Sutliff still in stock

[Sobrbiker]

In

I wasn’t directing my response at you sir, just in general about posts and drops or rarities. I don’t think 507c was still being produced. Is there a new list, gosh I hope so!

I was just typing what sablebrush52 just posted.
Having always been produced by STG, 507-C was never really a “Sutliff” product. It was only distributed with Sutliff’s name on bulk labels at levels below 5lb. 5lb packages only said STG 507-C on them.

 

[forloveoffreedom]

507-C was never made by Sutliff. It was, and probably still is, made by STG. The above sheet refers to products made by Sutliff and MacBaren.

So much info on the screen about these blends. This was a Sutliff sku and several forums’ “insiders “ say it’s gone. Personally, I’m still grieving the whole industry being left with one producer in the states (tobacco not blender). It would be so very cool to see something that states what really will continue to be produced.
I posted the above list but like most, I’m just a guy who can copy and paste nonsense as well as the next.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Although, I’m not sure what the distribution of 507-C will be stateside. I don’t see it on SPcom.
Perhaps that’s because PS Luxury Navy Flake is purported to be the same product (drops mic).

 

[Servant King]

Perhaps that’s because PS Luxury Navy Flake is purported to be the same product (drops mic).

 

[Grimlineman]

Well that escalated quickly....

 

[Piping Abe]

Sutliff didn’t sell well and couldn’t stay afloat. And now they went out of business and their products still don’t sell. I think that speaks for itself.

 

[bootlegpipes]

Sutliff didn’t sell well and couldn’t stay afloat. And now they went out of business and their products still don’t sell. I think that speaks for itself.

I forget where I read this but it was stated that Sutliff was profitable and Mac Baren saw the value in what Sutliff brought in. When MB was bought by STG they decided it wasn't profitable enough, same with MB.

 

[sablebrush52]

Sutliff didn’t sell well and couldn’t stay afloat. And now they went out of business and their products still don’t sell. I think that speaks for itself.

Sutliff was profitable. Sales were good. That wasn’t the issue. STG is interested only in efficiency, more money with less effort.
They are only interested in high volume sellers. They cherry picked the few blends that fit their metric and discarded the rest while removing competition.

 

[woodsroad]

Sutliff didn’t sell well and couldn’t stay afloat. And now they went out of business and their products still don’t sell. I think that speaks for itself.

Speaking with authority only works when you know what you are talking about.

 

[sablebrush52]

I’m still grieving the whole industry being left with one producer in the states (tobacco not blender). It would be so very cool to see something that states what really will continue to be produced.

There are companies involved in the tobacco trade that are rarely mentioned and virtually unknown to us, brokers and suppliers like this one:

Alliance One International :: North America

 

[Piping Abe]

Speaking with authority only works when you know what you are talking about.

McKenna stated they didnt know how to run their business. They dug their own grave. This was posted on this forum so figured you would of seen this

“Sutliff was producing over 900 sku's over 400ish unique blends. This is not an efficient way to run any manufacturing business. Sutliff was able to do it with our niche industry, loyal customer and employees, old equipment and no GMP from the FDA. Times were slowly changing and would continue as we were discontinuing blends annually. We had a niche of providing all these blends and it was our only way to compete. We have never been able to compete with Captain Black, 1Q, BCA, Escudo, Dunhill/Peterson, Stokkebye blends, therefore we had to be different. These were you, the consumers, choices. It is what you smoked, if you would have smoked nothing but Sutliff Z92 and 515 RC-1 then we would have been market leader and produced a lot fewer blends. That wasn't and isn't reality. Without running the numbers as I type this, probably half of the sku's produced were 200lbs and even more 100lbs or less a year. No other business would keep them around and we struggled with the decision every year as we reviewed the portfolio and were quite honestly scared to cut them even though it was probably the correct decision. Mac Baren kept pushing us in that direction and we were getting
closer to it, just fyi.”

