58 Issue CHAMPS Show Magazine June 2024

By Bernie Boulders

Strategies for Smoke Shop and Vape Shops in the Summer Months

By CHAMPS Show Magazine Staff

By Kevin Dankman

Rolling Into Vegas Summer Show

Writing

CHAMPS

Bernie Boulders

Kevin Dankman

Photography

CHAMPS

ATLANTIC CITY ANNUAL RECAP

Bernie Boulders

Wow, the Atlantic City CHAMPS Trade Show just gets better and better every year. Heading to the Northeast is always a fun pilgrimage. The beautiful Jersey Shore, home to some amazing history, from the Miss America Pagent to the historic Wooden Boardwalk, oozes with that old-school feeling.

The show kicked off with one of the best local celebrities you could ask for, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., who came to give CHAMPS an Award and Open the show on Day one. CHAMPS was honored to have him take time out of his busy schedule to spend some time with us.

CHAMPS brings the best vendors from around the country to refill their stores after the 4:20 Holiday. CHAMPS Trade Show does its best to help them pay for some extra inventory by giving six different shops $1000 extra cash to spend. Two were chosen from the day's attendees each day.

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Zong Booth

The Mayor with Je and the Convention Center Bosses

The moment you hit the show oor

ATLANTIC CITY ANNUAL RECAP

On day one, the winners were: Remedies Smoke Shop, Ohio & Smoke Shop of Crestmark, Georgia

On day two, the winners were: Flying Arrows Smoke Shop, NY Basics & Smoke Shop, NJ

On the last and final day, Rainbow Smoke Shop in NJ and Metuchen Smoke Shop also in Nj, Won.

They weren’t the only winners. CHAMPS Glass Games sent 16 glass blowers home with some extra cash to spend. They had four exciting games going on. The first-place winner in each category will head to the Masters for a chance at the big $20,000 prize.

1. Heady Onie, SELF EXPLANATORY?

Coined in 1999, the term onie has become synonymous with one-hit pipes.

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Winners Remedies Smoke Shop

Winners Smoke Shop 420

The judges being judgy

First Place Headie Onie

ATLANTIC CITY ANNUAL RECAP

So many onies, so little time! I wanted each and every one of these. Such a cool and useful pocket piece….

The Winners Are: 3rd place, Glass Smith 2nd place, JFK 1st place ShaylaWindstar Glass

2. it’s a Jersey Thing… Create a FUNctional piece that has something to do with the state of NEW Jersey.

Jersey means something different to everyone, and that's what I took from this one!

Winners: 3rd Place Charisma 2nd Place Zam 1st Place Windstar

3. Perfect FUNction: Make whatever kind of pipe you can make - a panel of expert smokers will test it for best function. I always want to be on the secret “Panel” testing how Fun the FUNction is and, of course, getting obscenely buzzed.

The Winners: 3rd Place Glass Smith 2nd Place Amorphous Symphony 1st Place Hic Dogg

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First Place

It’s A Jersey Thing Shayla Windstar Glass

Place

A Jersey Thing Shayla Windstar Glass

Function Hic Dogg

Coyle Examining a piece for FUNction

Natey looking over the next piece he has to to hit Rocco getting to judge a piece FUNction

Second Place Heady Onie JFK

FUNction test getting started

ATLANTIC CITY ANNUAL RECAP

4. Amalgamation Station: amalgamates ten parts with ground joints that can be put together in many formations. I wanted to play with them like erector sets: what fits what and what looks so wild. What does each do? Such a fun and interactive way to make pipes into art!

The Winners: 3rd Place Sko-Eet 2nd Place

Amorphous Symphony 1st Place Takoda Madrona

The first-place winners will be at next year's Masters! They will compete for over $60,000 in Cash and prizes, with $20,000 going to the winner with all the bragging rights.

In the end, the Vendors won, too! They won the trust and admiration of all the great new customers who attended the show. This was by far the best-attended CHAMPS Atlantic City.

As always, we thank all the great people who attended CHAMPS AC.

See you next month in Chicago / Rosemont at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, June 4th—6th, 2024.

First Place

Amalgamation Station Takoda Madrona

Zig Zag Booth

Linda Biggs solo booth

SALES STRATEGIES FOR SMOKE SHOPS AND VAPE SHOPS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS

The summer months can bring unique opportunities and challenges for smoke shops and vape shops. With rising temperatures, changes in customer behavior, and potential increases in foot traffic, leveraging effective sale strategies can help businesses maximize their profits. Here, we explore several tactics specifically tailored to smoke and vape shops during the summer season.

1. Seasonal Product Highlighting

• Summer-Themed Products: Introduce products that resonate with the summer vibe. This could include flavored vape juices such as watermelon, mango, or citrus, and brightly colored smoking accessories. Highlighting portable products like travel-sized vapes and durable, waterproof cases can also appeal to the outdoor and travel enthusiasts.

• New Arrivals and Limited Editions: Launch summer-specific items or limited-edition products to create urgency and attract collectors and enthusiasts.

