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Last post 22 years ago by tailgater. 27 replies replies.
Stock My Humidor
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pawnpusher Offline
#1 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 1:07 PM EST
Joined: 09-02-2001
Posts: 25
Ok Folks here is the deal -

I moved into a new town and went around to all of the local cigars shops. Everyone of them treated me rude and looked down upon me. So I've decided I want to hurt them where it counts - in their pocket books and open up a small cigar shop. Problem is I need some advice for the masses on what to carry. So here is your assignment:

Stock my humidor with 500-600 cigars with the following rules:

- You can have any cigar in there you want
- You must have low and high priced cigars
- You want to get the most bang for your buck so if there is a cigar that cost $12 and one that cost $2 and they taste the same pick the lower priced one.

Ok I think thats it - let me know what you would want in this humidor.

Tim
Slimboli Offline
#2 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 1:23 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
... free cigars!

Seriously, are you for real? You setting up a small tobacco shop isn't going to hurt anyones established business.

Sorry ... but with tobacconists going out of business every day, I think you are dreaming ...
JBG Offline
#3 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 1:27 PM EST
Joined: 01-21-2001
Posts: 145
First of all, remind me to never piss you off!!! lol---My high end picks would Don Carlos Belicoso ($10-$12 retail I think...Very nice cigars) & Hemingway Classic ($8 +/-). I love my La La La's, as I call them - La Flor Dominicana, La Perla, La Gloria. As much as I like churchills & pyramids, if I need a quickie, it'
s Mayorga robusto Maduro & Punch rothchilds.
Mr.Mean Offline
#4 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 2:43 PM EST
Joined: 05-16-2001
Posts: 3,025
I'll shoot for the Cupido Toro Negro and a Indian Tabac Maduro Boxer
delarob Offline
#5 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 3:54 PM EST
Joined: 06-28-2001
Posts: 5,318
Definitely Indian Tabacs... all of em. That and Perdomos, Bock Y's, CAO, & Victor Sinclairs.
pawnpusher Offline
#6 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 4:27 PM EST
Joined: 09-02-2001
Posts: 25
I'm not hoping to put them out of business - just give them a run for their money.

When they are selling a bullet punch for $19 and it is the same one I paid $5 someone has to step in.

Undercut their prices and top of the line customer service - that will convert a lot of bargin hunter cigar smokers like myself.
BBJ Offline
#7 Posted: Sat, Oct 13 2001, 5:12 PM EST
Joined: 11-21-1999
Posts: 286
Just Treat Every One Like A Friend Offer A Good Cigars At A Fair Price And I And Am Glad You Don't Want To Get Rich LoL.Give It Your Best Shot!!!Were Will It Be?
Now,Top Of The Line Punch Grand Cru Or Pordron.The LA Aurora DR Is A Good One.That Is As Rich As My Blood Gets. Bottom Don Tomas Maduro Or 5 Vega.The Torcedor Is Not A Bad Buck Stick(I Would Not Pay Any More For It)
Good Luck
RICKAMAVEN Offline
#8 Posted: Sun, Oct 14 2001, 7:28 AM EST
Joined: 10-01-2000
Posts: 33,248
i hate to cut to the chase, but - what town do you live in? what makes you think they are looking down at you? what makes you think you can get cigars from distributors? i usually keep more cigars around than 500 for my personal use.
Slimboli Offline
#9 Posted: Sun, Oct 14 2001, 8:37 AM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Rick's right ... a small store would have at least 5,000 to 6,000 cigars

... my personal stock is around 1,000, and that's not very many!

