ever been available now shares the name with something we perceive to be valued and desired. Everyone wants a swag bag… no one wants a bag of schwag.

Another thing you should be working on is sales and event planning.

I say this every year, don't marry your inventory! Shelf and Storage space is valuable. If you have a stagnant product, mark it down and send it to a forever home or give it away as gifts on 420. Then, you can write off these items on your taxes.

If you are having a sale, start marketing it NOW! Print out some signs that invite the regulars to come and take advantage of your store's epic deals. Post on your social media and send emails to your buyer's clubs. Get the word out! Train your staff to tell every person that enters about your 420 appreciation sale or event.

Photo by Jeff W on Unsplash

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420 PREGAME FOR SUCCESS

...CONTINUED Once you have your sales and clearance items planned, be sure to plan a successful event if you have one. Cover the basics. Food, Drink, Entertainment, seating, decorations, and restrooms/ porta-potties.

My biggest tip for this is also one I have shared before. Collaborate with local community businesses to offer some of these. Food? Find a local or a customer in food service.

Both companies can market and benefit from exposure to new clients. Hit up your favorite local brewery or distillery to offer craft beverages from the area. Find some popular local glass blowers or musicians that would also like to share in marketing your event.

Be proactive; don't wait till the last minute. Even if you only take care of a couple of tasks a day, you can be way ahead when 420 gets here.

CHAMPS Show Magazine and CHAMPS Trade Shows wish you the best during the 420 holiday season!

Photo by Roman Arkhipov on Unsplash

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Photo by Meritt Thomas Photo by Roman Arkhipov on Unsplash on Unsplash

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