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Sell, sell, sell!
Today was one of those days where, on top of everything else there is to do - waiting on customers, answering phones, making orders, watching the Tour de France - you also have to deal with cigar company sales reps who just show up. This morning I visited with Dan from Davidoff Cigars. Dan is a really nice guy and he's been coming in here regularly for almost a year now and for that year I've 
been putting him off. He has the patience of Job. I've told him that I'm interested in adding one facet of their line and it will probably be the Avo Classic tubo. In fact, I almost bit today but the RTDA show is coming up in a few weeks and they'll have specials then so I'll make the order in New Orleans. He tried to sell me on the Zino Platinum and the special deal they're having - when the customer (you) pruchases 15 of these cigars and sends the bands in to Davidoff then they will send you a free Swiss Army knife with Zino logo and cigar cutter feature. It's a nice tool, but it would be a $225 piece by the time you bought 15 of the $15 cigars. He seemed perplexed as to why I didn't want to stock Zino Platinums...I think they're just a little pricey for what they are and that most of you would think so too. These reps may know marketing and deals, but I know my customers. But I think the Avo cigar will be a nice fit at the $7-$9 range.
Later in the day Ashton Imported Cigars stopped by in the form of Lee and Gus. Gus is my new rep, which is good because Lee has been my rep for five or so years and I've seen his face about three times in those five years. Most of the cigars on the humidor shelf have a face to go along with it. If you want me to carry your cigar, you've got to make an effort to stop by. I'm not saying I'm such a big buyer that you need to come into town and wine and dine me, but you have to stop in fairly regulary and call or E-mail every once in a while. Anyway, Ashton has a huge selection of goods - cigars, pipes, tobaccos, accessories - a real one-stop shop. I've carried the 
Ashton cigars since day one and added the La Aroma de Cuba line some time back and it's done well for me. They tried to sell me today on the Peterson cigar. The Peterson cigar, like La Aroma, is made for them by Altadis U.S.A. It's not bad, earthy and burned really well, and is priced reasonably between the LAdC and Ashton lines. I'm thinking about it and may add it at the show.
So those are the two cigars I smoked today: a Davidoff Zino Platinum torpedo and a Peterson toro. Both were good, but only one is close to being found for sale here. Thanks, Dan, Lee and Gus.
Posted by Richard Alley at July 18, 2005 03:28 PM
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