-
-
Subscribe
------------------
------------------
----------------- -
Poker Deck
Kevin Godbee
Just out of college in 1987, Jeff Packer was looking for a job to hold him over until he could find something "more permanent". He walked into Tinderbox in Tacoma, Washington, and now 25-years later he is still there. As a matter of fact, he owns the place now—and has for the last 15-years. Jeff worked his way up to manager, and then became the franchise owner in 1997. He had not smoked pipes or cigars prior to working at the store, but soon took to the hobby and became well-versed in pipes, tobaccos, and in running a successful retail store.
When asked what his smoke of choice is, he says; "I like to smoke pipes more in the winter, and cigars more in the summer", which is not uncommon for people that smoke both pipes and cigars. As far as pipe tobacco goes, Packer likes to smoke aromatic tobaccos. Two of his favorites are the Tinder Box’s own blends; Wilshire (a Cavendish blend named for the original Tinder Box on Wilshire Blvd.) and Waffle House.
Packer is in agreement with statistics and others in the pipe business that the market is growing. Even though many in the business have discussed the new influx of younger adults in the past few years, Packer states that his pipe business is on the rise throughout all age brackets. He has young adults, middle-aged, and more mature customers buying pipes and tobaccos. Some of his new customers also include former cigarette smokers switching to the pipe for a healthier alternative, and women as well.
 |
 |
As far as sales trends in pipes, the "traditional half bent is still the most popular". He sells more smooth finishes, and most of his sales are in the price range of $30-$60. The pipe inventory overall ranges in price from $30 to $125, and there are one or two pipes in the $300 area. There are 65 bulk tobacco house blends, along with a few blending tobaccos and a small selection of national brand name tins, which brings their selection to about 100 different pipe tobaccos. The store sells more aromatic tobaccos, which represent 80% of the overall tobacco sales.
 |
 |
A longtime customer of Tinder Box, Greg Mitchell, has been shopping here for over ten years—the entire time he has been a pipe smoker, and he only buys his pipe tobacco from Tinder Box. He evangelizes at length about the superior quality of Tinder Box tobaccos.
 |
 |
If you are in the Tacoma or Seattle area, be sure to make time to visit the Tinder Box store. You will find an impressive selection of pipes and tobaccos, and quite knowledgeable staff that has been working there for ten years. That alone says something about the management of the business and quality of service.
|
Kevin Godbee is the Publisher & Editor in Chief of Pipes Magazine. Kevin started smoking pipes and cigars in 1998 and started an online cigar magazine & community site in 2005. (The site was acquired in 2008 and no longer exists.) He launched PipesMagazine.com in 2009, and in less than three years the site has become the largest trafficked pipe smoking related site, and the #1 Source for Pipes and Pipe Tobacco Information. In the beginning of his career, Kevin worked in the hobby and specialty toy business for 16 years in sales, marketing, advertising and product development for three different manufacturers, and with his own company. Over the last 10 years working in the online business, he has become an expert in Internet Marketing and SEO. Kevin is a Certified Master Tobacconist (CMT) through Tobacconist University, a member of Cigar Rights of America and is a "Media Member" of the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association. In his spare time he sings, plays guitar, cooks, and enjoys all the wonderful places to go and things to do in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida where he lives in his penthouse bachelor pad. Kevin has been smoking pipes and cigars for 14 years. |
5 Responses to “Tinder Box, Tacoma WA”
-->Read More Posts in Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight
Most Popular Articles
2010 Chicago Pipe Show Photos: Photos from the 2010 Chicago Pipe Show [gallery=8]... 1 comment(s) | 147120 view(s)
Burley - The Rodney Dangerfield of Tobacco: By Russ Ouellette "I don't get no respect, no respect at all!" If you're 30 or older, you... 27 comment(s) | 124619 view(s)
The Naked Dublin: A Look at the Work of Jared Coles: Tom Spithaler One of the benefits to being employed by a major firearms manufacturer by day is th... 9 comment(s) | 112075 view(s)
Ask G. L. Pease February 2012 (Volume 10): G. L. Pease The problem with writing a Q&A column is that there's always someone with a questio... 15 comment(s) | 107519 view(s)
Chelsea Smokes a Stanwell Featherweight Sandblasted: I love this shoot. Chelsea looks hot in her jeans and sweater, and she has the most amazing blue eye... 3 comment(s) | 87038 view(s)
McClelland Orient 996 Pipe Tobacco Review: Adam J. Smith Tin Notes: A special blend of sugary bright Virginia and aged, mellow red Virginia, s... 11 comment(s) | 77903 view(s)
The Great Detective and His Pipes: By Russ Ouellette The time is the mid-1880s and the location is London, England, specifically a sec... 35 comment(s) | 75827 view(s)
