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Last post 9 years ago by delta1. 28 replies replies.
Must haves for a shpo...
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opelmanta1900 Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 1:11 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
I live in a relatively small town of 10,000... closest thing we've ever had to a local shpo is the gas station on main street with a double door humidor...

well someone finally pulled the trigger and opened a smoke shop with a walk-in...

he's been open for 10 days and when I stopped in yesterday I talked with him for a good amount of time...

turns out he's only been smoking for a month and knows relatively little about cigars (it's a smoke shop, so he's selling lots of pot paraphanelia and the likes, not just cigars)... so he started asking me a lot of stuff...

today I went in and he handed me paper and a pen and asked me to list cigars that he as a shop owner would be proud to have...

he's a nice guy and throws a lot of extras at me (unheard of anywhere around here)... he's kinda been suckered into carrying alot of RyJ and Montecristo at the present moment...

I gave him a few ideas, but would love to get some input from you guys on some must have cigars.... not sure he'll be able to stock any tatuaje, but he's got a line on fuente stuff...

Also, question for the more experienced than I:

the walk in is probable 10' x 8'... he's keeping candy sticks and pipe tobacco in it... big no-no? It kinda seems like it but I didn't want to have the guy making big changes on my word... recommend seperating the infused into a display outside of the walk-in? What about the pipe tobacco? it needs a way lower rh, no?

alright, thanks guys... I'm hoping to really help this guy out so I can have a nice place to sit and smoke within 45 miles of here...
Sneaky greasy Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 5:38 AM EST
Joined: 09-25-2012
Posts: 80
Brick house
Perdomo
shaun341 Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 5:49 AM EST
Joined: 08-02-2012
Posts: 8,826
I am no pipe guy but I didn't think RH mattered for that baccy. My local stores everything in 1 walk in also and in fact the LP are right next to the Acids, pipe baccy across the room. I would recommend they didn't but they don't seem to care much anyway (my local that is your guy may appreciate the info).


Brands I think would be good to start with but I am not sure how easy they are for someone new in the business to get

DPG/My Father
Fuente all he can get
Ashton
Oliva
Padron
LFD
Perdomo
Camacho
CLE/Eiroa
Roma craft



Those are pretty good to start with. If he is looking for quick turnover I guess he could go with General cigars and all there labels I mean they must sell like hot cakes for cbid right.
Plowboy221 Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 7:48 AM EST
Joined: 03-03-2013
Posts: 5,140
^^^+1

Maybe some AJ Fernandez, seems like his stuff sells well
Buckwheat Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 8:11 AM EST
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
This is a tough one. As long as he isn't banking on cigars only he should have more flexibility in carrying something that he doesn't have to quickly turn around. Retailers can die because they have too much of their capital tied up in inventory that isn't moving. I don't have a clue on how to become a retailer for different brands of cigars. I'm sure that all of the major makers have minimum quantities or $ amounts that need to be met to be able to carry their products in your shop. I'm pretty sure that the margin on hand made cigars is pretty slim. In a market that small he my be forced to carry easily moveable cigars. Macanudos and other General Cigar Company brands that aren't very expensive and not horrible. YMMV
madspackler Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 8:37 AM EST
Joined: 03-07-2000
Posts: 3,608
He will need inventory turnover to survive in a small town. General cigar brands have that recognition. He should have a small but nice stock of premiums for the more experienced palate.He is doing the right thing by asking what you would want or purchase if he had it in stock.

Get the food/candy and open boxes of flavoreds out of the Humi and out into a counter display for point-of-sale transactions. A sealed box of flavors/acids is okay to store in the humi separated from open sticks and other boxes. Pipe baccy can be held at lower humidity levels - perhaps a coolerador display just outside the walk-in.

Sounds like you got a friend in the business
robertsccr5 Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 8:57 AM EST
Joined: 09-13-2012
Posts: 2,314
Besides what's already been mentioned

Undercrown
Gurkha - not the cbid kind, I mean Ghost, Cellar Reserve, 125th. Knowing the OP though, he probably won't suggest this.
Alec Bradley

If he is trying to actually sell cigars I'd say just pull up the past few years of CA top 25 lists and see what NC are listed.
KingoftheCove Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 9:22 AM EST
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,631
If he wants the cigar portion of his biz to be profitable.......

-80% percent should be easily recognizable brands for the "masses".............Cohiba, Montecristo, Macanudo, R&J, lower-end Fuentes, etc..............and ACIDS (I know, I know...........but that's the reality of it)

-The remaining 20% for pros......Padron, Illusione, Tats, Ashton, LFDs, etc.......................maybe carry three of these and rotate them.

