Questions for Leonardw

[woodsroad]

Not trying to invite anyone else in for commentary, honestly.

Then send him a PM.
This is a forum.

 

[woodsroad]

Simple: citing the number of jobs the industry creates gives lawmakers incentive to vote against things that hurt that industry. The higher the number the more compelling it is making it harder for those laws to pass.

I was referring more to the Sutliff factory being shut down

Ok, I get that, but the government never cares about losing jobs. They care about losing power and campaign contributions. Did they ever look at jobs lost when they passed the Tobacco Control Act in 2009? When they enacted the deeming regulations?

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

Then send him a PM.
This is a forum.

You do know what the title of this forum is, yes? I’m actually trying to stay on topic.

 

[telescopes]

I met all of the STG folks, including Leonard and Lasse, at the big pipe shows. All very engaged and and damned fun to spend time with. But, FWIW, I don’t smoke people or personalities. I smoke pipe tobacco. This “community” touchy-feely thing is BS, egged on by folks who really need to get out of the basement more often.

Amen

 

[Zamora]

I say just be polite for polite’s sake. I can’t blame the people who feel like this is damage control for the US market because it does feel that way. STG is hardly present in the community in general. Their people aren’t on here or other forums/discords/chats very often at all. STG should be more engaged, supporting pipe shows, and podcasts if they want us to be more engaged with them. People shouldn’t be rude, period. But STG needs to step up as a community member now more than ever. So I agree that Leonard is doing a good thing here but he even admits it’s on a personal level and not at STG’s request. I hear good things about Max, but where is he besides in cringy Captain Black videos? STG should be more involved as a community member, and not just consider us at the end of its point of sale system. My 2¢ anyway.

For their cigar brands they definitely have public reps who go to cigar events, tour B&Ms accross the US and appear on YouTube channels, for the specific brand but not STG. Cigars Daily has had ones for CAO and Macanudo off the top of my head. STG also recently hired Room 101 founder Matt Booth as blender, he's one of the most visible and publicly engaged figures in the cigar industry.

 

[jpberg]

@leonardw Thank you, whether we all agree with what your company is/will do, you are a shining example of how to sell pipe tobacco. It gives me a lot of incentive to change my mind and support what you guys do.

While, I've got your ear, you need a kick ass strong blend in your line up. Maybe release some rustica blends or some juicy black ropes all gooey with nicotine. Ha ha!

They did.

 

[jpberg]

You do know what the title of this forum is, yes? I’m actually trying to stay on topic.

Bonus points. Welcome to pmag. What’s your sign?

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

Bonus points. Welcome to pmag. What’s your sign

Wrong Way
Do Not Enter

 

[jpberg]

Wrong Way
Do Not Enter

Is that your soap on the floor over there?

 

[Pipke]

This is the part that upsets me the most. A non-American company went in bought an American company with 175yrs of history and completely shut it down and put Americans out of work. Completely no respect for the history and heritage or the workers.

Sutliff, a Danish-owned company, operated in the USA, if that's what you mean. Sutliff hasn't been an American company for over 10-years. STG acquiring Mac Baren is just a Danish company buying out another Danish company. All that history and heritage stuff was living on borrowed time for quite a while, IMHO.

 

[woodsroad]

For their cigar brands they definitely have public reps who go to cigar events, tour B&Ms accross the US and appear on YouTube channels, for the specific brand but not STG. Cigars Daily has had ones for CAO and Macanudo off the top of my head. STG also recently hired Room 101 founder Matt Booth as blender, he's one of the most visible and publicly engaged figures in the cigar industry.

The cigar industry is much larger, has higher profits, more cash, and is much more competitive than pipe tobacco, thus there’s a lot more merchandising going on.

But my question is: why is it so important to have salesmen telling you what to buy? “Brand Ambassadors” are just that, salesmen. Slick, low key salesmen, but salesmen nonetheless.

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

Is that your soap on the floor over there?

If it’s body wash, it is, but I won’t be picking it up.

