New Cohiba Behike line

[nicwing]

To get back to more serious matters... I posted a link to the James Suckling blog on my Facebook page and got the usual 'bills and coos' then some bright spark (from Florida it has to be said) posted this comment - Discuss:

"Habanos recently announced that worldwide sales were down 8% overall for 2009. That's a huge drop for anyone to absorb. Let's see what happens in 2010, especially if they sacrifice quality in an effort to make up the lost profits"

My response was that with the likely price of the Behike it looks like they are moving even further up market and making a previously un-attainable brand available for the next level down of smokers. That can only mean more revenue at higher margins. Making up for fewer people smoking.

Any thoughts?

[El Catador]

with the likely price of the Behike it looks like they are moving even further up market and making a previously un-attainable brand available for the next level down of smokers. That can only mean more revenue at higher margins. Making up for fewer people smoking.

Any thoughts?

Bang on I'd say.
Cigar revenues down, therefore, Cohiba marketing strategy for 2010 likely to be seen as 'sell less for more'.

Co-incidentally, reflecting an earlier 'offline' comment I made on the same issue:

"I'm just hoping the price of these things isn't going to be too prohibitive.
James Suckling was guessing at $100 a stick, and I thought that was expensive, but if they turn out to be as much as one of the posters is suggesting (2000 Euro's for a box of ten), then for me, Cohiba is running the risk of alienating its core market in the hope of pulling in super-rich clients and making it's products a 'lifestyle' choice of the wealthy and famous (Like crystal champagne). A mistake IMHO."

Lets hope 'common sense' prevails.

[El Catador]

Just a quick update on the expected price of these things.

No definite pricing structure has been announced yet, however, according to 'Blog' reports coming out of the 'Habanos Festival', they are going to be priced at:

"40 percent more than the price of the normal high end Cohibas."

See here: http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar...95,503,00.html

Compared to some of the speculation that's been posted on the price, this doesn't seem as severe as I thought it would be (still big money though).

Although, I'm basing this on an interpretation that when they say "high end cohibas" they're talking about things like Siglo VI's etc (and not Gran Reservas . . ).

Anyone got any thoughts, or heard anything different?

[nicwing]

El, we will quiz the head honcho at JJ Fox tonight and report back, certain they will have an insight.

[El Catador]

El, we will quiz the head honcho at JJ Fox tonight and report back, certain they will have an insight.

Nice one Nic, I confess I'm itching to find out.

I'm kinda getting to that point where, if I look and drool over the pictures of those pretty boxes and puro's any more, I'll find myself just handing over my credit card details in some sort of dazed stupor, and bugger the consequences.

Damn my easy suggestibility!

P.S. Hopefully, after they've sampled them at the 'Gala Dinner' tomorrow, we'll actually get to hear if they're any bloody good.

[nicwing]

Just waiting for James Suckling to get his ar$e in gear and post his blog!

[nicwing]

Some horrid pictures from the festival, don't look!!!

http://cigarinfo.ru/galleries/3989.html

[Big_T_UK]

Glad I was not on a trip with those Russians, what a GRIM looking lot!

T.

[jdawg]

They sure looked like they enjoyed themselves.

[senor_robusto]

those RyJ churchills look awesome, bloody awesome!!!!! looks like the parts of some special humidor project...........

alex

[Seriesteve]

RyJ's look Lovely and the Party D 4's too Mmmmmm

[bryanj9]

The look great from the wrapper to the box but get ready to shell out the Euro on them

[mb55317]

A little more info on the Behikes -

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Blogs/Blog_Main/0,4694,8,00.html

[stephan]

El, we will quiz the head honcho at JJ Fox tonight and report back, certain they will have an insight.

Magali told me that they will cost more than the Gran Reserva...

[jdawg]

Magali told me that they will cost more than the Gran Reserva...

that's a scary thought...