Imagine it.
You’re at a high-end resort in Key Largo, lounging by the pool, smoking a spliff while mingling with the top buyers and vendors in your industry. Some of you didn’t pay a dime to get here. Many of you paid a nice chunk of change, but it’s worth every penny.
Or say you’re waking up at 5 am in Jackson Hole, the crisp morning breeze getting your heart pumping. And you’re joined by twenty fellow event attendees, sharing fresh mountain air on a hiking trail and a ferry ride across a crystal lake. These are the moments you remember for the rest of your life, bonding you with people with whom you share a passion. They’re the times that business is a pleasure.
Welcome to Field Tryp.
The premier smoke/vape/cannabis/accessories industry experience
Field Tryp is the brainchild of Aaron Pavloff, a sales rep for Club 13 living in St. Augustine, Florida, who went to enough trade shows to dream of something better. He wanted to start a high-end event that would attract the top talent in the industry, a multi-day blowout where an even number of A-list buyers and vendors would make business connections as well as enduring relationships.
“Products come and go, but people are the same,” says Pavloff, noting how products go in and out of style or get regulated in and out of existence. Instead of “speed dating” among people and products, he’d rather focus on building connections between individuals in the industry, which could last well beyond the lifespan of what they’re selling.
And this is why, since early 2024, when he started Field Tryp, he’s held four events. For each one, he takes around 15 vendors and 15 buyers to beautiful locales in the tropics or mountains. Why such a limited number of attendees? “Less is more,” he says.
And even with a small-but-mighty list of attendees, he likes to keep things fresh. “The sites change. The concept is that if it’s a cold season, we go somewhere warm. If it’s a warm season, we go somewhere cooler. Traditionally, we’ve done mountains in the summer and a beach in the winter. The resort we’re going to this January is in Key Largo, Florida.”
Pavloff explained that while it costs more to do the events in the US, there are risks in doing this in other countries. “We’ve chosen to do it in the States because we can guarantee due process,” he continued, describing how the laws in various nations that would be appealing to hold this event could be at odds with the kind of work they do.
Everyone wants to take the Tryp
“I know a lot of people in the industry,” says Pavloff. “I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, and moved to Florida in 2012. I found my Club 13 job on Craigslist. I was their first outside hire. I worked with them through school and graduated in 2016. I’ve been with them this whole time, and it’s given me lots of exposure to many buyers.”
His business partner, Ryan Howard, does much of the connecting with potential vendors. And his fianceé, Marilyn McArter, is responsible for the website, emails, logos, social media, and scheduling. This tight team is able to put together what Pavloff describes as a “wedding every six months, but all your guests are from this industry.” He cites his inspiration. “I’d been to many before, but I thought I could do it better, so I pulled out my Rolodex.”
Once the word goes out announcing a new Field Tryp, there’s a lot of interest. Vendors are expected to pay up to $30k for a chance to interact with buyers who have at least ten stores, often many more, into the hundreds.
“Buyers get premium treatment,” says Pavloff. “They don’t pay for anything. They get first-class flights, car services, food, drinks, and hotel. All on us. We want to take away worrying about the check. Just give them time to unspool. You can learn a lot about someone by hanging out with them for 45 minutes. But buyers are expected to buy, or at least explore vendors’ wares in good faith.”
A little bit of a love fest
“You would be surprised, we’re all competitors, but the amount of love that you get when you do stuff like this is amazing. Some companies are competitors on paper, but we all compliment each other and respect what each other does.” Pavloff talks about how people who shouldn’t be allies–on paper–find easy friendship with each other at Field Tryp. They share a sense of common purpose.
And, he’s sure part of this camaraderie comes from the fact that it’s just plain fun. “You may have an hour-long meeting block, but you can go do it while taking a tiki boat ride, getting drinks, kayaking, snorkeling, lounging in the pool, relaxing in the hot tub, or smoking a joint on the beach. Some meetings literally take place at the spa.”
A relaxing, profitable future
Sounds appealing? While Pavloff is hoping this event can make more money for itself, it has still been a great boon for his company and many others. The connections vendors and buyers have made with each other have “earned them serious loot” and made returning every time even sweeter.
So next time you are thinking it might be great to get away for an expedition of hiking or catching some rays, sitting by a lake surrounded by moose and elk, or bobbing in the tropical waves, all while making memories and experiences, hit up Field Tryp for an invite.
“If you are wise, you can capitalize on that.”
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