I wonder if he has his tobacco license yet ...
abennett23 Offline
#10 Posted: Sun, Oct 14 2001, 11:19 AM EST
Joined: 02-15-2001
Posts: 126
I also agree I have around 750 for my personal use and feel that i am gettting low (at least for some sticks), not to mention a retail shop overhead, business license, taxes, ect.
ellesson Offline
#11 Posted: Sun, Oct 14 2001, 12:06 PM EST
Joined: 05-13-2001
Posts: 150
I have been a small business owner for quite awhile. It can be very rewarding but it is NEVER as easy as you think its going to be. I would never discourage someone from trying and have helped a few do it. But I would reccomend you do your homework first. cj
delarob Offline
#12 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 2:28 AM EST
Joined: 06-28-2001
Posts: 5,318
I hated homework.....
pawnpusher Offline
#13 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 6:53 AM EST
Joined: 09-02-2001
Posts: 25
Rick -

I visited Lubbock TX where I'll be moving in a couple of months. I know they looked down upon me because I waited for 20 minutes to get some help while a guy in a business suit walked in a was helped right away (he came in after me). When I finally talked to the guy he was very short with me and was not helpful at all. This happened in both of their stores with different people.

I know I can get cigars from distributors because I have money ... and money talks to business people. I too have over 500 cigars in my humidor but I am opening up a stall type shop so I won't need thousands.
pawnpusher Offline
#14 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 6:57 AM EST
Joined: 09-02-2001
Posts: 25
TO ALL -

My shop is going to be like a vendor shop yu would see on the sidewalk. It is movable and I will move it to all the "hotspots" Clubs, resturants, etc. For that I have no rent, no utlities, etc. My own cost is cigars and taxes. I am the only employee is me so no cost there. Plus I am only looking to make a few bucks a month...

Slash prices ... great customer service will be enough I think to give them a run for their money...
sellnmony Offline
#15 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 7:24 AM EST
Joined: 01-24-2000
Posts: 243
Great customer service should be in every business Mission Statement... But tell me, if great customer service is why people come to your business... How in the hell are they going to find you, when you are moving around to all the "Hot spots"?
CL Offline
#16 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 7:46 AM EST
Joined: 02-08-2000
Posts: 855
Hey Pawnpusher -- I'm in Lubbock! Sounds like a neat idea, I just don't know if Lubbock is big enough to support that kind of business. I personally think it would be great but I don't know what kind of business you could maintain. I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience here. The two shops you went to, (yes, owned by the same family), are the only shops in town that carry premium cigars. There was one other tobacconist, a neat little shop just across from the Tx Tech campus, that opened and closed as soon as the cigar "boom" came and went. If you're serious, best of luck to you, but do please give the current shop another try. I know the owners and they really are good people. Most of the employees are as well, but you know what they say about finding good help! They have been around for years and I believe have good relationships established with the cigar distributors. I think that's really important when you're trying to keep stock coming in. They keep a good stock on hand all the time. To give you an idea of the "climate" here, there was a cigar & martini bar opened during the "boom" which I personally LOVED but the idea never really caught on. They're still open and doing well, but they altered their "look" to stay in business -- I think they pulled out their walk-in humidor and are now more of a night club with live music kind of place. When they first opened, I would go in there weekday nights for a good cup of coffee with a book, but I was often one of two or three in there. The cigar bar concept, MUCH to my dismay, just didn't catch on here. The shop(s) here have a once-a-month cigar club attended regularly by maybe 20 people. I'm sure that's the only organized gathering of cigar "enthusiasts" here. Let me know when you come in to town and I'll show you around. I have a few friends who are as fanatical as I am about cigars that I'm sure would be happy to meet with you (any reason is a good reason to fire one up!) and give you their thoughts.
pawnpusher Offline
#17 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 9:24 AM EST
Joined: 09-02-2001
Posts: 25
sellmoney ---

They would know because on Friday I'll be at this club, Saturday this day, etc. Everyone knows which place is hot on which date.
pawnpusher Offline
#18 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 9:30 AM EST
Joined: 09-02-2001
Posts: 25
CL - I just got back last night!!! I talked with the female owner and her son (both in different stores) and both were very rude. Even after I talked with the people for 20 minutes they checked my ID (18 came and went long ago).