 

[Dixie Piper]

McKenna stated they didnt know how to run their business. They dug their own grave. This was posted on this forum so figured you would of seen this

“Sutliff was producing over 900 sku's over 400ish unique blends. This is not an efficient way to run any manufacturing business. Sutliff was able to do it with our niche industry, loyal customer and employees, old equipment and no GMP from the FDA. Times were slowly changing and would continue as we were discontinuing blends annually. We had a niche of providing all these blends and it was our only way to compete. We have never been able to compete with Captain Black, 1Q, BCA, Escudo, Dunhill/Peterson, Stokkebye blends, therefore we had to be different. These were you, the consumers, choices. It is what you smoked, if you would have smoked nothing but Sutliff Z92 and 515 RC-1 then we would have been market leader and produced a lot fewer blends. That wasn't and isn't reality. Without running the numbers as I type this, probably half of the sku's produced were 200lbs and even more 100lbs or less a year. No other business would keep them around and we struggled with the decision every year as we reviewed the portfolio and were quite honestly scared to cut them even though it was probably the correct decision. Mac Baren kept pushing us in that direction and we were getting
closer to it, just fyi.”

The Mac Baren HH blends were more popular and met the same fate as well. It's hard to trust STG's words in this matter.

 

[ziv]

McKenna stated they didnt know how to run their business. They dug their own grave. This was posted on this forum so figured you would of seen this

“Sutliff was producing over 900 sku's over 400ish unique blends. This is not an efficient way to run any manufacturing business. Sutliff was able to do it with our niche industry, loyal customer and employees, old equipment and no GMP from the FDA. Times were slowly changing and would continue as we were discontinuing blends annually. We had a niche of providing all these blends and it was our only way to compete. We have never been able to compete with Captain Black, 1Q, BCA, Escudo, Dunhill/Peterson, Stokkebye blends, therefore we had to be different. These were you, the consumers, choices. It is what you smoked, if you would have smoked nothing but Sutliff Z92 and 515 RC-1 then we would have been market leader and produced a lot fewer blends. That wasn't and isn't reality. Without running the numbers as I type this, probably half of the sku's produced were 200lbs and even more 100lbs or less a year. No other business would keep them around and we struggled with the decision every year as we reviewed the portfolio and were quite honestly scared to cut them even though it was probably the correct decision. Mac Baren kept pushing us in that direction and we were getting
closer to it, just fyi.”

Where does he say Sutliff wasn't profitable? All I can see is that they were producing a ton of SKUs which was inefficient. Does not mean it was not profitable.

 

[elvishrunes]

All I see on Smokingpipes are a bunch of bulk ribbon cut, and not even that much…. They had way more even recently, like 2 pages full, it takes time to unload stock and most was probably just average. I’m sure most bought what they wanted already, I got a bit. As for flipping it, try if you can but you could get stuck with a stash of petroleum jelly

 

[woodsroad]

McKenna stated they didnt know how to run their business. They dug their own grave. This was posted on this forum so figured you would of seen this

“Sutliff was producing over 900 sku's over 400ish unique blends. This is not an efficient way to run any manufacturing business. Sutliff was able to do it with our niche industry, loyal customer and employees, old equipment and no GMP from the FDA. Times were slowly changing and would continue as we were discontinuing blends annually. We had a niche of providing all these blends and it was our only way to compete. We have never been able to compete with Captain Black, 1Q, BCA, Escudo, Dunhill/Peterson, Stokkebye blends, therefore we had to be different. These were you, the consumers, choices. It is what you smoked, if you would have smoked nothing but Sutliff Z92 and 515 RC-1 then we would have been market leader and produced a lot fewer blends. That wasn't and isn't reality. Without running the numbers as I type this, probably half of the sku's produced were 200lbs and even more 100lbs or less a year. No other business would keep them around and we struggled with the decision every year as we reviewed the portfolio and were quite honestly scared to cut them even though it was probably the correct decision. Mac Baren kept pushing us in that direction and we were getting
closer to it, just fyi.”

