Who's attending the World Tea Expo in vegas?
We will be attending this year too! We have gone for the last 3 years and were able to attend the Atlanta Expo. We enjoy the Expo in Vegas. The classes are useful and just seeing and tasting the various teas and products is amazing. Take your time and circle the floor first then go back and focus on the booths you are really interested in. It can be quite overwhelming but very worthwhile!
Bummed that this is expo is only for businesses. If not, please let me know! Would be the BEST way to explore new teas and learn more about the inner workings of the tea industry.
If you attend the New Business Bootcamp, which runs for 2 days before the expo, you get an exhibit hall pass :)
It seems everybody can attend. They don’t charge anything for retailers. I suppose there is no charge for consumers either, and only charge wholesalers and manufacturers. Or did I misunderstand the registration rules?
The expo is definitely industry only (“open to members of the trade & press only”), but from what I understand those who aren’t a retailer/wholesaler/merchant/etc can still register for the NBBC?
I agree with Teaser tht you should take your time the first go around, smooze with all the vendors…they love it….to find out their specialties, ask lots of questions. Be sure to take a sample if it is offered, BUT do not assume that everything out there is for sampling and to be taken, as sometimes it is not. Nothing worse than having a passerby ‘remove’ your last sample or box of something that you are promoting, but now cannot show to potential customers. The last day of the show, vendors are usually quite eager to give up more samples as then they will not have to lug them back to home base, wherever that may be….sometimes overseas.
There will be both hot and iced tea taste-offs in a corner of the showroom floor with chairs for spectators. During the tasting competition the general public will NOT be asked to sample, but afterwards there are often tasting samples, especially of the winners products. (the tasting and judging is done by tea masters)
Aside from the classes that you pay for, they also have lectures in this same area and are often quite informative ranging from proper use of various equipment to type of oolongs, pu-ers or other teas.
Above all, be polite, as there are always new vendors, some of whom have never shown in the US and are just as perplexed as you may be. They are not always up to speed on our sometimes brusk manner whirling thru a show. I have sat in several tea company boardrooms in China where they leisurely share several pots of tea with potential customers. Even in the smaller tea stores, where they are selling retail, they have a large tea table and you are invited to sit and sample 5, 6 or more teas before making your selections. They make each selection freshly for you as well.
Also, if you are a serious buyer…or semi-serious, but on a budget, ask what the minimum is at a booth that interests you. It may be beyond the quantity you desire, but again sometimes it may be surprisingly lower than anticipated and they may mix types for you….depends upon the broker/owner.
What do other small tea merchants think about the tea championship contest? I’ve just learned from the Expo website that each tea submission is charged $150. On one hand, I understand fee is necessary to ensure serious participants. On the other hand, I wonder how many small tea merchants can afford it or think it’s financially rewarding? I don’t have much idea about Expo events and therefore can hardly figure out what kind of fee is acceptable to me.
As a veteran vendor at the World Tea Expo I have some tips and advise to share. The first is kind of goofy: wear your badge 24/7. The Expo is also about making connections and wearing your badge outside of the show sets you up for tea conversations in the elevator, at breakfast, at the tables,…
Lots of tea celebra’teas’ at the show – this is a great place to meet the masters. (bring a camera for the photo-ops)
Volunteering to help behind the scenes preparing tea for the tea tasting classes is so interesting and fun.
If you are in the tea business – or planning to be – the World Tea Expo is an invaluable experience!!
The World Tea Expo is an awesome event regardless of where it is located!
As a returning vendor and platinum sponsor – Booth #601 – we are super excited to be hosting Friday’s tea break. We will be serving all the tea for classes and attendees from 7:45 – 11:30. For those who have been to expo before we are going to put a new twist on the tea service using specialty loose leaf tea (usually bags) including some unusual selections from little known origins. Should be a lot of fun.
There is plenty to learn and see at the show. If I had to recommend one class it would be “Becoming a Better Cupper” on Sunday. I think everyone can benefit from this session.
One thing you dont want to miss is the opening night reception. This is a real opportunity to talk one on one with exhibitors, educators and the like. It is always fun to see people relaxed and in a social setting. Great conversation happens here.
Here are some fun events that we are running in our booth #601
11:30 each day we will be holding a “pick the leaf” contest with prizes
12:30 & 3 we are conducting cuppings, this requires an RSVP and is limited to 10 people per session. Each session will focus on a specific category of tea, black, oolong etc. We will be showcasing some of our competition entries for the 2010 Championship.
We would also like to put a shout out to anyone who is interested in lending a hand at the tea service on Friday – Will Work For Tea? We will have 6 staff at the show but I am teaching back to back that morning and some of the rest of the team need to be in other places at 11. So if your interested let us know.
I read a number of posts and as a WTE advisory board member here is what I would like to share with you. The expo is set up to be a trade only event to give tea buyers, retailers etc a place to come and learn about tea, further develop relationships with quality suppliers and see whats “hot” in tea. When I got into the tea industry 13 years ago there was nothing like WTE. The best a budding tea professional could hope for was a class or 2 being held at a coffee event.
As tea continues to build momentum in north america consumer events are sure to develop. The nice thing about that is, consumer events will be geared towards consumers. You will get a lot more of what you want in education and suppliers, people selling in the quantities you are looking for as well as the types of items you desire.
WTE is planning an east coast conference in 2011 and while it wont be as big as the Vegas show Teas Etc will be there as will many other exhibitors. I strongly agree that there is a need for an east coast presence. I am sure they will release more information after this years show.
As a winner (sorry I am just so proud) of multiple categories at World Tea Championship, now the North American Tea Championship, I wanted to give some insight on why it costs $150 per entry, previously $200. It’s not to qualify the entry but rather cover the cost of running a competition of this magnitude. Judges are flown in and gather for several days in order to do the judging. Obviously the cost of all of their expenses must be covered. There are literally hundreds of teas to judge in a variety of different categories and that takes manpower in advance, during, and after the actual cuppings. This just touches on a couple of the aspects that sometimes are overlooked when considering the cost of participating.
In closing I would just like to say that there is nothing quite like being in a convention center full of fellow tea lovers – regardless to what level their knowlege, how long they have been into tea, or what type of tea they drink. There is just a camaraderie and energy at the show that is cool.
Greetings from New Zealand! I work with Zealong tea, a small single source grower and producer of premium oolong tea here in NZ. We’ll be at Las Vegas to introduce the world to our tea.
Zealong’s Vincent Chen has sourced the finest tea plants from Taiwan and planted them in the pure clean, fertile environment of New Zealand. Treated with loving care, hand picked and processed according to the best Chinese traditions and world leading ISO22000 HACCP food safety standards, we aim to produce the world’s purest tea. Visit the Zealong stand at Las Vegas and judge for yourself.
Cheers – Jeff
Greetings also from New Zealand! I’m so excited that you guys are going to be there – also can’t wait to try some :D
Hello Miss Sweet. How can it be that you aren’t already drinking (and selling) our tea?What’s the name of your business in Wellywood so I can google you please?
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