Media at the ipcpr show

[StogieNinja]

Can someone provide a valid explanation as to why media is allowed at the show, this is a trade show, for orders to be placed for retailers whom sell cigars and cigar related items. So why have "media" such as bloggers and print media who have zero ability to place an order at this sales convention ?

Because bloggers get samples, then review the samples. Provided the reviews are good, those reviews drive up hype, and increased hype results in increased demand. That increased demand results in more sales.That or they simply help disperse the information released at ICPCR, which lets people know in advance what is coming, allowing folks to start talking to their retailers about preorders, etc. So it makes total sense for the companies to want media presence, including bloggers.

I mean think about it - how many people go to Halfwheel for news on releases and reviews? Regardless of what you think of Halfwheel, the fact remains that they have a large audience. It's another marketing outlet for the companies to utilize.

 

[Speedbump]

Can someone provide a valid explanation as to why media is allowed at the show, this is a trade show, for orders to be placed for retailers whom sell cigars and cigar related items. So why have "media" such ad bloggers and print media who have zero ability to place an order at this sales convention ?

Because bloggers get samples, review the samples, and spread the word. Provided the reviews are good, those reviews drive up hype, and increased hype results in increased demand. That increased demand results in more sales. So it makes total sense for the companies to want media presence, including bloggers.

And just why would the reviews be impartial, as they have received free product. In a prominent blog a statement was made along the lines of when was the last time drew estate released a bad cigar. That seems like a dog who is not going to bite its owner who feeds it.

 

[sofc]

And just why would the reviews be impartial, as they have received free product. In a prominent blog a statement was made along the lines of when was the last time drew estate released a bad cigar. That seems like a dog who is not going to bite its owner who feeds it.

Isn't that why "legitimate" review sites for other products state that they purchase all that they review? I know there could still be shenanigans but at least there's less chance of someone saying they've been bought because of free product.

 

[smokemifugotem]

I have no dog in the fight but I do think that if they allow bloggers...they should allow all public and make it a one day deal. This event is for the retailers. And to be honest there has been no news released that shop owners didn't release on FB and twitter during the event that i follow. All I saw from "the press" was people bragging about super htf's that they were able to get for free during the show from some of their highest rated review companies (yup that was a dig...but true). Just my .02

 

[StogieNinja]

And just why would the reviews be impartial, as they have received free product. In a prominent blog a statement was made along the lines of when was the last time drew estate released a bad cigar. That seems like a dog who is not going to bite its owner who feeds it.

Hey, I never said the reviews were impartial, I just said they would get the word out. And that in and of itself is a valuable thing to the cigar companies. To use your analogy, if I were a cigar company, I'd rather invite the dog to a bowl of food and hope he stays on my side, rather than keep him at bay. If there's a dog around, and I know that a dog doesn't bite the hand that feeds it, well then I want to be the hand that feeds it.

Though I should point out, the one blog I'm involved with (in a small capacity) is Blind Man's Puff, and we do actual blind reviews, so in our case our reviews really will be impartial.

And to be honest there has been no news released that shop owners didn't release on FB and twitter during the event that i follow. All I saw from "the press" was people bragging about super htf's that they were able to get for free during the show from some of their highest rated review companies (yup that was a dig...but true). Just my .02

Even so, the bloggers have an audience that the retailers might not. Me, for example. I follow a couple blogs, and not a single retailer. Not because I think this person or that person is more credible, I'm a nobody in the cigar world and don't have connections or vested interest. I just find that blog content tends to be more readable and interesting to me than retail store tweets.

 

[Craig Mac]

Trust me, the Manufacturers want the bloggers/media/press there. They want their products to get as much exposure as possible. It helps them, the retailers and even the consumers, the more information that is out there the better. We live in an instant communication era and capitalizing on that is key.

And Nick, there was discussion of doing an open day for the public, an "unavailing" of products if you will, but that was shot down for this year. Having a couple bloggers and media there isn't really a big deal unless you are trying to get access to someone and they are being interviewed, but even that doesn't happen very much and most "press" understand the business at hand.

 

[MC808]

As a retailer, I get a lot of information from bloggers as I do not have the time to research every single new cigar release as much as I would like to.

 

[njstone]

IPCPR has turned into the biggest publicity event of the year for the cigar manufacturers. I'm sure it's fun for retailers as well, but I think the reason to have the media there is just for free publicity and hype.

Since I've never really had a "local shop," reading up on what happens at IPCPR is how I get a lot of my "coming soon" cigar info.

 

[ssaka]

I have always like having media and bloggers in attendance - it gives the manufacturers a way to get out the word and it gives the consumers access to far more info. IMO it is a win-win for all.

I think they should pay an annual fee to be part of the organization, one to cover the costs of managing their access and to help contribute to the legislative activities that are required. I do not have any insider knowledge as to what this costs, but I think the current rate is a little high imo, but not crazy so.

I do think in order to qualify as a media you should be active, aka publishing something new monthly if online only or at least quarterly if print only.

I do not think there should be media and new media classifications, I think media is media is media - thinking there is a difference is just ignoring the reality of the situation.

As for what media to engage and not engage with or give samples or give advertising dollars, each manufacturer can make their own determination - we are big enough boys to say yes to some and no to others.

I am sure many folks will disagree with me, but I don't care. :>

BR,

Steve
'a cigar citizen'

 

[Craig Mac]

Steve, media does have to pay membership dues just like the retailers to attend and there is a screening to make sure they are legitimate before approval.

As Reeve stated, they are paying members.

 

[ascrivner]

Just head over to stogiereview and halfwheel and take look at their coverage, bloggers do a better more complete job of covering the event than any other media. Actually to just call them bloggers is sort of demeaning, they are journalists that use blogs.