PCA
Dear PCA Member,
As you may have heard from today’s press releases, four companies announced they will not exhibit at PCA 2020. We want to assure you that the world’s biggest premium cigar and pipe show is on with over 110,000 square feet of space booked by hundreds of family-owned companies. The four companies not attending represent 12% of show space and, since the announcement, many exhibitors have reached out to PCA to secure booth space, potentially expand their footprint, or relocate to the vacated space.
The PCA 2020 show will be full, with the family-owned manufacturers who support the brick and mortar retailers and whose products fill our humidors. It is more important than ever that family-owned businesses that built this industry come together. This year, PCA 2020 will have some exciting new features to showcase new products and help retailers and exhibitors create and enhance relationships. We will be rolling out new information in the coming weeks and months on those developments.
The PCA trade show remains not only the most important business event in the premium cigar and pipe industry, but also our greatest asset in fighting back regulations on both state and federal levels. Your membership and attendance at the PCA trade show directly finances the industry’s legal challenges against the FDA. To date, along with our partners at Cigar Rights of America, we have spent a combined $4.5 million just on litigation against FDA regulatory oversight, not to mention the millions we spend every year on our legislative agenda. These efforts have benefited the entire industry.
Our biggest priority remains focused on keeping a pathway for new products to come to market. After years of fighting, we are making some incredible new head ways in achieving major regulatory relief for the industry. For any member who would like to get more involved in the PCA and in serving on a committee, please contact PCA Executive Director, Scott Pearce.
We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas this July at PCA 2020.
All the best,
PCA Board of Directors
CRA (Cigar Rights of America)
Cigar Rights of America, as a coalition of consumers, retail tobacconists and family-owned manufacturers of premium handmade cigars announced its support for the Premium Cigar Association trade show, as well as the legislative and regulatory agenda that has been forged by the two organizations.
CRA Executive Director Glynn Loope stated, “CRA has been built by the traditional family-owned companies that manufacturer premium handmade cigars, and those same companies will support the 2020 Premium Cigar Association trade show. Now, more than ever, it is important for the industry to gather with its retail partners.”
Cigar Rights of America and the Premium Cigar Association have forged a common agenda for addressing threats posed by government at all levels. “This has resulted in critical stays, delays and reversals in regulations most threatening to the industry. CRA and PCA have expended a combined $4.5 million just on litigation against FDA regulatory oversight not to mention the millions spent on the legislative agenda. This litigation has benefited the entire industry,” Loope added.
Board Chairman Robert Levin stated, “The CRA member manufacturers will be working together with our retail partners to strengthen our industry and protect premium cigar companies, and our customers, at this unique time in this industry’s history. That’s why we will be there.”