If it's not important for the cigar portion to be profitable?
Flip those percentages.

I wish him luck.............hopefully he'll sell enough bongs, hookas, glass pipes and cigs to survive and make a living.
TheSmokensip Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 9:31 AM EST
Joined: 03-02-2013
Posts: 1,329
KingoftheCove wrote:


I wish him luck.............hopefully he'll sell enough bongs, hookas, glass pipes and cigs to survive and make a living.


Yes.
E cigs and hookah smoke shops are flourishing now. Damn hippies.
Rut-Ro! Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 9:41 AM EST
Joined: 01-16-2010
Posts: 1,991
As in any retail establishement or any line of business, you must cater to what YOUR customers want and what they are willing to drop hard earn dollahs on.........


just my opinion
ZRX1200 Offline
#11 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 10:05 AM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,582
As Buckwheat said, many high end brands require yearly minimum orders ($$$$$) and brands like DE require you sell so many of their lower lines BEFORE you are ALLOWED to carry Liga and Unicos. Fuente is pretty good but they prefer older accounts for their limited edition stuff which is fine for a little shpo because they won't move alot of Anejo of Opus.

He's not going to get rich selling cigars, so I would say if he wants a few boxes of higher end just get them on the secondary market.
ZRX1200 Offline
#12 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 10:06 AM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,582
Wait......


Does he protect you?
jespear Offline
#13 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 10:27 AM EST
Joined: 03-19-2004
Posts: 9,464
I would say to add some regular line PARTAGAS to the shelves.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#14 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 10:49 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
KingoftheCove wrote:
If he wants the cigar portion of his biz to be profitable.......

-80% percent should be easily recognizable brands for the "masses".............Cohiba, Montecristo, Macanudo, R&J, lower-end Fuentes, etc..............and ACIDS (I know, I know...........but that's the reality of it)

-The remaining 20% for pros......Padron, Illusione, Tats, Ashton, LFDs, etc.......................maybe carry three of these and rotate them.

If it's not important for the cigar portion to be profitable?
Flip those percentages.

I wish him luck.............hopefully he'll sell enough bongs, hookas, glass pipes and cigs to survive and make a living.


I'd say this is pretty much the model he's following right now... lots of monte's and ryj...

I'm blind on LFD's... I have yet to really sample any of them... which ones are popular? Same boat on Padron... I've had some, but very few... not enough to give recommendations...

he's got a decent selection of "paraphernalia" so hopefully he'll be moving enough of that to support the humidor...
tonygraz Offline
#15 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 10:56 AM EST
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,230
Maybe a crate or 2 of the Ashton Premium House Selections. They keep Cobra coming back and might keep many others doing the same.
ShanaC@CigarBid Offline
#16 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:16 AM EST
Joined: 09-22-2010
Posts: 1,090
Rut-Ro! wrote:
As in any retail establishement or any line of business, you must cater to what YOUR customers want and what they are willing to drop hard earn dollahs on.........


just my opinion


That is a good opinion to have ... you don't have a business without customers. You have to be able to cater to all.
99cobra2881 Offline
#17 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:23 AM EST
Joined: 11-19-2013
Posts: 2,472
tonygraz wrote:
Maybe a crate or 2 of the Ashton Premium House Selections. They keep Cobra coming back and might keep many others doing the same.




Hehehhe I was gonna suggest that. New cigar smokers/potential customers aren't gonna be acquired very quick on $5-10 sticks. Start them out on a decent $2.99 smoke and then if the hooks set they'll bite on the more expensive lines of cigars next time they come in also as their tastes develop they will become more interested in the more expensive and complex lines.

Best advice???? Tell him to become a member here!!! Herfing
opelmanta1900 Offline
#18 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:28 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
99cobra2881 wrote:
Hehehhe I was gonna suggest that. New cigar smokers/potential customers aren't gonna be acquired very quick on $5-10 sticks. Start them out on a decent $2.99 smoke and then if the hooks set they'll bite on the more expensive lines of cigars next time they come in also as their tastes develop they will become more interested in the more expensive and complex lines.

Best advice???? Tell him to become a member here!!! Herfing


lol... not familiar with california prices I assume... I spent $13 on an Avo tubo #3 yesterday and was thrilled to find it at that price in person... a little perspective, a flor de los antillas runs about $12 in the toro...



illinichaser Offline
#19 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:29 AM EST
Joined: 07-24-2011
Posts: 5,772
We have small shop near by, where I'm sitting now, actually. They carry a lot of the "names", but then try to go the boutique route, with several offerings from the smaller manufacturers. Nice selection, with lower inventories.
KingoftheCove Offline
#20 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:29 AM EST
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,631
opelmanta1900 wrote:
I'd say this is pretty much the model he's following right now... lots of monte's and ryj...

