The 2025 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show floor opened on April 12. We previously reported a generally positive feeling in our recap of the convention day yesterday. This included highlights from the city and the opening day’s activities at the Trade Show. Undoubtedly, this positive atmosphere continued into Day One of the Trade Show. Mission accomplished—PCA in New Orleans is off to a fantastic start.
I have three observations on Day One. First, foot traffic seemed quite good. Foot traffic refers to the amount of traffic on the trade show floor at any time. No matter the location, there were bustling activities, and that’s a big positive. It will be interesting to see how tomorrow afternoon goes, and whether foot traffic goes down as people may be looking to get home.
My first observation was Davidoff. This was Davidoff’s first year back at the Trade Show since 2019. The company showed off three limited editions and a Zino Nicaragua line extension. At the same time, this was not an overly flashy or fancy booth. In the end, the foot traffic was there – this was one of the busier booths I encountered on Day One.
Second, there were the unveilings. There were two in particular that our team noted – Perdomo Legacy and the Fuente Fuente – S.T. Dupont OpusX Collection. Both were great moments at the show. Both captured the essence of the cigar business – namely, a family business unveiling great products. You can see a tremendous amount of emotion in both the Perdomo family with Legacy (a project Nicholas Perdomo III did for his father Nick Perdomo) and the Fuente family with the Dupoint Collaboration.
Finally, there were “activation stations,” which I believe are more focused on providing experiences rather than just selling products. While this isn’t new for the Trade Show, it was a positive observation that indicates the event’s vitality. Notably, Drew Estate showcased its Tour de Liga experience at the Trade Show. The Zino Nicaragua coffee station was present, and even a smaller company like Serafin de Cuba brought a roller to the show.
The show began on a high note, leaving our entire team feeling exhausted yet optimistic. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly positive, setting the stage for a successful event.
