The king of all tobacco industry events, the annual RTDA Trade Show is fast approaching. If you haven't made plans to attend, you might want to do a little mental inventory and assess your reasons for skipping this important resource.

Investing in one's business takes all different forms: Physical premises, inventory, promotion, staffing. But for an industry as maligned and under assault as tobacco, too few tobacco retailers participate in another crucial investment - namely defending our right to sell legal tobacco products to adults.

One day before the RTDA Trade Show merchandise hall opens for tobacco buyers, the trade association is sponsoring two seminars. One will be led by Norm Sharp, who serves as the president of both the Cigar Association of America as well as the Pipe and Tobacco Council. Sharp is intimately involved in many of the industry's skirmishes with the Federal and state governments over regulations, restrictions, and legislation that affect the very core of our business. While Sharp can speak knowledgeably about nearly any trend in the industry today, he's also a tremendous resource for information on how to defending tobacco retailing and marketing.

The second seminar is essentially an open floor workshop, which will be moderated by two prominent tobacco retailers who serve as RTDA officials: Ralph Rumbo and David Berkebile. This is a prime opportunity to learn how other retailers are handling many of the same challenges you may be facing in the operation of your retail store. Whether you elect to pose questions or merely observe the discussion, this a key opportunity to share knowledge.

Consider some of the recent happenings at the industry's second-largest annual event, the International Tobacco Expo, held each April in Las Vegas, which may inspire you to take a greater role in the RTDA offerings. This year saw the formation of a new trade association to serve the show's primary constituent, tobacco outlets. The National Association of Tobacco Outlets, or "NATO," is the answer to what its forming members describe as the need to monitor retail issues affecting tobacco stores. The military allusion is fitting: The group will seek to defend the rights of tobacco outlets and their customers, and the right to promote tobacco products in adult stores. Tom Briant, the executive director of NATO, says he intends to form a grassroots lobbying network to answer legislative threats to tobacco retailing at levels of government.

Will NATO's activities serve many of the same interests affecting tobacconists in addition to tobacco outlets? Likely so, which of course is a benefit to the entire tobacco retail community, a subject we'll investigate in future issues.

Yes, travel can be expensive, and for many retailers leaving the shop can be a problem, but presuming you're able to schedule the time away, consider the cost of attending the RTDA show an investment in your business's future, not a drain on your budget. Take advantage of all the event and the association has to offer. And if you'd like either one to help more in your survival and success as a tobacco retailer, let them know what you'd like to see as a member.

We look forward to seeing you in Tampa - a fitting venue for cigar conventioneers given the city's rich history in cigar manufacturing.

E. Edward Hoyt III
Editor