I'm blind on LFD's... I have yet to really sample any of them... which ones are popular? Same boat on Padron... I've had some, but very few... not enough to give recommendations...

he's got a decent selection of "paraphernalia" so hopefully he'll be moving enough of that to support the humidor...

WhistleBritches is the LFD expert............PM him for a good short list...
I'd go Air Bender Matatan, Double Ligero Chisel, and an L300 if I had to pick 3 to sell

Padron?
Definitely a few of the "000" series, and maybe a PAM.
2000 and 5000 maduro, 3000 Natural, and any PAM he can buy that won't make him suffer buyer's remorse too badly
99cobra2881 Offline
#21 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:38 AM EST
Joined: 11-19-2013
Posts: 2,472
opelmanta1900 wrote:
lol... not familiar with california prices I assume... I spent $13 on an Avo tubo #3 yesterday and was thrilled to find it at that price in person... a little perspective, a flor de los antillas runs about $12 in the toro...






Not at all familiar and I'm glad that I haven't had to be!!!! Holeee **** them prices are nuts. I didn't know what state you are in. Thank goodness for cbid!!!
opelmanta1900 Offline
#22 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:41 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
99cobra2881 wrote:
Not at all familiar and I'm glad that I haven't had to be!!!! Holeee **** them prices are nuts. I didn't know what state you are in. Thank goodness for cbid!!!

thank goodness for online retailers in general...
opelmanta1900 Offline
#23 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:42 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
He does have a box of room 101 paybacks... smoked one and it was enjoyable, but it was the 6 x 60... it also comes in a 5 x 50 I'd love to try... anyone recommend any other room 101 stuff since I know he can get it?
Krazeehorse Offline
#24 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:46 AM EST
Joined: 04-09-2010
Posts: 1,958
He must have limitless funds because unless everyone in town smokes I doubt he lasts a year in a town of 10000.
opelmanta1900 Offline
#25 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:51 AM EST
Joined: 01-10-2012
Posts: 13,954
robertsccr5 wrote:
Besides what's already been mentioned

Undercrown
Gurkha - not the cbid kind, I mean Ghost, Cellar Reserve, 125th. Knowing the OP though, he probably won't suggest this.
Alec Bradley

If he is trying to actually sell cigars I'd say just pull up the past few years of CA top 25 lists and see what NC are listed.


my knee-jerk reaction was to say you're darn right I won't, but lots of new smokers come in looking specifically for gurkha, so it wouldn't be a bad idea...
99cobra2881 Offline
#26 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 11:51 AM EST
Joined: 11-19-2013
Posts: 2,472
He may do ok if he sells discount cigs and vapors too. Cater to a wider customer segment and sell more of that to keep the lights on.
robertsccr5 Offline
#27 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 12:06 PM EST
Joined: 09-13-2012
Posts: 2,314
opelmanta1900 wrote:
my knee-jerk reaction was to say you're darn right I won't, but lots of new smokers come in looking specifically for gurkha, so it wouldn't be a bad idea...


Hahaha I had a feeling you'd feel that way.

Indeed, Gurkha are marketing masters.
delta1 Offline
#28 Posted: Fri, Oct 31 2014, 3:57 PM EST
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,778
Just about every cigar store with a walk-in humidor in my area carries a full-line of Altadis products and a few General cigar products: RyJ, Montecristo, Saint Luis Rey, H. Upmann, Gispert, Henry Clay, Trinidad, Vega Fina, Cohiba, Casa de Garcia, CAO, Macanudo, La Gloria Cubana. Throw in Alec Bradley, Ashton, Brickhouse, Excalibur, Fuente, Hoyo de Monterey, Joya de Nicaragua, La Aroma de Cuba, La Aurora, La Flor Dominicana, My Father, Onyx, Padron, Perdomo, Punch, Quorum, Rocky Patel, Torano, Tatuaje, Acid, Java, Tabak Especial. Include cigarillos and small cigars made by those brands...toss in a few of the super premium lines from those marques and the store will be able to satisfy just about any cigar need. As for boutique cigars, he should wait until he gets a solid number of steady customers who "call" for certain stuff before committing to sell them.

Suggestion: look up Total Wines and More on-line (most cigar smokers drink alcohol and look for bargains. This chain of superstores has a walk-in humidor about the size of your local's and seem to sell a lot of cigars at prices a little below the average B&Ms in the area): look for the store location nearest you, check their cigar lines and sort by most popular. That'll give him some idea about what sells best in your neighborhood.
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