I was just looking at the high priced cigars at Thompson's and saw a new cigar called Toro Bravo. I noticed the label was somewhat familiar. The center medallion on the label was new to me but the sleeves were identical to a cigar I once bought over a year ago called Escudo Cubano. My question is: Does anyone know if there are manufactures whose only job is to produce labels and when a cigar company no longer employs that label they have the right to sell it to another manufacture to use on their cigars? Just seemed a little odd that it was identical other than medallion and they made no mention to it's relationship to those I had bought a year ago as being a sister cigar or such. Please advise if one knows.

I want to know how Thompson's stays in business with their higher than anybody else pricing! They used to offer the "specials" in magazines and I am sure that attracted a lot of "newbies" but still they are a little high on price!

They are probably owned by the same cigar manufacturer and use the same graphic designer. Saves money to use the same plates for printing or maybe their graphics guy is limited in his creativity. I guess another could be they are stealing designs, hope not.