Boston-based Hill & Partners Inc. premiered its partnership with new client La Palina Cigars at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) 80th Annual Convention & Trade Show held Aug. 2-6 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
The creative team at Hill & Partners brought the maker of premium handmade cigars to the prestigious tradeshow with a handsome, custom-rental 20 by 20 exhibit that made prominent use of warm, rich materials and sepia-toned graphics to evoke Old World charm. The inviting property was fronted by four glass cases displaying the La Palina product line while a pair of monitors provided information about the company, which was originated more than a century ago by the current owner’s grandfather.
La Palina Cigars is owned by William “Bill” C. Paley, whose father, William S. Paley, founded CBS. In 1896, Bill Paley’s grandfather, Sam, created the Congress Cigar Co. and the La Palina brand. When Sam retired in 1926, the Congress Cigar Co. shut its doors. But the business was revived in 2010 when Bill renewed the La Palina brand.
The branded environment honored Paley’s grandmother, Goldie Drell Paley, with a backdrop of her likeness. The original La Palina product was named after Mrs. Paley.
A wooden pergola defined the “smoker’s lounge” portion of the skillfully branded exhibit. Accented with leather chairs, sconces, hardwood flooring, an Oriental rug and textured walls, the gracious room provided a welcoming space for attendees to sample La Palina’s cigars. Hill & Partners gave a nod to Paley’s television roots with the addition of a 1920s-era radio and an original CBS microphone to the cozy and inviting atmosphere.
“Our partnership with Hill & Partners has exceeded our expectations. Our booth design and management for the 2012 IPCPR tradeshow in Orlando was a tremendous success,” said Courtney Smith, vice president, La Palina Cigars. “Hill & Partners implemented our vision perfectly by creating an environment that truly captured our aesthetic and history. Every detail was addressed during the planning phase and carried through onsite. The team members we have had the pleasure to work with have been professional, creative, focused and detail-oriented.”
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with La Palina and build awareness of the company’s fascinating history and its line of premium cigars,” said Michael McMahon, president and CEO, Hill & Partners. “The custom rental property created for IPCPR 2012 reflects the La Palina brand in an engaging and creative manner and shines a light on the rich history of its founders.”
Hill & Partners is a full-service team of branded-environment specialists with a network of skilled partners throughout the country and world. Hill & Partners has provided professional exhibit-management services that help clients manage and improve the results of their tradeshow exhibit program. Established in 1995, Hill & Partners has been named one of the Boston area’s fastest growing companies by the Boston Business Journal.