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

Sutliff, a Danish-owned company, operated in the USA, if that's what you mean. Sutliff hasn't been an American company for over 10-years. STG acquiring Mac Baren is just a Danish company buying out another Danish company. All that history and heritage stuff was living on borrowed time for quite a while, IMHO.

All true. And a lot of Danes are going to be losing their jobs too at MacBaren. Not just the Americans at Sutliff. I honestly feel for Leonard more for having to be there to deliver the news, than being a punching bag here. Looking those people in their eyes right before the holidays to say “I’m here to make you redundant. Good luck!” I’d have felt awful. Especially in an industry that is definitely contracting by a labor standpoint. Their skills won’t exactly translate into the job market. Saying “Sorry but X blend isn’t going to make it” is trivial by comparison.

 

[Bassman65]

Thanks for answering all our questions so far @leonardw - it is very much appreciated.

Was wondering what is happening with Canadian Mr. B’s blends that were Sutliff products. We don’t get much up here. Lane products are unavailable to a large degree.

The majority of blends were either Sutliff, MacBaren and a limited selection of C&D.

The only other readily available products are Captain Black, Backwoods, Borkum Riff or Colt.

Will this merger make more Lane products available up here (I’m eyeing you Black Raspberry and RLP-6 ).

 

[fireground_piper]

The cigar industry is much larger, has higher profits, more cash, and is much more competitive than pipe tobacco, thus there’s a lot more merchandising going on.

Even the IPCPR dropped Pipes from their brand name a few years ago in a re-brand. Someone even tried to tell me it was good for the industry, HAHA!

 

[Beers 'N Briars]

The cigar industry is much larger, has higher profits, more cash, and is much more competitive than pipe tobacco, thus there’s a lot more merchandising going on.

But my question is: why is it so important to have salesmen telling you what to buy? “Brand Ambassadors” are just that, salesmen. Slick, low key salesmen, but salesmen nonetheless.

The cigar industry desperately needs them, I suspect, because they're trying to convince their market that they need to spend $30 on a single stick.

 

[PennyStonks]

This is the part that upsets me the most. A non-American company went in bought an American company with 175yrs of history and completely shut it down and put Americans out of work. Completely no respect for the history and heritage or the workers.

Sutliff was also doing some incredible blends for content creators that were delicious blends and helped expose pipe smokers to more content and now that’s never going to happen again because STG is too big for it. They also supported Seattle Pipe Club and a number of B&M house blends which are now in limbo. This just highlights how out of touch STG is with the community.

STG is taking a niche industry that was moving even more niche with an increase to boutique small batch blending and is trying to globalize it more and make it more mass produced. The people in charge cannot read the room.

STG seems so obsessed with international sales that they don’t see the damage they’re doing to the American market.

Hopefully they’ll at least give them one hell of a pizza party

 

[lupy1234]

This is the part that upsets me the most. A non-American company went in bought an American company with 175yrs of history and completely shut it down and put Americans out of work. Completely no respect for the history and heritage or the workers.

Sutliff was also doing some incredible blends for content creators that were delicious blends and helped expose pipe smokers to more content and now that’s never going to happen again because STG is too big for it. They also supported Seattle Pipe Club and a number of B&M house blends which are now in limbo. This just highlights how out of touch STG is with the community.

STG is taking a niche industry that was moving even more niche with an increase to boutique small batch blending and is trying to globalize it more and make it more mass produced. The people in charge cannot read the room.

STG seems so obsessed with international sales that they don’t see the damage they’re doing to the American market.

Mac Baren decided to sell. STG decided to buy. It takes two to tango.

 

[Snook]

Hopefully they’ll at least give them one hell of a pizza party

Pepperoni and sausage? That's crazy talk.

 

[sablebrush52]

Sutliff, a Danish-owned company, operated in the USA, if that's what you mean. Sutliff hasn't been an American company for over 10-years. STG acquiring Mac Baren is just a Danish company buying out another Danish company. All that history and heritage stuff was living on borrowed time for quite a while, IMHO.

Actually, Sutliff hasn’t been US owned for 50 years. Mac Baren bought them from Altadis, a subsidiary of Imperial Tobacco.