Did Pepin sell his soul?

[hayward_tenney]

I'm not one for gossip, but I read this entry over at the Stogie Guys from last week and thought to share it. It's an interesting story to say the least, and I'm curious to know your thoughts...As a man in his late 50's, does Pepin have the right to "cash in" on his recent notoriety? As the cigar business becomes more competitive and potentially more lucrative, are "old-fashioned" concepts like loyalty out of date?

The Original Post

The Rebuttal

[Cigar Jack-cl]

It's business, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I don't blame him for wanting to make more money and I think it is better that he cuts some of the small projects then let his quality slip.

I hate to see Black Cat's Rey Miguel go away. It is a good cigar.

[jitzy]

Its all about making money to some and to me thats all well and good but don't screw your friends. I said it at the herf the other night pepin is getting a little carried away lately with all the cigars he makes. Its funny when gurkha keeps putting out different lines people laugh and knock them when pepin does it people go crazy and gobble them up. (I will acknowledge that alot of the stuff he does put out is fantastic but still he's putting out a new cigar almost every month)

[Toasted Coastie]

Joe, you got a good point. Every other CI or Holt's catalog has some new line by DPG. When is the quality going to go down hill?

[silentjon-cl]

Pepin seems to be overextending himself, although I enjoy all of his cigars. Maybe he realized that too and is looking to cut back (Padilla/Rey Miquel). I really like the Rey Miquel - it was the first Pepin cigar I smoked. I remember being in Philly @ the Black Cat shop and picked some up based on their recommendation.

[DOZER]

It seems odd that he would stop production on one house brand while starting a new one with another retailer. I am speaking of the Casa Royale from Holt's. I just got a sampler along with some other goodies (pics up soon ). I am smoking one now and to tell the truth I am not all that impressed. It may be a little 'young' so I will put the rest to bed for a bit before I pass judgment on them. No word if he will be ending production on Old Henry another house brand at Holt's. Perhaps it all about the money. Maybe the Rey Miguel wasn't selling all that well and he gave it up to focus on ones that sell better. Either way it could have been handled better than it was. For the record I should say I am a Pepin fan. Some of my favorites are the San Cristobal, Black, Blue, 601, Guapos and East Coast to name a few.

[CGAR Girl-cl]

Pepin said long ago --- as he began making terrific smokes for other people -- that he will always put his brand first. Without a doubt he produces great cigars that many consumers look to purchase and his popularity is on the rise. I teeter on the fine line here. I can definatly see how producing your own line is of utmost importance, but those relationships built along the way do account for one's 'popularity'. With over 3489 cigars out there --- no doubt many brands are EXTREMLY similar to the box next to them in your local B&M. Many purchase their leaves from well known farms...most are produced just for them. The number of factories produce a variety of cigars for a variety of companies. Bottom line is the dollar...unfortunatly. BUT you can believe that the consumers are highly equated in. Saying it that way isn't like saying a sellout or doing it for greed. Supply and demand. And most will do what they feel they need to do in order to preserve their company.

[chip19]

You have to look out for #1, because no one else is going to. You also have to value friendships, but in the business world, they don't exist!

[Wiseash-cl]

There's a feature about Pepin's meteoric rise in the industry in the latest issue of Smokeshop. In the article, he says he's not taking on any new customers and will focus on maintanining quality of his brand and those partnerships he's committed to (he doesn't come out and say it, but the article features the EO 601 brands prominently and you can bet Ashton has him wrapped up for the San Cristobal. And he's not likely to pull out of his partnership with Pete Johnson any time soon. Here's an excerpt:

SMOKESHOP: You manufacture some of the most highly regarded and highly rated cigars in the industry. Will you continue to take on additional clients?

GARCIA: No! Only the clients I have up until now. I want these brands to develop the 601, the blue label, the green label. San Cristobal may expand. And, we will develop the Don Pepín Garcia brands: the blue label, the black label, the JJ and, as well the Vegas Cubanas and other brands we make in Miami as well.

There you have it, from the horse's mouth.

[Deuce Da Masta]

The man is simply putting business first. Wish he hadnt broken off ties with padilla though. Ive always been a fan of the miamis and 32's(both being my first experience with pepin)

[BagfullofPings]

In the real world, business owners have to make tough decisions. Who was going to grow the company Padilla and Black Cat ...or...Ashton and Holt's?

[baboruger]

It's a business, and that's what these guys are business people, thus, I can see nothing wrong with what Pepin is doing. I actually think that the Black Cat story is sort of like crying over spilled milk. I'm sure there is more to it than what it said, but, it's Pepin's business and he can do what he wants. This is not like having a friendship, business is cut-throat, and that's how it will always be.

[Deuce Da Masta]

Originally Posted by baboruger

It's a business, and that's what these guys are business people, thus, I can see nothing wrong with what Pepin is doing. I actually think that the Black Cat story is sort of like crying over spilled milk. I'm sure there is more to it than what it said, but, it's Pepin's business and he can do what he wants. This is not like having a friendship, business is cut-throat, and that's how it will always be.

I think it was more to do with how it was handled. Even if you are no longer able to produce cigars, your supposed to be friends and he has someone call and tell him. Might have been different if pepin called and told him himself. At least thats how i kinda took it.

[happy1]

Only that stays the same is everything changes.Business is business Rey miguel or the new release for Holt,same guy,same tobacco.It's more/less a slight of hand business tactic..IMO

[Stogie]

I am in the planning stages of going back to Nicaragua this month to spend some time with Eddie Ortega and Erik of 601 Cigars. We plan to visit Pepins factory when we are there shooting video.

From reading alot lately about Pepin it seems that he is vertically integrating his operation which makes things better so he can oversea every process. I am curious to find out if this in fact what he is doing. One thing I do know is that up until this day I have always liked Pepin cigars. I even had an Old Henry the other day and it was great. This leads me to believe he is doing something right.