C&D - Time For Some Focus?

[peckinpahhombre]

mso - I think I may have heard from somewhere that C&D is leaving NC and moving operations to SC. Anyone else here this? I can't remember where or I heard it or if I am just dreaming.

 

[torque]

I actually wrote a few sentences about how the Pease blends left me with pretty much the same impressions as the C&D offerings in my previous post but deleted them since the focus of the thread was C&D. Well, since you guys went ahead and pulled the Pease blends into the discussion, I guess I'll muddy the waters even further with more anecdotal opinion.
I actually have a problem with all four of the more prolifically marketed American blenders; C&D, Pease, McClelland, and Hearth & Home. I think all of these guys are "missing it" in one way or another.
C&D and Pease are in the same category for me, which I've already expounded on, very nice strength with a distinct lack in the flavor profile department.
I look at McClelland and H&H as the exact flip side of that coin. I haven't tried a McClelland blend yet that didn't just floor me with the incredibly enjoyable flavors they produce, and I've tried more than a few. I've only had two of Russ' blends but both had me coo-coo for coco puffs in regards to how they taste. The problem with these two blenders is that there just isn't any strength there, at least in the blends that I have tried. Lots of just really incredible flavor but little to no real "oomph". It's kind of like drinking a cup of really high quality decaffeinated coffee. The flavor is there in spades but I'm still left feeling unsatisfied.
As pipe smokers, it seems to me, we are really looking for both of these elements to be addressed in a blend before we are truly satisfied with an offering. Some of the European blenders (SG, K&K, Germain, etc.) really seem to have accomplished this, while none of the American blender that I have tried seem to have been able to balance the equation, so to speak. Truth is, as a proud American, I would prefer to buy US blended tobacco. I just haven't found an American blend that hits on all cylinders for me yet.
Anyway, this post truly derails this thread and I apologize for that.

 

[igloo]

Varity is the spice of life and I for one am glad they offer a wide spectrum to choose from . A lot of tobaccos go on a A-list fueled by lists of follow the leader .But there are some of us out there who like to throw in a tin of the unknown . I can say I never regretted ever trying any of their blends and on top of that they have the best blend names and tin art . That all adds up to a win win for pipe smokers ,long live the 150+ blend lineup . :puffpipe:

 

[troutface]

As pipe smokers, it seems to me, we are really looking for both of these elements to be addressed

To the contrary, not every pipe smoker needs or wants nicotine. Don't lump us all into one boat.

 

[torque]

I stand corrected my good sir
That was a bit of a broad brush I used, I should have personalized that statement, my apologies.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Thanks guys. It looks like a pretty clear consensus has emerged that C&D does need a change of direction and a renewed focus. I am glad everyone agrees with me, though to be frank, that is neither unexpected nor unusual.
:rofl:

 

[papipeguy]

Thanks for opening Pandora's Box.

 

[rcstan]

It's way above my pay grade at SPC to even know anything about the blend consolidation, but it is a fact that C&D operations, machinery, tobacco leaf and whatever else will be moved from Morganton NC to coastal SC ( Little River / Loris / Longs ) in an all-in-one facility with SPC and LDG ( Savinelli USA ) sometimes before the end of this year.

Our blend wall in the retail store at Low Country Pipe and Cigar has now a lot more C&D jars for our customers to sample the product. I have tried a few, some up my alley, and some not quite so. I will not further expand on that due to the fact everyone's tastes are different.

 

[settersbrace]

Lets approach all this from a different angle for a moment. Personally I'm thankful for blenders like C&D regardless of how overwhelming their catalog may appear. The sales figures for any given blend or series of blends should eventually instigate a Go or no-go response from any business and the more popular or best selling blends should continue on recieving the love from us pipe smokers. I'd rather have too much to choose from then not enough and I think most would agree that those of us on this forum and others only make up a small percentage of the overall community as Russ O. Stated in his recent column as he reflected on the Chicago show. I have some true favorites from C&D as do many here and chances are I'll never sample much beyond 10-15% of what they are offering and that's being rather generous. Same with Pease, I have smoked several of his blends and will continue too but I don't like all of them. Again, let's be happy we have the choices we do.

 

[mikestanley]

I just went to tobaccoreviews.com to check. They have 248 blends listed. I was curious to see how McClelland stacked up, they list 188. I don't know if it's the number so much as the heavy reliance on Burley that keeps C&D out of my rotation. I'll admit that some of the "folksy" tin art doesn't suit my eye either. All that being said, they do make a couple of blends I've enjoyed. Now McClelland, they are strongly represented and constantly in play.
Different strokes and all.
Mike S.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Here is an interesting discussion I located on the web.

"When people have no choice, life is almost unbearable. As the number of available choices increases, as it has in our consumer culture, the autonomy and liberation this variety brings are powerful and positive. But as the number of choices keeps growing, negative aspects of having a multitude of options begin to appear. As the number of choices grows further, the negatives escalate until we become overloaded. At this point, choice no longer liberates, but debilitates. It might even be said to tyrannize."

