The show, to be held in Las Vegas from April 12-14, coincides with the organization's 10th anniversary. It is the first official NATO show, and proceeds will be used to fight tobacco-related legislation, according to board president Andrew Kerstein, who also owns a chain of Smoker's Haven stores in New Jersey.
In addition to the revenue that could go [image-nocss] to the nonprofit association's legislative budget, Kerstein also outlined several other reasons strength in numbers is important in a letter to NATO retail members. "We need to show those who believed in the importance of a new NATO show and agreed to exhibit at our inaugural event that their investment was worthwhile," he said, adding that attendance numbers also would increase the viability of future shows.
Kerstein also said he would like to the room to be packed with manufacturers, wholesalers and small-business retailers like himself during a keynote speech by the director of the center for tobacco products at the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Lawrence Deyton. "We need Dr. Deyton and his staff to understand that when they make regulations they are impacting the lives of real people who are the owners of small businesses and are employers and taxpayers."
The show is free to NATO members who register prior to March 1. (Afterward, there will be a fee.) For nonmembers, the fee increases the longer they wait. As an additional incentive to register early, NATO is offering the chance to win one of eight $500 vouchers that can be used for purchase of any product exhibited at the show to the first 250 retailers who register and go to the show.
The NATO show will be held April 12-14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. For more information or to register, visitwww.NATOShow.com or call (770) 932-3263.
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