When someone, especially someone busy, says to you "My door is always open for you" they mean it. This is a genuine and sincere gift. It means that, despite how hectic their schedule may be, they have committed to you that they will always make time for you, that you are important in their life, and that when you need them, they will be there for you.
Busy people don't make these kinds of promises to just anyone, they make them for a reason. They make them because they care.
You can pass through that portal multiple times over days, months, and years and at wildly varying intervals.
Here's the thing: The single most important time you will ever pass through that door is what they perceive to be the last. It matters a great deal to them which direction you're traveling, so choose carefully which direction you're going, and remember, whichever it is you'll need to take your baggage with you.
If you're going in one direction it means the door will remain forever open. If you're going the other it almost certainly means it will close. Either way, you'll need to be packed for the trip.
A personal journey about cigars, tobacco, and the people who make them.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Oh no you won't
With the IPCPR show just around the corner I'm going to take this opportunity to clarify a few things. Some of you will like it. Some of you won't. But this is the way it is.
For several months now I've been listening to retailers, as have our sales staff, tell us "we'll just order at the show." For several months I have made it abundantly clear that whether or not Emilio Cigars would make an appearance at IPCPR would depend on a number of factors all of which are in a constant state of flux.
Folks, the flux has just hit the rotating oscillator, and I'm going to outline very clearly where we are on this issue, in part because I simply don't want to disappoint anyone, and also in part because I'm finally in a position, given the facts I have at hand, to inform you fully.
I have for many years worked for a wonderful family owned business and managed their premium cigar operations. They have generously and graciously allowed me to pursue my dream of bringing Emilio Cigars to market, often on their time and at their expense. Because the IPCPR show is unquestionably the most important event of the year in order to help them grow and prosper as I've promised them I would it is imperative that I not let them down in any way, and as a man of integrity I will not. I will attend the show, but as a buyer for the chain of stores I manage.
I had really hoped that I'd have someone trained to take over the buying duties for the stores at this stage, but it is a large task to undertake, and I can't just throw someone into it until I'm certain of their ability to handle it. That wouldn't be fair.
What does this mean? It means that we will not conduct Emilio Cigars business on the show floor, as that would be unfair to those who will be working so hard in their own booths, have paid for them, and have poured their blood, sweat, heart, and soul into their companies.
We will certainly entertain discussing our cigars with you after hours, but please understand, I will have pressing duties buying for our stores, so we'd really prefer that if you're on the fence right now, let us help you get the cigars in now, so that the inevitable compression of time at IPCPR does not shortchange you of the opportunity to get all the information you need before making a decision. We'll do our best for you, and hope you'll help us do so.
Remember, we will never short an existing retailer just to open a new account. The astute among you will understand and respect this, make the phone call, and come aboard while the opportunity presents itself.
At some point, as we did last year, I will cease to open new accounts, and this decision will be based entirely on how comfortable I am with the scale of our production as compared to our capacity to fulfill our promises to our retailers. We don't break promises. We promise those who carry our cigars that we'll do all in our power to help them, and we always will.
Now let's go get some stuff done, and get through this next few hectic weeks in a way that benefits us all.
Good luck to everyone at IPCPR, and here's to hoping for your future successes.
For several months now I've been listening to retailers, as have our sales staff, tell us "we'll just order at the show." For several months I have made it abundantly clear that whether or not Emilio Cigars would make an appearance at IPCPR would depend on a number of factors all of which are in a constant state of flux.
Folks, the flux has just hit the rotating oscillator, and I'm going to outline very clearly where we are on this issue, in part because I simply don't want to disappoint anyone, and also in part because I'm finally in a position, given the facts I have at hand, to inform you fully.
I have for many years worked for a wonderful family owned business and managed their premium cigar operations. They have generously and graciously allowed me to pursue my dream of bringing Emilio Cigars to market, often on their time and at their expense. Because the IPCPR show is unquestionably the most important event of the year in order to help them grow and prosper as I've promised them I would it is imperative that I not let them down in any way, and as a man of integrity I will not. I will attend the show, but as a buyer for the chain of stores I manage.
I had really hoped that I'd have someone trained to take over the buying duties for the stores at this stage, but it is a large task to undertake, and I can't just throw someone into it until I'm certain of their ability to handle it. That wouldn't be fair.
What does this mean? It means that we will not conduct Emilio Cigars business on the show floor, as that would be unfair to those who will be working so hard in their own booths, have paid for them, and have poured their blood, sweat, heart, and soul into their companies.