My understanding is that STG bought MacBarren just to eliminate competition in a shrinking market. Mac Barren was still profitable, but that’s really a moot point. Yes, it could have continued on, but nobody was willing/able to top STG’s bid. Everything else is obfuscation and irrelevant detail.

 

[Old Hiker Piper]

I was pretty faithful to pipes and cigars for years. Since the buyout some of their Sutliff owned tin prices have gone crazy. $20 for a 2oz tin of SPC plum pudding and almost $20 bucks for a 1.75 oz of Bengal Slices is a little ridiculous. I was getting them both for $26 bucks as of last year. Two of my favorite blends but, there are other similar tobaccos without the drama and high price tag.

 

[fireground_piper]

My understanding is that STG bought MacBarren just to eliminate competition in a shrinking market. Mac Barren was still profitable, but that’s really a moot point. Yes, it could have continued on, but nobody was willing/able to top STG’s bid. Everything else is obfuscation and irrelevant detail.

I thought it was a little more that Mac Baren family wanted out of the tobacco industry, and STG stepped in with the offer. That first and important point paints at least a little different picture than STG making an offer they couldn't refuse. It was more like an opportunity STG couldn't refuse.

 

[sablebrush52]

McKenna stated they didnt know how to run their business. They dug their own grave. This was posted on this forum so figured you would of seen this

“Sutliff was producing over 900 sku's over 400ish unique blends. This is not an efficient way to run any manufacturing business. Sutliff was able to do it with our niche industry, loyal customer and employees, old equipment and no GMP from the FDA. Times were slowly changing and would continue as we were discontinuing blends annually. We had a niche of providing all these blends and it was our only way to compete. We have never been able to compete with Captain Black, 1Q, BCA, Escudo, Dunhill/Peterson, Stokkebye blends, therefore we had to be different. These were you, the consumers, choices. It is what you smoked, if you would have smoked nothing but Sutliff Z92 and 515 RC-1 then we would have been market leader and produced a lot fewer blends. That wasn't and isn't reality. Without running the numbers as I type this, probably half of the sku's produced were 200lbs and even more 100lbs or less a year. No other business would keep them around and we struggled with the decision every year as we reviewed the portfolio and were quite honestly scared to cut them even though it was probably the correct decision. Mac Baren kept pushing us in that direction and we were getting
closer to it, just fyi.”

That’s correct. Sutliff ran like a boutique blender. But, that doesn’t support your conclusions. Despite their inefficiencies they were profitable, just not as profitable as a different philosophy would have made them.

And STG had no interest in them as an entity as they owned Lane, which covered similar territory. Also, Lane cost STG three times what the purchase of MacBaren cost.

But, Sutliff did have a few blends that were huge sellers, their goopers, and STG stripped them for parts.

It’s all about efficiency and profitability. Nothing more.

 

[sablebrush52]

Two of my favorite blends but, there are other similar tobaccos without the drama and high price tag.

Not for that much longer. As costs are going up prices are going up. You might want to grab them now as those prices will seem like bargains.

American pipe smokers pay less for their blends than just about any other country on earth are are the least grateful for it.

Think $20 a tin is a lot for a blend with higher quality components? When was the last time you could commission and build a 2400 sqft home on a half acre in a desirable neighborhood for $30,000?

 

[elvishrunes]

I had one too many drinks last night and broke my STG ban and bought a couple tins, big 100 gram, on sale at SP.com of Orlik Golden sliced, for aging, whoops wasnt thinking oh well…. A nice all around Virginia I’ve enjoyed before and have stashed, and I’ve heard the big tins contain long ribbons instead of flakes, haven’t tried,.. I’m back to my boycott today.

For people who like Nightcap and dont know, Gawith Commonwealth mixture is a virtual match, 50% strong lat with good Va sweetness…. Probably the same Lat, tastes like it, but could be wrong.