-- Barry Schwartz, The Paradox of Choice
Takeaways for decision-makers
1. Think hard about the minimum amount of choice you need, in order to clearly differentiate your brand from the competition. Look back 6 years and compare Apple’s iPhone product range next to Nokia’s, for instance. Choice can be a confusing burden as much as a convenience.
2. Every decision you fail to take to focus and simplify your range, is one more that your customers will be burdened with, every single time.
3. Too much choice can be perceived as a lack of confidence in your own brand. Being asked 12 different questions about how you want your burrito will be cognitively-tiring and leave many wondering why the company can’t be more bold and self-assured with respect to its product.
4. Streamline choice architecture to encourage some sort of ‘good’ decision (whatever you, as a decision-maker, determine ‘good’ to be) where one would otherwise not take place at all. For instance, reducing choice and consumer apathy within a user flow at key intervals where drop-off has been found to be high will increase conversion.
5. You’ll have to work harder & spend more to market the differences between the products in your range, the more choice you offer.

 

[troutface]

That was a bit of a broad brush I used, I should have personalized that statement, my apologies.

Thank you for that torque. Hope my brushback pitch wasn't too strong. The older I get the less I care for nicotine, caffeine and alcohol. Now if only someone would invent a good cocktail without alcohol :wink:

 

[adam12]

In all honesty, this pandora's box has been open for years... for a very long time, their business model has revolved around "dabbling"... you simply can't tell me that a PINCH MORE of latakia in this blend produces a whole new blend... but their emphasis (to me) has always been on the PRESENTATION, the interesting labels, the funky titles, the CULTURE of smoking, and they are willing to take the criticism of their blends being too samey so that they can market their stuff in an interesting way.
I have long thought they GAIN and attract newer smokers with their marketing style, which is a good thing
And they're not hurting for money
So... props to them
Edit: Holy crap that's my 777th post, is that like a reverse 666?

 

[peckinpahhombre]

An interesting perspective Adam12. Of course, unless you work for Laudisi/C&D, you have no way of knowing about the financial health of C&D. In any event, as a business owner you need to constantly re-evaluate your strategic direction to ensure that you are maximizing your return on investment. You may be doing well, but you always need to ask: What could we be doing better?
In any event, this has been an interesting discussion and I look forward to see what developments will arise at C&D. My prediction is that we will see a meaningful shrinkage in the number of blends and a focus on different product "lines". I think we are already seeing this to a degree with the introduction of the new "cellar series".

 

[cobguy]

Out of curiosity, I went to TR.com and used the advanced search to limit the blends

to those without Cav or Black Cav.
This brought the original 248 listed blends down to 109.
Next, I sorted by avg. rating and counted those with 3.0 or higher ratings.

This brought the total all the way down to 43 ... much more managable.
So, yes ... looks like some focus could be in order! :D

 

[torque]

Hope my brushback pitch wasn't too strong.

Not at all Was a good and righteous critique of my post. Nothing I wrote could be considered anything but personal perspective.

 

[conlejm]

C'mon, I don't think there are enough C&D blends. If you count the number of different types of tobaccos: all the different Virginias, Dark-Fireds, Latakias, Burleys, Orientals, Periques, etc. and all the different ways they are aged/processed, and then apply the Combination Formula, you'll find that C&D has covered just the tip of the iceberg, and that doesn't even consider the proportion of each tobacco within each blend. I'd say their R&D has some work to do!
Math is fun! :crazy:

 

[woodsroad]

RcStan just pitched something our way, and it shouldn't be overlooked:

but it is a fact that C&D operations, machinery, tobacco leaf and whatever else will be moved from Morganton NC to coastal SC ( Little River / Loris / Longs ) in an all-in-one facility with SPC and LDG ( Savinelli USA ) sometimes before the end of this year.

This is a major cultural shift for C&D. No, not a shift, but a fundemental transformation. It will be interesting to see which, if any, C&D personnel make the move, but after the move is completed, everything will have changed with the C&D brand. Nothing will remain the same.
The next question is: When will STG acquire LDG?

 

[weezell]

Cornell & Diehl Bulk Old Joe Krantz, hope nothing happens to it before I stock up...

 

[derfargin]

Usually when there's been an acquisition, and/or major change there has to be some kind of measures that justify costs. I think that we may see C&D culling some varieties in the future that haven't seen much action from consumers, and perhaps focusing on the items that have seen positive numbers in revenue.
I have a bunch of C&D tins and the funny thing is I haven't smoked a single C&D offering to date since I picked up the pipe in Oct of last year. I've been reading on forums, and looking at descriptions getting an idea of what of their products I think I might like. I've been liking burley quite a bit, and they seem to be a burley powerhouse so I figured why not. This thread is making me want to jump in and start cracking tins, but the frugal part of me says I need to hold off until I can free up some space in jars with blend I've already got working. Damn me an my level-headed-ness.
BTW, great thread Peck.
Great thing about this forum is that so many of the actual blenders/blending houses read these threads.