Indiana Smoking Ban Unnecessary Jobs-Killer: Indianapolis, Indiana - The International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association says the ... 6 comment(s) | 74687 view(s)
March 2012 Cartoon Caption Contest Sponsored by SmokingPipes.com: PipesMagazine.com Cartoon Caption Contest Sponsored by SmokingPipes.com Welcome to our 2nd monthl... 4 comment(s) | 74247 view(s)
Guerilla Marketing: By Russ Ouellette I've been involved in sales and marketing for over 30 years, sometimes for small ... 12 comment(s) | 72154 view(s)
Captain Black Pipe Tobacco Review: Captain Black has got to be one of the best mass-market distributed pipe tobaccos out there. If you ... 41 comment(s) | 72097 view(s)
PR Firm Leads $13.3M Campaign Against Citizens Rights: Birmingham, Alabama - A $13.3 million federally funded anti-smoking campaign led by a Birmingham pub... 11 comment(s) | 71719 view(s)
Cup O' Joes #2 Maricoxi Tobacco Review: Cyndi Dollins, Photos by Paul Arms The tin says this blend is a mix of Broken Virginia, Black Caven... 12 comment(s) | 70879 view(s)
A Three Pipe Problem: By Dustin Babitzke Whizzing down I-70 at 75 mph, wind blowing through my hair, the open ... 10 comment(s) | 69830 view(s)
This Isn't Your Grandfather's Pipe: By Kevin Godbee Who smokes a pipe anymore these days? (I mean a wooden pipe with tobacco in it, not... 22 comment(s) | 69139 view(s)
Fred Hanna's New Book for Pipe Smokers a Must Have: The Perfect Smoke - Gourmet Pipe Smoking for Relaxation and Reflection, By Fred J. Hanna Kevin Godb... 43 comment(s) | 69032 view(s)
Balkan Sobranie Re-Release Review And Comparison!: By Adam J. Smith I would like to start this column off by thanking both Mr. Kevin Godbee and PipesM... 36 comment(s) | 68157 view(s)
Pipes Smokers May Be the Next Target of the FDA: By Kevin Godbee U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Sherrod ... 8 comment(s) | 67412 view(s)
Pipemaker Profile: Rolando Negoita: Russ Ouellette For those who are unfamiliar with upstate New York, it's probably far different than... 15 comment(s) | 65973 view(s)
Violet is a Blonde Knockout Smoking G.L. Pease Union Square in a Stanwell Pipe: Here's an exquisite photo shoot of our sumptuous blonde, blue-eyed Pipe Babe, Violet. She is enjoyin... 3 comment(s) | 63184 view(s)
| Pipe Manufacturer & Retailer Spotlight | Pipe News | Pipe of the Week | Pipe Smoking Thoughts | Put that in Your Pipe |
Wine | About
Us | Contact
Us | Links
| Privacy
Policy | Terms
& Conditions | DMCA
Notice | Advertising
| Site Map |
| Getting Published on PipesMagazine.com |
All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2009 - 2013 Right Click Media, LLCThis site, PipesMagazine.com, is not in any way affiliated with Pipes and Tobaccos Magazine.
We are an online magazine & community and do not publish a print version.
We use the SafeSurf Rating System to signify that PipesMagazine.com is for adults only
mlaug said:
Its nice to see a successful business run by someone with a passion for the industry. The only Tinderbox, local to me, gradually moved to more and more gift inventory over the years and finally became a pipe/cigar/tobacco shop in name only.
It closed shortly thereafter.
My first experience of an honest to God pipe/tobacco store was going to a Tinderbox back in 1977. I still remember how I felt walking out of that store with my first non-drug store pipe and tobacco. I still have that Ben Wade Golden Walnut, 30+ years later.
I have lots of good Tinderbox memories.
June 20th, 2012 at 11:27 am
rigmedic1 said:
Always enjoyed Tinderbox tobaccos, particularly Connousieur, the 1928 Special Reserve, and Philopher. Unfortunately, the local Tinderbox does not carry the ones that I like. Purchased my Sam Martin pipe in that Tinderbox, way back in 1986. Glad to see someone keeping the faith, and making a successful go of it.
June 20th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
cortezattic said:
Thanks for a very well written and wonderfully illustrated feature article proving that the B&M is still alive and well.
June 20th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
oldtom said:
Thanks for the report.
Nearby Nashville once had two locations but by the mid ’80s both were gone. I discovered both stores when I moved to Nashville back in ‘70 and enjoyed every visit and smoked many of their blends and bought several pipes there even with my limited budget. Chuck (last name not remembered) who owned the shop was very friendly and helpful. Bill Hill who once worked for CAO also worked there.
Sad to see it close. I’ve been to a couple of others but they just weren’t the same.
I’d like to see another one open here.
June 25th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
bornagainbriar said:
I too am a big fan of the Tinder Box blends. I just received a sample of the Waffle House blend from store owner Jeff Packer, and it is fantastic. If you like the aromatics, the Waffle House bland is not only unique to The Tinder Box chain, it is unique to the Tacoma location! The only place to get that blend is from the Tacoma Tinder Box store! Great people to deal with and work with.
June 25th, 2012 at 4:20 pm