You are in Charge of White Spot Pipes: Would You do Anything Differently?

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Oct 7, 2016
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We said the same thing about Russian courses in the 70’s and Japanese courses in the 80’s. Both prescriptions were obviously premature. China has a massive demographic problem looming in the very near term (see this recent article for one take on its “grow old before growing rich” dilemma: China bets on productivity over population to drive its economy - Taipei Times - https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2021/05/15/2003757425). Unlike the West, Asian countries are unwilling to fill the population gap with immigration. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Remember the key aspect of competitive advantage is the part which measures your relative, not absolute, position.
Ho hum
 
Oct 7, 2016
2,451
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Except for shunning the fan base. Dunhill is no longer a company affiliated with pipes or pipe tobacco. White Spots aren't Dunhills.
That is simply a false statement. White Spot pipes are made in the same facility Dunhill makes its bespoke leather goods. Those are proudly sold at mucho dinero prices worldwide. Under the Alfred Dunhill name.

White Spot Pipes continue to bear his name. These and other smoking accessories all come from a Division, wholely owned by Alfred Dunhill, the fashion company.

Nine of this is news to people with minimal reading and internet skills

You were never a part of the Dunhill fan base anyway from everything you have posted . Why do you insist on posting these lazy slanders in every single thread at every single opportunity? Why indeed do you not let a thread go by without posting?

Don’t want followers? Fine. You are now ignored.
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,916
117,174
That is simply a false statement.
Not at all, they washed their hands of tobacco as well as the Dunhill brand of pipes. Dunhill pipes haven't been produced since 2011 and regardless of where made, rebranding after such a long time says they are done with that part of their business. Alfred Dunhill's White Spot is like New Coke.
 
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mingc

Lifer
Jun 20, 2019
4,238
12,564
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
Not at all, they washed their hands of tobacco as well as the Dunhill brand of pipes. Dunhill pipes haven't been produced since 2011 and regardless of where made, rebranding after such a long time says they are done with that part of their business. Alfred Dunhill's White Spot is like New Coke.
British American Tobacco (BAT) may have given up on Dunhill cigars and pipe tobacco but it still sells Dunhill cigarettes as a premium product outside the US. So, Dunhill tobacco is still very much alive, albeit not in the States. BAT never did own the pipe business.
 
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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,916
117,174
British American Tobacco (BAT) may have given up on Dunhill cigars and pipe tobacco but it still sells Dunhill cigarettes as a premium product outside the US. So, Dunhill tobacco is still very much alive, albeit not in the States. BAT never did own the pipe business.
Didn't read my prior post?

Except for shunning the fan base. Dunhill is no longer a company affiliated with pipes or pipe tobacco. White Spots aren't Dunhills.
 

mingc

Lifer
Jun 20, 2019
4,238
12,564
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
Didn't read my prior post?
Don't be silly. Of course I did. You said "they" but didn't specify what company. More than one controls the name "Dunhill"; BAT and Alfred Dunhill Ltd.

Are suggesting that Alfred Dunhill Ltd. no longer owns the pipe business? What's your basis for saying that? Or are you simply saying that the words "Alfred Dunhill's The White Spot" are different from the word "Dunhill"?

Or are you disagreeing that there are such things as Dunhill cigarettes?
 

Alejo R.

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 13, 2020
982
2,122
49
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
First off, if everyone knows that I have been selected as CEO of alfred dunhill white spots, might as well prepare for bankruptcy, ha ha.

No, I would focus back on making my carvers famous again. A huge website presence, blogs, spot lights on my carvers, with pictures of them making the pipes. I'd send the carvers out on tours of the pipes show and pipe shops, meeting their fans, autographing the pipes they designed. Make sure that each dunhill design is associated with a specific famous carver that I am promoting. Bring in some guest carvers to do a few lines of pipes, like Ian Walker, maybe a few collaborations.
Put the focus back on the artisan and craftsmanship of the pipes.

Meanwhile, we will be unloading the stummels made in France through the back door, with children chained to work benches making stems for the stummels. Flogging the ones who fall behind or complain about minor shit like having to go to the bathroom, having to eat, boo hoo hoo. puffy
Very smart.
Kind of like Fender's strategy.
 
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Aomalley27

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 8, 2021
763
1,701
Chicagoland area
First off, if everyone knows that I have been selected as CEO of alfred dunhill white spots, might as well prepare for bankruptcy, ha ha.

No, I would focus back on making my carvers famous again. A huge website presence, blogs, spot lights on my carvers, with pictures of them making the pipes. I'd send the carvers out on tours of the pipes show and pipe shops, meeting their fans, autographing the pipes they designed. Make sure that each dunhill design is associated with a specific famous carver that I am promoting. Bring in some guest carvers to do a few lines of pipes, like Ian Walker, maybe a few collaborations.
Put the focus back on the artisan and craftsmanship of the pipes.

Meanwhile, we will be unloading the stummels made in France through the back door, with children chained to work benches making stems for the stummels. Flogging the ones who fall behind or complain about minor shit like having to go to the bathroom, having to eat, boo hoo hoo. puffy
So you’d run an operation in the Frank Reynolds manner? ? Would you also utilize his “soup”???????
 

Alejo R.

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 13, 2020
982
2,122
49
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
I gauge White Spot sales by their presence in the market which is broad and deep. If sales were slack, online retailers wouldn't have the inventories they do nor show the turnover. Also, Forums posts give a feel for their presence to customers and potential customers. Most of us roll our eyes at prices, but about a third of membership owns a Dunhill/White Spot, and many have an ambition to own one, or think they should, from what is said. However I might feel about White Spot as a pipe maker, I am in some awe of their marketing. Kaywoodie was the premier pipe in the 1950's, and Dunhill was second fiddle, good but not Kaywoodie. So they've gone from being Buick to Cadillac, in the 1950's frame of mind. Prices way high for a factory pipe and holding. Apparently tobacco pipes lend themselves to "carriage trade" sales. A well-off guy who wants to smoke a pipe feels that White Spot is the best and nothing else will fulfill his sense of himself. He doesn't want a fine artisan pipe that other people won't recognize. He wants the prestige, the raw envy, and is happy to pay for it. Even if he smokes in private, he at least knows that I'm not out here smoking the same pipes, and that's important to him.
I must disagree with that statement.
In the catalogs (specifically George Yale's) of 1940S the best of the Kaywoodies cost 10 dollars and any of the common Dunhills cost 10 dollars.
Kaywoodie was never above (speaking of prices) Dunhill. In any case, the best Kaywoodie had the same price as the average Dunhill.
To put it in perspective, most pipes cost less than a dollar.
Greetings.
 
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Alejo R.

Part of the Furniture Now
Oct 13, 2020
982
2,122
49
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It seems to me that there is the idea that Dunhill left the world of tobacco to dedicate himself to the marketing of luxury goods.
In my opinion, I do not think it was like that, Dunhill is a company that always sold luxury goods and entered the world of tobacco to do the same.
Dunhill is and will be a luxury company.
 
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