Looking Forward to Las Vegas Summer show.
By Amear Moretall
I won’t try to kid you or candy coat the obvious… It’s hot in Vegas in the summer… and CHAMPS Trade Show is on fire. The last two CHAMPS Shows were on fire! With the highest attendance ever for both shows, you can only expect the trend to continue.
It is that time of year where all the torches are lit and the games begin. 100’s of glassblowers converge on the Las Vegas Convention Center to play in the Open qualifiers for the annual Glass Games. Every summer Matt White and his team put together an amazing set of games for the contestants to play. From skill oriented challenges to time limited piece construction, there is something for everyone.
This is definitely something you can stop and enjoy while browsing through the huge amount of Vendors the su
mmer show has to offer. Summer Vegas is usually the second largest and second most attended shows of the year. 1000’s of people flock to Vegas for a mini summer worcation (working+Vacation). Buyers find it a great time to buy some new and upcoming artists at low prices before they are famous.
Summer buying is all about getting ready for school to be back in session. If you are located near a college I always suggest you hit up the summer show and get the best deals of the year.
CHAMPS is the place where you can get everything a shop needs in one stop. From Atmos Vapes to Zippos it is all there. If your store is a glass only shop, no worries, 100’s of glass blowers will be there competing and selling glass as they try to make a name for themselves in the CHAMPS Glass Games.
If you have never attended a CHAMPS show, I can honestly say you are missing out. Everyone should attend at least one each year. The valuable networking and facetime you can get with your vendors are amazing.
For the new stores, I suggest you stay at the Tuscany Suites with the rest of the crew. Although it
is not one of the fancy glitzy hotels, it serves as CHAMPS’ home away from home. The regulars and staff have stayed here for years. The friendly staff loves when we’re
e there, they will be sure to take good care of you. Unlike the big expensive destination hotels, the
Tuscany has affordable drinks and food. If you are a drinker I suggest stopping at the big oval bar in the middle of the casino. Jennie Lee is often there serving up strong drinks smiles and an all arou
nd good time. When it’s time to hit the strip for that debaucherous night the Tuscany is just a 5 min walk from the strip.
Reserve your room early as the smoking rooms go fast! Although Nevada has passed a recreational marijuana law that goes into effect July 1st the rules are fairly stiff that you keep the smoking of it private. They also consider the DUI at 5 nanograms instead of the more common 10 nanograms per ml. So beware out there on the streets Johnny law is on the prowl.