I'm willing to give them another shot but I am really looking forward to opening shop.
plabonte Offline
#19 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 11:24 AM EST
Joined: 09-11-2000
Posts: 2,131
I think its nice that you asked everyone what they would stock their Humi's with. But you really should be asking people in your neighborhood what they want. After all they are the ones that will be buying. My suggestion is to pose as a newbie, go into these stores and ask them which cigars are the most popular. My guess is those are the ones you want to stock because they will move quickly.
CL Offline
#20 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 12:12 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2000
Posts: 855
Was it Karen and Cody? Karen's probably late 40's; Cody is 20-something. Another lady, I believe it might be Karen's mother, is also at the downtown shop, and she's not the "bubbliest" person you'll meet. But Karen, although quiet, is usually a really nice person. John, Karen's brother, runs the mall store -- he's a nice person also. I'm sorry to hear that happened!
Have you thought about which places you'd usually be close to? The cigar-bar-turned-bar I told you about is in the Depot District. We frequent Fox & Hound, but they carry their own cigars ($$$!). You'd want to be in a place where you'd get the best exposure, and the Depot District is probably your best bet. It's the closest thing we have to a restaurant/club district where you'd be exposed to more than one establishment at any one time. Otherwise, you'd find yourself next to only one or two restaurants at a time. When you come back to town, let me know and we'll get together. My friends and I have a pretty good feel for what's up here in Lubbock. My e-mail: [email protected].
Mr.Mean Offline
#21 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 4:55 PM EST
Joined: 05-16-2001
Posts: 3,025
Yeah, you could sit outside Cliff's house when he makes beer! You may want to take the tunafish sandwiches out from under your arms when you frequent these establishments. Worked for me!
ellesson Offline
#22 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 5:30 PM EST
Joined: 05-13-2001
Posts: 150
Well.... When all else fails persistance will usually win out. You sound persistant. Good Luck.. cj
tailgater Offline
#23 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 6:30 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
Pawny, one sure-fire way to make it big in the retail business is to do it for Spite! Don't worry about a sales plan or the financing, as long as you have it in for these local shops you will go far. Let your angst overwhelm you until you exude an aroma for success. Else you can tuck the aformentioned tunafish sandwiches under each arm and try again... In the meantime, take it from a fellow small business owner: the hours are long and the pay often sucks, but you get to sleep with the boss's wife every night!
joedayan Offline
#24 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 6:43 PM EST
Joined: 04-19-2001
Posts: 261
I've owned a few in My day and closed a few. Here's my three tips. 1. Have lots of money, enough for a year at least. 2. Work ungodly hours, worry constantly, pay well and gets a little sleep. 3. Pay all your taxes(learned that one the hard way). With a lot of luck and sweat you've got a 8% chance of succeeding on your first try, 15% on your second, 25% on your third and no chance if you don't make at least one of those work for a fourth. Put away your rage, surf the web for deals, buy five packs on c-bid and get a real job. Unless...
hegemonic Offline
#25 Posted: Mon, Oct 15 2001, 8:43 PM EST
Joined: 01-17-2000
Posts: 1,294
pawnpusher, your business plan sounds like it needs a little bit of work. Rage and rage are well and good, but make sure you get grounded a bit with reality. I have a few questions for you, regarding your new venture: 1. What are your goals/what would you deem as a success? 2. If successful, will you stay open for your newfound customers? 3. Do you have a tobacco license for your shop? (A distributor will not send you a price list unless you do.) 4. Do you know anyone that owns/owned a shop that can guide you? If you need help, email me at [email protected] . (I just left the cigar industry last month but can point you to some good people that can help you [montanajack is one of them]).
stogie-man Offline
#26 Posted: Tue, Oct 16 2001, 5:49 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2001
Posts: 612
I say get into tree work and drop a tree on thier shop. Only kiddin' LOL Good luck in your venture, and go into it with a clear head. Take peoples advice, and lastly, bail out before you hit rock bottom.
CL Offline
#27 Posted: Wed, Oct 17 2001, 9:39 AM EST
Joined: 02-08-2000
Posts: 855
Pawnpusher, I got your e-mail. Let me know when you're in town next if you'd like to get together. You should take advantage of Heg's advice offer -- he knows his stuff. He has I'm sure good and bad stories of working in the business. Ask him what it takes to carry Fuente products! As mentioned here, plan and market research thoroughly before proceeding.
tailgater Offline
#28 Posted: Thu, Oct 18 2001, 4:47 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
And look both ways before crossing. And don't run with scissors. And never swallow gum, it stays in your stomach forever. Did I miss any?
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