Cigar Stores?

[Lee Nub]

Overheads kill it in a shop. My overheads on mine are ?8900 a month, just to open the doors.

[tippexx]

Just a few thoughts Simon. Not to pour rain on your parade, but hopefully a tuppence worth of help.

1. Number of chimneys within 50 square miles. 5% is your best possible cigar market.

2. Shop location in relation to high street shopping and thoroughfare ie. is it on a route where pedestrians are going in significant numbers ? station etc.
Is it easy park or is there a Car Park close by.

3. Security. Cigars, spirits, cigarettes etc are all high crime target items. I don't mean for petty pilferers but break-in criminals. An Insurance Company will insist on effective security before providing cover.

3. Cigarettes. These are the primary walk-in commodity of a tobacconist. Apart from the ordinary everyday main sellers there are dozens of unusual and premium cigarettes. LGC, Cohiba for example. But, I would not be ashamed to sell Silk Cut in a shop majoring cigars, because sooner or later some of those cigarette smokers will make the move into cigars.

4. Related items. Chocolate and tea and coffee are often the sole commodity of some retailers. Could these be sold along with higher-end or speciality wines and spirits. (I'm not totally sure at the moment, but in some ways might it not be better to be seen as a purveyor of luxury indulgences with a 'cigar/tobacco core' rather than as a pure cigar/tobacco shop.

5. Branding. Names are names and logos are logos and if they've been around long enough or had enough money chucked at them, they stick.
However when something is brand new and when possibly there aren't shedloads of money to pour into launching and developing a brand, then it pays to be simple and given that it is a ONE locality only shop, the more obviously simple the better. I would see nothing wrong for example in calling the shop The Cigar Shop if it were a one product shop. Simon Griffiths on the other hand lends itself to any multitude of products, it also gives personality and has a nice (although Welsh) quintessentially English middle-class tone to it.

6. E-commerce. Here I think is an opportunity to be adventurous and exciting. Although to be honest when I first looked on-line for a UK Cuban cigar vendor I was first, delighted to find any and then like everyone else sifted prices before making my choice. I now have two favourite sites that I stick to, neither are the prettiest of the UK sites, but they're reasonably easy to operate and both are the keenest pricewise.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Overheads kill it in a shop. My overheads on mine are ?8900 a month, just to open the doors.

Ouch! I did notice that a lot of vacant stores in Plymouth were very pricey (just for the unit itself, never mind rates, electricity, security etc etc). The unit I have got my eye on (as it is still something I'd like to do) has a very good rent of ?4,000pa (with rent free entry). However, that doesn't account for everything else... (Plus, as a new build, I'd have to fit it out - hence rent free entry).

Big selling point of physical shop: use of the cigar sampling/pipe tobacco sampling exemption from aspects of the smoking laws. There would, however, be implications for what value of other goods I could sell to maintain exemption (though I would ideally have some fine wines/spirits, Italian roasted coffee etc).

[tippexx]

Big selling point of physical shop: use of the cigar sampling/pipe tobacco sampling exemption from aspects of the smoking laws. There would, however, be implications for what value of other goods I could sell to maintain exemption (though I would ideally have some fine wines/spirits, Italian roasted coffee etc).

I thought come 2011, by Law no cigar, cigarette and tobacco could be displayed at all. So, some imaginative use of windows, counters and display areas will be necessary.

[daverave999]

I thought come 2011, by Law no cigar, cigarette and tobacco could be displayed at all. So, some imaginative use of windows, counters and display areas will be necessary.

I recall there were exemptions for specialist tobacconists.

[EDIT] That was Scotland. I assume this is what you meant though?

[Simon-JG-hr]

I think there may be something similar in England/Wales (though I don't know about exemptions to the E/W version. I also understand that the government are reviewing it (I had a look after tippexx mentioned it): http://www.politics.co.uk/news/healt...-$21381559.htm

Bloody ludicrous law as others have said already in the other thread. Of course kids have no interest in secret/underground stuff... Simple response: severely punish those found to be selling or supplying tobacco products to those who are underage. Labour were a truly hideous government which grew more Stalinist every year (never trust a socialist - that's my motto ).

[El Catador]

A fascinating thread and a very interesting read.

Looking forward to hearing more on the possible plans.

I just wanted to say, regarding the post by Tippex (Post No.47).

Bravo Arf old son - awesome piece of work - if we had a 'Post of the Month' competition. That would be a contender for me.
(doffs cap in admiration).

[Simon-JG-hr]

Indeed it was, a very thorough and helpful post.

[monkey66]

Have you been speaking to H and F. I think they are at the coal-face regarding many of these issues and as a potential new retailer one would imagine they will be keen to help/advise.