intersting article

[bdw1984]

i received this in an email from probably the biggest B&M in South Florida... it's an article from the owner... the last two paragraphs were a shameless plug so i deleted them but i found the rest of the article to be very interesting so i figured id share it with my brothers (and sisters)! any thoughts? opinions? comments?

As I pass through my walk in humidor, and believe me when I tell you that it is well above the averaged sized walk in, I cannot help but to wonder how most other cigar stores with modest to fair size walk in humidors are handling it. Handling what you ask? As I look at my 6000 cubic feet of cigar storage space filled to every possible corner and crack with cigars, I have to wonder where I can possibly make room for the umpteen number of new brands and facings to be released this year.

Today more than ever, B&M stores are carrying more and more facings from the smaller and boutique manufacturers. In spite of the continuous bombardment of line extensions and additions from the majors, these smaller boutique companies have followed suit. Lets take a look for example at a company like Rocky Patel. Rocky is a great personal friend of mine, and while not so long ago one could consider him a smaller boutique company, I am not so sure that description still fits today. Rocky releases a new brand almost every month. This is in addition to his Seasonal Summer, Winter, Spring, & Autumn selections. I hear he might be releasing the New Summer & Winter Solstice soon to be followed by the Equinox blend! Now before my phone lines flood with folks looking for those last two blends, I was kidding, but you can get the picture.

The days of Mr. Jones coming in every two weeks like clockwork to buy the same box of cigars he has smoked for the past many years are long gone. The magazine frenzied and bulletin board bound junkies have replaced Mr. Jones. This new evolution of cigar smokers, who are never satisfied, possesses attention spans that have been cultivated by our Tivo® universe. Unfortunately this type of frenzy leads these manufactures to constantly push themselves creatively as well as productively.


The price I believe that we all end up paying, is quality and consistency of the smokes we love. How many times have you found yourself impressed by a new brand, only to revisit it again months later and find it not as good. Sometimes the wrapper does not even look the same! Now don’t get me wrong, this is not the case in every situation, but unfortunately I am seeing it occur more often these days.






Be Merciless, Spare No Cigar, Smoke Them All, And Let God Sort Them Out!

[Arnie]

Great article! Thanks for sharing.
Sounds a lot like what we all heard during the cigar boom. Quality and consistancy plummeting, sacrificed on the alter of "something new".
I've been smoking cigars now for almost 20 years and at times the present incarnation of cigar smoker seems like a caricature, almost a cartoon character. Sycophantic worship of certain cigar makers has replaced common sense. The relentless searching for a new cigar "thrill". Stronger and stronger cigars that are now becoming strength for strength's sake alone, sacrificing flavor and subltety. We're getting dumbed down and numbed down. IMHO.
On the other hand, I do love all the variety we have now that wasn't there years ago. I try to take the good and ignore the silliness.

[commonsenseman]

Great article.

Just makes me enjoy the real "old faithfull" cigars that much more!

[SmokeRings]

Thanks for sharing Ben. That is in fact a good article. I hope the quality of many of theses "newer" cigar companies doesnt go down, for many of them are what I like to smoke.

< LOL

[Cigary]

I've seen a lot of changes in the cigar industry in the last 40 years and there have been some really good cigar makers that have turned the whole industry on its ears. I really like the Tatuaje brands along with a returning old brand of K A Kendall Cigars. There are a lot of different hobbies that one can engage in but this one in particular has always given me more than most other hobbies I have going on.

[Cyber]

OK, that explains a lot! Every time I find a good cigar and go back a week or two later to get more the local B&M does not have them and no longer carries them. Heck there are a couple that I am still looking for online. One of the online sellers has it but is sold out. lol.

Thanks for the interesting article!

[tx_tuff]

I see his point but its almost like he is whining to me.

This one line alone [COLOR="Red"]" The magazine frenzied and bulletin board bound junkies have replaced Mr. Jones"/COLOR] Strikes me as kind of a b*tch about the magazines and forums. Hey he should be happy about us guys because we buy more then me smoke in a lot of cases LOL. But we also posts deals from online vendors, maybe thats why he is mad?

[Jaxon67]

Nice read, and I agree. Have you noticed how dark the new RP decade wrappers are compared to the older ones? What's up with that?

[bdw1984]

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

I see his point but its almost like he is whining to me.

This one line alone [COLOR="Red"]" The magazine frenzied and bulletin board bound junkies have replaced Mr. Jones"/COLOR] Strikes me as kind of a b*tch about the magazines and forums. Hey he should be happy about us guys because we buy more then me smoke in a lot of cases LOL. But we also posts deals from online vendors, maybe thats why he is mad?

ill post the last two paragraphs... he does sell cigars online and the blog was a long sales pitch but i do think he had some valid points... basically he wrote the whole thing to announce that he had some brands people are familiar with on clearance... heres the last 2 paragraphs so itll make some more sense frank

I do not know the answer on how to stop this cycle, but what I do know is that for every genesis, there must be an exodus! In the spirit of balance, below find a list of premium quality brands that I am blowing out at 50% OFF! Most of them are very good brands, but unfortunately they just are not paying their proper tithes, if you get what I mean.

I do not expect these items to last, so they will not be on the website. If you are interested in any of these items, please feel free to call us Toll Free, xxxxxxxxxx.

[tx_tuff]

Ok after reading the whole thing, to me it all sounds like a sales pitch to move out some inventory. But I don't know the guy, I'm sure you know him a lot better then I do.

I don't see the quality of cigars going done, in fact since I have been smoking them over the last few years (around 6 I guess) I have seen the quality go up. Just tonight a bought a box from a large manufacturer, VSG, and a box from the small guy, Illusione 88, and I bet if I have problems with any of the 50 cigars it will be the VSG.

