B&M tobacco names

[shaintiques]

Well my local B&M has new ownership. This is a really good thing as they are cleaning, repainting, getting new furniture, etc. And they also want to expand their pipe and pipe tobacco selection. Since I run the pipe club they are looking to me to help them. The first thing I said was, just tell us what it is. I see so many B&M's that get tobacco in such as 1Q or a Stokkebye and they rename it. As if a new name makes is more appealing. I told him, just tell us what it is, if it's 1Q mark it as such, you will sell more. If it is marked autumn sunshine, I don't know what in the heck it is, but I know what 1Q is. I get naming something you have blended yourself, but if it is just a straight from the factory tobacco, just call it what it is.

He seemed very interested and even told me that he is going to come to the club next week and learn how to smoke a pipe, learn about different kinds of tobaccos, and products that people might want. I am excited about the possibilities.

So if anyone is in the Douglasville, GA area next thursday I'll be at New Manchester Cigars from 5-7pm. Come and bring a tin of your favorite, because chances are these guys will start carrying it.

 

[mluyckx]

Nice !
Good job supporting a small business owner and a tobacconist at that :clap:

 

[cacooper]

Greetings,
It just astounds me that the "owner" of a TOBACCO SHOP has to be taught by a customer how to smoke a pipe. That's like opening a pizza parlor, then having customers teach you how to make pizza.
Personally, I feel you really should be somewhat experienced in your chosen craft before opening a retail establishment. Just sayin'.
I do wish them much success and good luck. The tobacco trade is not an easy one these days.
CACooper

 

[shaintiques]

Well he is a cigar guy and knows a lot about cigars, I would say that a majority of Cigar shops know the basics about pipes and pipe tobaccos, but there are very few at least in the south that know a lot about pipes or have a good selection for that matter. I have met some that really don't care about the pipe customer and are generally butts about it, this guy wants to learn and is genuinely interested so I'll give him props and help in any way that I can.

 

[mick]

That's like opening a pizza parlor, then having customers teach you how to make pizza.

Sounds more like a pizza shop where the owner has to be taught how to make a calzone.
Good for the owner! Not only is pretending to know what you don't bad/bad business, but also he has a great opportunity to draw in customers from the pipe club. I say, good luck to him!

 

[sparroa]

Great suggestion on the naming, shaintiques. It's a nonsensical approach for a B&M to take credit for a blend that they had no hand in creating. They miss out on all of the name recognition that the established brand brings and they are essentially putting on airs as tobacco blenders... If they want to prove their mettle, then they should start devising their own formulas and mixing batches out back!
Pipe smoking is only a blip on the radar of the mainstream market, so any cigar shop owners who want to diversify and become full-fledged tobacconists should be applauded... Kudos to you for helping them out!
My suggestion would probably be to start out small with the pipe tobacco yet try to maintain a deep selection where possible; I'm sure the guy doesn't want a lot of inventory on his hands, so a "sales-oriented" approach coupled with some critically acclaimed favourites may be a good balance that encourages him to broaden the selection even further in the future... (As opposed to loading the place down with obscure tins that no casual customers will likely buy)
In addition to whatever you instruct him in a "Coles Notes" fashion, perhaps you can suggest a small book or two that would be a useful primer on the subject that the owner can read and/or keep in the store as a reference or staff resource. (Maybe even something small like Weber's Guide to Pipes and Pipe Smoking - I think there is a new edition at around 125 pages for cheap on Amazon)

 

[shaintiques]

Those are some good tips. Yeah the thread going about 1Q is an example of what I am talking about. 40 some people have chimed in about the different names out there, which I just find confusing.
What would you guys suggest as a starter pack of a variety of blends.
I was going to suggest, Erinmore, A couple of Aros, some squadron leader, stokkeye's optimum. I'm thinking specifically about tinned tobaccos.

 

[mick]

You mentioned the pipe club, they could always survey the crowd and see what most people smoke/like. If everyone turns their nose up at aromatics, don't suggest ordering a bunch of aromatics. :lol:

 

[sparroa]

The biggest question I have is what do they already have in stock? You mentioned an expansion of their pipe tobacco... Maybe they just carry OTC brands or something?
Aromatics would probably be his bread and butter so it'd be wise to have a nice variety of high quality examples. Other than that, I'd go to pains to represent each major category (Virginia, Virginia/Perique, Burley, English/Balkan etc) with a few options just so there is a little something for everyone. The thing is, however, that the owner should really get versed in the different varieties first or he'll never be able to give sound recommendations to his customers. That's why it is great that you and your pipe club are going to help him out.
Mick has a good idea, too... Ask his customers, the pipe club, what they would like to see because maybe they have eclectic tastes that wouldn't be matched by safe bets. Old school market research!
I could probably chime in with a few more specifics but I'd like to hear what kind of stock they have on hand...

 

[nsfisher]

Now that new owner is on his way to success. Nothing better than to be able to relate personally to your clients. Also have to admire the person who admits he needs help.

 

[tbradsim1]

He"s lucky to have you Dave, I know you will give him honest good advice, no bulls@&$ , that some people do to get in good with the boss, The old cajun

 

[judcole]

If he is going to expand into tinned tobaccos, the way to start, I would think, would be to carry certain lines, as opposed to worrying about types. Have him get Sutliff, for example,if he is already getting Altadis lines. MacBaren is a well-known name. If he starts carrying 2-4 well known lines, and is successful there, then he can branch out. Maybe Sutliff, MacBaren, and C&D or McClelland for starters. He probably can't carry all their blends,for heaven's sake, but he can get a good variety. Make it simple for him to get started. ::

 

[hawk60ce]

CAO tins. Will be great for the cigar smoker making the transition as it will be a name and flavor they recognize. CAO moontrance was the first tin i bought because it was a name a knew.

 

[simnettpratt]

One of my favorite things my B&M does is includes tax in every price, and everything ends in zero cents or fifty cents. You don't have to try and figure out what $6.95 plus 8½ percent tax is, if it's marked $7.00, just hand him a ten dollar bill and he'll give you three ones.
This is the guy that went to get a haircut and left the dog in charge. Baccy is $5.00 an ounce. When he got back there were several notes, like I bought two ounces of this and one ounce of that, here's a twenty, I took five dollars out of the change drawer. Weighed it themselves and everything. Great guy.