CHAMPS Show Magazine Staff

Photo by Sierra Alpha Juliet on Unsplash

SALES STRATEGIES FOR SMOKE SHOPS AND VAPE SHOPS

IN THE SUMMER MONTHS

2. Bundle Deals

• Mix and Match Offers: Bundle deals can attract more customers by offering value through combination offers, like "buy one, get one half off" on certain products or a discount when purchasing a vape device with extra flavors.

• Starter Kits: Offering starter kits for beginners at a discounted price can attract new vape users. These kits provide everything they need in one package, making them an excellent summer trial.

3. Marketing and Promotions

• Social Media Campaigns: Utilize social media platforms with vibrant, eye-catching posts about summer sales, new products, or in-store events. Engaging content such as polls, contests, and giveaways can keep your audience engaged.

• Email Marketing: Send out newsletters informing subscribers of special summer promotions, new inventory updates, or exclusive coupons.

• Collaborations: Partner with local businesses such as beach resorts, music venues, or cafes to crosspromote products during events or peak tourist seasons.

SALES STRATEGIES FOR SMOKE SHOPS AND VAPE SHOPS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS

4. In-Store Experience Enhancement

• Themed Decorations: Decorate your store with summer themes to create an inviting atmosphere. Think beach themes, bright colors, and fun displays.

• Chilled Environment: Ensure your store is a cool refuge from the summer heat, making it comfortable for customers to browse longer.

• In-Store Events: Host events such as new product launch parties, tasting sessions for new flavors, or workshops on product care and safety.

5. Optimize Opening Hours

• Extended Hours: Consider extending store hours, especially during peak times such as late evenings or weekends, to accommodate more customers who are out and about during the longer days.

• Morning Promotions: Early bird specials can draw customers in during morning hours, especially useful if located in tourist areas where people are active throughout the day.

Hic Dogg on the Torch

Photo by Dabsel Adams

SALES STRATEGIES

FOR SMOKE SHOPS AND VAPE SHOPS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS

6. Loyalty Programs and Customer Engagement

• Loyalty Programs: Summer is a great time to promote or revamp loyalty programs, offering points for purchases that can be redeemed for discounts or free items.

• Customer Feedback: Engage with customers to get feedback on what they are looking for during the summer

ROLLING INTO VEGAS SUMMER SHOW

By Kevin Dankman

Summer in CHAMPS World brings the secondlargest show of the year into focus. Some of the biggest product releases and celebrity endorsements happen at this show.

CHAMPS offers unbeatable convenience and value with our hotel deals. In addition to the Tuscany Suites and Casino, we now have a new block of rooms at the Vegas Sensation, Resort World. This is where many of your favorite companies' representatives will be staying. The resort features an innovative UNDERGROUND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM that takes you directly to the convention center in an all-electric Tesla. And the Day pass is a steal at only 5 dollars a day! Save time and money by avoiding the hassle of finding parking at the convention center for $10-$15 a day.

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Las Vegas Resort World

ROLLING INTO VEGAS SUMMER SHOW

Staying at Resort World, you can Indulge in a culinary adventure while attending the CHAMPS Trade Show. With over 30 dining options on the property, ranging from casual burger joints to elite steakhouses, there's something to satisfy every palate.

Don't miss out on the golden opportunity to secure the best deals for the upcoming fall and holiday seasons. Our vendors are eager and ready to get their products on your shelf, and you can always expect the best deals of the year at the CHAMPS Trade Shows summer show. This is your chance to stock up on high-quality accessories at unbeatable prices.

Experience the pinnacle of glass artistry at the Glass Games, our most prestigious open competition of the year.

Winners will head to CHAMPS Glass Games Masters for a chance at $20,000 and be Crowned Masters Champion.

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ROLLING INTO VEGAS SUMMER SHOW

Over 100 artists will be in attendance, showing their skills to everyone. Some of the best up-and-coming American glass artists will be there, eager to sell their line of glass to your store!

Sherlock’s Sherlock: Gourd Calabash fitting for Sherlock Holmes.

Hammer:

hammer must function as well as look; it will be judged on both.

Sidecar: a steamroller that won’t burn a hole in the waterbed, make a sidecar that would make Bob proud.

Chillum: ber, the fingers need to fit and make a seal…

CHAMPS GLASS GAMES

ROLLING INTO VEGAS SUMMER SHOW

Waterpipe: A pipe that includes water filtration. Any style of waterpipe, feel free to get creative.

Recycler: It’s not the new kid on the block anymore. You know what to make.

Out of the hat: Before the game begins, we will provide you with some glass and a theme pulled from a hat.

Whatever you want, Standard prep rules apply.

20 minutes time 1. Carsten Carlisle 2. Bill Burroughs - Habitat Glass

MYCOLOGY AT CHAMPS LAS VEGAS

Glass Games won’t be the most exciting thing in the room… The new Adult section is definitely trying to get everyone UP and going. This new section has been the fastest-growing part of the excitement that is the CHAMPS Trade Show, with over 10,000 square feet of adult vendors ready to take orders and increase your store's profits. With great brands like Doc Johnson and Cal Exotics.

Including our 15 yr veterans with their new brand Cock Oil. Stop by and get slippery with Greg.

This, along with our new Mycology section for all your mushy needs, is a great example of what makes CHAMPS the champs!

See you there at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada July 23rd- 26th, 2024