I want to welcome all our members from around the world to the Premium Cigar Association 2025 Trade Show (PCA25), where history and tradition are at the forefront of the new age of premium cigars. I am excited to oversee my first trade show in such a historic city and a pivotal time in the premium cigar industry’s history. When I attended my first trade show, we had the FDA at our heels with burdensome regulations and a fractured industry. Since that show, we have experienced multiple advocacy victories, leadership changes, cigar booms, legal wins and soul-searching to develop the PCA into a formidable trade association. Each year, I have been proud to say that we have left the industry in a better place than the year before, even in struggle, as we remain resilient.
Brick-and-mortar retail in the United States is alive and well, and the 3,500+ stores, lounges, and bars encompassing our retail membership are the backbone of Main Street American small business. Having recently traveled to the cigar-producing countries of Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic for their national cigar festivals, I saw the pride of all the manufacturers and workers who produce the premium cigars enjoyed across this country. I hope that the PCA trade show and its economic significance are not lost with our membership and that we all have a sense of gratitude towards everyone who produces these artisanal products, but also a sense of pride for America being first in the premium cigar market with the most extensive network of retail and robust consumers.
This year could be another renaissance for premium cigars, and the creativity of manufacturers could reach its full potential because of the unwinding of regulatory burdens. This year can bring another resurgence of sales for retailers that embrace the sense of community, experience, and hospitality. And this year can be a reformation of the PCA Trade Show as we launch new initiatives, create more social and networking opportunities, and develop a holistic marketplace beginning with the trade show but also including year-round activations. Retailers, manufacturers and your trade association are all poised for success and achievement in 2025, and I hope we can answer the calling to be faithful stewards of this family, marquee event and association.
I want to thank all our exhibitors personally for participating in this year’s show and selling out the floor space. I want to thank all the retailers for taking time away from their shops, families, and other responsibilities. And I want to personally thank all the PCA staff, board of directors, committee member volunteers and support staff for transforming New Orleans into the epicenter of the premium cigar industry. Please stop by the PCA booth and introduce yourself, provide us with feedback, and help us make the PCA 2025 trade show experience beneficial on all fronts.
I look forward to connecting with many of you during this year’s show, meeting new members and saying hello to old friends who have been staples of this trade show for many years.
Joshua Habursky
PCA Executive Director