Cigar Stores?

[Simon-JG-hr]

First off - does anyone know of any cigar stores in Plymouth (as I'll be moving back to within a stones-throw of the sea in the near future)? I've hunted around online but the closest I can find is in Exeter.

Secondly, what should a good cigar store have? I was looking at starting a little cocktail bar with a cigar selection when I'm down there, but premises with A3 permission seem prohibitavely expensive. So spotted a nice little (new) unit underneath the apartment I'm moving into, with a very reasonable rent. It would be ideal for a little cigar shop in my opinion - unless there's already one in Plymouth. A fairly large population and multiple military bases nearby (and wardrooms do have a good number of cigar appreciators), so potential for reasonable local trade.

(One of the commercial units if anyone is interested...)

[HabanoSy]

Sounds like a great idea Simon.

No there is no tobacconists in Plymouth at all and you are correct the nearest one is in Exeter - so no probs there...

Good luck with the venture mate and im sure if you need anything at all there will be someone on here that will be more than willing to help a BOTL...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[PoohBore]

Why don't you pop into Cheltenham and have a look at the 2 retailers there ?

One is a newsagents near Slaters and the other is in the top floor of the shopping centre connected to Cavendish house.

Have a look at the Hunters and Frankau website and they talk about training for their retailers.

[skyhigh]

good luck to you in your venture!!

only cigar shop up near myself is in Durham and they also do pipes aswell to try and cater for both clientele. Each time i've been in, there seemed to be a steady stream of people passing through its doors.

[SDavis]

Hi Simon,

There are actually a few retailers in the Plymouth area, most notably the Tobacco Bar, 126 Cornwall St, and then I would also highly recommend the Counting House - http://www.countinghouseplymouth.co.uk/ - which is on St Andrew's Street.

If you are looking into setting up a small business I'd be more than happy to help you out, you can get in touch via s.davis@cigars.co.uk

Hope this helps and good luck

[Simon-JG-hr]

Thanks for the info and 'good lucks' guys - I'll pop into Cheltenham some time to have a look at the two stores there.

The interesting thing if I do go for this will be, I think, getting a walk-in humidor fitted...

If all goes to plan, and the option is still open to me, I will doubtless be in touch SDavis.

Cubans, naturally; accessories; some pipe stuff; and I might also try for a good selection of non-cubans (as they usually seem a little tricky to get hold of over here).

[Simon-JG-hr]

Just had a really awful idea...

You know those really annoying offers (yeah, sums it up really), the ones where you get a tacky free gift and then buy something of someone else's choosing four times a year...

How about a cigar version? You sign up, get a quirky cigar accessory (not tacky stuff) and then get a mini sampler sent to you quarterly. Possibly a nice way to try some sticks you wouldn't normally think of buying.

Yeah, thought it was an annoying idea.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Looking more likely now.

Had a good chat with one of H&F's reps. Got the information on the local competition... so went to have a little nose whilst I was in the city today. More filters and rolling/pipe tobaccos than I could have imagined, but cigar wise, entirely tubos, and not much choice (a couple of vitolas each of Cohiba, RyJ, Monte, Bolivar and Punch). Did pick up a Siglo I to try and a copy of the Telegraph to read on the train on the way back.

Commercial units still available.

Fingers well and truly crossed.

[HabanoSy]

Good luck mate...

I sincerely hope you go for it...!!!

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Simon-JG-hr]

Thank you.

Naturally if this does go ahead, good things for regular UKCF contributors might be in store...

I've decided that I might try a slightly different tack from the norm though...

Obviously all the usual Cubans, but I'm thinking of trying to put together the best selection of NCs in the UK (just got to track down all the different importers... - I have found a useful site for that though). Need to have something to differentiate from all the London stores.

Plus some top quality spirits. Though they were going to be there anyway (the original idea had been for a bar...)

Some brands I noted in my pad this afternoon over the VR Famosos: RP, Ashton VSG, Padron, Casa Magna, Fuente (esp Opus X range), Oliva, Te Amo, Alec Bradley, CAO, plus of course Davidoff, and (hopefully) Dunhill.

[daverave999]

This is very exciting.

What kind of 'quirky cigar accessory' do you mean?

Also, if you're looking to sell online, I have run a shop using OScommerce before so if you need any help. I'm sure you won't be short of IT help round here though...

[Simon-JG-hr]

Cheers Dave.

That reminds me! What are you rates Mr B (in Cubans preferably... ).

[Simon-JG-hr]

What kind of 'quirky cigar accessory' do you mean?

Was thinking of giving the option of something like a small carrying case/tube, travel ashtray or lighter... something like that anyway.

[ACMCC]

Sounds like a cracking idea Simon, In this current economic climate you should be able to get a good deal on the lease, a rent free initial period would be a good option, and diversification is also a safer bet.

Cocktails and a good range of accessories depending on space is a good starting point, I would imagine the cigar trade to be fairly steady, so getting word to all the existing cigar smokers would be the order of the day, and with some opening offers, there in the shop! like most businesses hard work, lateral thinking and a good business plan, and success is on the way, and you would be the chief cigar tester......

[daverave999]

With regards to the NC selection, I don't know if mysmokingshop.co.uk has entered your consciousness? A possible NC competitor there.

Will you be selling cigarettes? Snuff? Will you be investigating the dispensation for tobacco stores allowing smoking inside?
Just some ideas...