Anyway that's just my $.02 LOL.

[defcon3]

Personally, I disagree with the shop owner's point of view and I'll tell you why...

My main point relates to virtually all retail shops regardless of what is sold in their stores...

Supply and demand! All he has to do is carry what sells primarily...

There is no store that will carry everything, CI or Famous doesn't even do that, even though they have an extensive inventory...

Even in stores like Macy's, they do not carry every line of clothing made by Ralph Lauren for this season, but they will take stock in inventory as to what is selling, what they think will sell, and most importantly, what the consumers are demanding...

Newer "boutique" brands can offer very good smokes at competitive prices, some can even be better then the big labels they are trying to compete against. He doesn't have to buy every new cigar, new brand, or new line-up, just what most people are asking for, or what he thinks can be sold...

I really love this quote"This new evolution of cigar smokers, who are never satisfied, possesses attention spans that have been cultivated by our Tivo® universe."

What a pompass statement!!! I have my cigars I like, but I like to explore my options and try new ones, just maybe that new brand or line will replace an old one I like! Just maybe that new one is superior to the old one...

Are you going to eat cornflakes every day for 20 years?!? Why not??? Well geez, these people who want to try all these newer cereals have short attention spans and are ungrateful snobs!?! What a travesty that a commercial or advertisement prompts them to go to the store and try something new or different... Heck, they may even like it!?!

Sounds like the shop owner needs a vacation and needs to take the time to meditate on the reasons he went into business in the first place and on the consumers who will shop there...

[Stench]

As a pharmacist, I can tell you that there are only three-four primary ingredients of ALL cough and cold medicines that will fill an entire aisle of your local Mega-mart. Mixed in varying combinations, tablets, syrups, gel-caps, powders you mix like hot tea, etc. My point being that our culture as a whole demands "new and improved" in all things, not just cigars. Most of these products are just repackaged and rehyped- all marketing. Buy a bottle of cheapo diphenhydramine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and sudafed (behind the counter due to the meth-heads) and you have everything you need for most symptoms.

I just wish I knew as much about cigars! It is my intention to find my "go-to" cigar choices and settle down, but it is a bit difficult when they keep coming up with new brands/lines (and me being a newb!)

[defcon3]

Originally Posted by Stench

As a pharmacist, I can tell you that there are only three-four primary ingredients of ALL cough and cold medicines that will fill an entire aisle of your local Mega-mart. Mixed in varying combinations, tablets, syrups, gel-caps, powders you mix like hot tea, etc. My point being that our culture as a whole demands "new and improved" in all things, not just cigars. Most of these products are just repackaged and rehyped- all marketing. Buy a bottle of cheapo diphenhydramine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen and sudafed (behind the counter due to the meth-heads) and you have everything you need for most symptoms.

I just wish I knew as much about cigars! It is my intention to find my "go-to" cigar choices and settle down, but it is a bit difficult when they keep coming up with new brands/lines (and me being a newb!)

I don't see your point...

If the Mega-store brand of cough syrup tastes like diesel fuel, and Vicks has new Strawberry-Kiwi-Almond flavor that is much more tolerable to put down and little Timmy sort-of likes it, then more power to them and any other competitor who is in the game!!!

The baseline ingredients maybe the same, but tastes TOTALLY different...

What is a cigar??? Tobacco!!!! Nothing else...

But there is a BIG difference between a Bucanero Red and a Montecristo White...

The Blenders who use their expert knowledge to create a new masterpiece using different species of Tobacco, parts of the plant, specific aging processes, growing regions, to produce something new and improved or something different to try... I say THANK YOU!!!

If the attitude of RP was, "Well, we will just produce five tobacco products and that's all they get, take it or leave it", We may never have had the Edge or any other new product to take us into the next level of smoking...

[Jimbo57]

Originally Posted by bdw1984

As I look at my 6000 cubic feet of cigar storage space filled to every possible corner and crack with cigars, I have to wonder where I can possibly make room for the umpteen number of new brands and facings to be released this year. (snip)

Today more than ever, B&M stores are carrying more and more facings from the smaller and boutique manufacturers. (snip)

This new evolution of cigar smokers, who are never satisfied, possesses attention spans that have been cultivated by our Tivo® universe. Unfortunately this type of frenzy leads these manufactures to constantly push themselves creatively as well as productively.

And this is a problem because.....?? The owner should be thankful for several reasons.
First -- If you're bitching about the your humidor size, I'll take what's in it so you can downsize.
Second -- Be grateful you have repeat customers buying what's in your 6000 cu. ft. humidor. These folks are also your free referral service for new customers.
Third -- Be thankful you are receiving new product development. Tends to avoid the stagnation I see in some B&Ms.
Fourth -- Get on your knees and thank our unsatisfied quest for the 'perfect smoke.' Because of that, you have business. Our quest continues because that 'perfect smoke' doesn't exist, we just don't know it!
Fifth -- If it don't sell, replace it. Move out the old, bring in the new. Keep what your faithful customers smoke.

Finally, what shop is this? I want a shot at the 50% sale.

[Arnie]

I can see both sides of this debate.
On the one hand you've got a store owner with limited space and limited buying power trying to please a clientel that is never fully satisfied.
On the other hand you've got an enthusiastic customer base that wants to spend money on the cigars they love. They are always wanting something new.
It is a relationship that needs constant attention and care, and a little understanding on both sides. The store owner has to be flexible and attentive to his customer's wants and needs. The customer also has to realize that space is limited and no one can store every size of every cigar made.