Many of the big names from the YouTube community came along to vlog the occasion and meet their followers and fans . Australia ’ s Vaping Bogan was beaming all weekend , thrilled to be part of such a large and special event that simply couldn ’ t happen in his home country were vaping is effectively illegal . Vapouround Awards judge SirVapingAlot seemed right at home , too . Read our exclusive interview with Vinny on pages 32-33 . Advocacy has played a big role in the expo since the beginning . The IBVTA and NNA were once again in attendance , educating vapers and industry alike . Such organisations are an indispensable resource for our community and help further legitimise and shelter it from the thankfully dwindling attacks from a misinformed media .
Both vapers and vendors benefitted from the much-improved layout . Vendors were far easier to find than they were in October , when some had felt aggrieved at being away from the red carpet where all the foot traffic was . No such problem this time around as vapers moved up and down the hall in a linear fashion . It ’ s these seemingly-small changes that help improve the expo experience for the thousands of visitors who walk through the foggy tunnel and into the exhibition hall every six months . While many of the tried-and-tested marketing techniques were in place , many vapers commented on the welcome restraint from the models and reps trying to entice them to their stands . Each expo is more professional and slick than the last , demonstrating just how far the industry has come in such a short few years . Though a handful of the bigger names were missing due to the clash with Hall of Vape in Stuttgart , the rest were out in force . Meanwhile , the show introduced some new players , ranging from mod and juice companies to suppliers of bottles and manufacturing equipment . Vapers , DIY-enthusiasts , shops and manufacturers were all catered for , once again showing how Vaper Expo UK has become a hub for our flourishing vaping culture . Given how much has happened since A Celebration of Vaping last October , it ’ s almost impossible to predict where Vaper Expo UK will go next . But one thing is for sure : while the May show will be a very tough act to follow , the dedicated expo team will inevitably succeed in doing so .
VM17 | 123