Opportunity At My B&M
curtiscr79
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 859
Over the past few weeks a lot has transpired at my local B&M ending in the opportunity for me to start working there part time. Myself and another guy would be the heart and soul of the company but all final decisions would go through the guy with the check book (The owner). To be honest this doesn't bother me, I am in the shop most evenings anyway and as far as I'm concerned the guy writing the check should be the person with the final call.
At first thought I loved the opportunity and hope to build a relationship with the owner, to become possible partners and one day down the road maybe full ownership. My worry is what appears to be a possible unstable future in the tobacco industry with all the possible regulations we may see. I am currently going to keep my full time job so if something was to go south I am still covered. My concern is the long term future, how do you see the future of the Tobacco industry and the Local Brick and Mortar shops? Will there still be a place for them?
At first thought I loved the opportunity and hope to build a relationship with the owner, to become possible partners and one day down the road maybe full ownership. My worry is what appears to be a possible unstable future in the tobacco industry with all the possible regulations we may see. I am currently going to keep my full time job so if something was to go south I am still covered. My concern is the long term future, how do you see the future of the Tobacco industry and the Local Brick and Mortar shops? Will there still be a place for them?
Comments
At this time I just have to see where this takes me. I had a meeting with the guy last night that ended with me walking away with a key to the store. I ran a lot of ideas that I had for the place past him and he seemed very excited to bringing me on. The guy is old school Italian and has a huge heart. I feel really bad that he was taken advantage of and really want to help turn the place around. I considered the place as my personal Man Cave that everyone visited anyway. I just hope that since turning my hobby into a job it doesn't lose it's appeal.
If we can get past any smoking bans and other regulations that allow the place to remain profitable I have high hopes that things like Cigar Events and Sporting Events will keep the people coming into the shop. There are plenty of instances that there is a game on and we pack the house. Like you said, we may have to venture into other things to keep sales at the level needed.
And while we're on the subject of new and evermore restrictive smoking bans,........What about private, member owned cigar clubs? Similar to a fraternal organization. Seems like that's an option we might see more of if these stronger restrictions eliminate any new public sites that would allow smoking.
Say, Shelbyville KY is only a decent 650 mile motorcycle ride from Dull-Aware. May have to drop in some summer afternoon and see what you have going on.
enjoy
So all I'm saying, each time I've been to KY has been a nice long ride well worth it.
Seems to me that supporting a business on cigars only would be a hard row to hoe, unless you were able to create a hang-out with sufficient buzz to keep the people coming...
There are always ways you can try to generate interest in a brand that should be selling but isn't. You could create low-cost shelf-cards that give CA or other ratings for the brand (if they're highly rated). You could discount them for a short time, or toss a couple in with every box purchase of another brand. It just might be there's not a lot of awareness of Viaje in your area (I mean, I've never smoked one myself and it wouldn't be the first brand I'd look for, either online or at an B&M). Or if the store has a FB page or email list promote it that way. Or ask Viaje themselves to give you free promotional materials.
Totally agree Doug. If I were to open a shop, I would really cater to the customers to get a following of people that enjoy coming to hang out. Events, specials, cigar clubs, tastings, etc. Get a good group of guys that stop after work or come every Thursday to herf and watch a game. They will be your bread and butter who you can get into new cigars and will bring friends. I don't think you can compete with the online shoppers, but they will come to your shop and drop some cash if they enjoy herfing there and get away from the wife for a couple hours.