We will certainly entertain discussing our cigars with you after hours, but please understand, I will have pressing duties buying for our stores, so we'd really prefer that if you're on the fence right now, let us help you get the cigars in now, so that the inevitable compression of time at IPCPR does not shortchange you of the opportunity to get all the information you need before making a decision. We'll do our best for you, and hope you'll help us do so.
Remember, we will never short an existing retailer just to open a new account. The astute among you will understand and respect this, make the phone call, and come aboard while the opportunity presents itself.
At some point, as we did last year, I will cease to open new accounts, and this decision will be based entirely on how comfortable I am with the scale of our production as compared to our capacity to fulfill our promises to our retailers. We don't break promises. We promise those who carry our cigars that we'll do all in our power to help them, and we always will.
Now let's go get some stuff done, and get through this next few hectic weeks in a way that benefits us all.
Good luck to everyone at IPCPR, and here's to hoping for your future successes.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Emilio Cigars Announces Distribution Agreements
Over the last few weeks, in addition to preparing for several new releases from Emilio Cigars we have been collaborating with other small manufacturers to distribute what we consider to be very worthwhile cigars that deserve broader distribution.
Last week George Rodriguez of Rodrigo Cigars announced in a news release that we would be distributing his cigars in the U.S. We are delighted with this arrangement, and look forward to doing all we can to help George make his brand a success.
I met George during the course of my Texas tour, and I must say he displays a passion for the industry that deserves recognition.
What I find delightful is that he is an easy going and accessible guy. If you want to ask him a question just ask. He can be followed on twitter, and much as we do interacts regularly with consumers.
Yesterday we announced that we had also reached an agreement to distribute a new brand called Herederos de Robaina.
Manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua by American Caribbean Tobacco, this line of cigars brings classic Cuban knowledge of blending tobaccos to an all new brand.
We look forward to these collaborative efforts to give smaller cigar brands broader exposure in the marketplace by combining our strengths and products to create a greater whole.
As always, our foremost priority in all we do is to bring to the consumer great cigars at fair prices. We believe strongly in these new additions to our portfolio, and hope you will give them, and other boutique cigar brands the strong support they so much deserve.
I met George during the course of my Texas tour, and I must say he displays a passion for the industry that deserves recognition.
What I find delightful is that he is an easy going and accessible guy. If you want to ask him a question just ask. He can be followed on twitter, and much as we do interacts regularly with consumers.
Manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua by American Caribbean Tobacco, this line of cigars brings classic Cuban knowledge of blending tobaccos to an all new brand.
We look forward to these collaborative efforts to give smaller cigar brands broader exposure in the marketplace by combining our strengths and products to create a greater whole.
As always, our foremost priority in all we do is to bring to the consumer great cigars at fair prices. We believe strongly in these new additions to our portfolio, and hope you will give them, and other boutique cigar brands the strong support they so much deserve.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Draig K by Emilio Cigars is set to release
We received news from our factory late this morning that the much anticipated Draig K by Emilio Cigars has been shipped. If everything goes according to plan the cigars should begin shipping to retailers late next week, around July 12 and 13.
The Draig K features a Columbian Cubanito wrapper and a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan binder and fillers.
Draig will come packaged in boxes of 10 and be available in 3 sizes: Corona (5.5x46), Robusto (5x50), and Toro (6x50)
The initial allocation of Draig K will be shipped to retailers who had become members of the Emilio Cigars family prior to April 30, 2012. Any remaining Draig will first be offered to these same retailers in a second offering, and then opened up to newer retailers who have come aboard recently.
SRP on Draig will run from $10.40 to $12.00 per stick. Only 400 boxes of each vitola have been produced.
On a comedic closing note, we would remind everyone that our good friend and avid supporter, Trevor Burk in Mississippi, has claimed that he will attempt to purchase every available box.
Draig will come packaged in boxes of 10 and be available in 3 sizes: Corona (5.5x46), Robusto (5x50), and Toro (6x50)
The initial allocation of Draig K will be shipped to retailers who had become members of the Emilio Cigars family prior to April 30, 2012. Any remaining Draig will first be offered to these same retailers in a second offering, and then opened up to newer retailers who have come aboard recently.
SRP on Draig will run from $10.40 to $12.00 per stick. Only 400 boxes of each vitola have been produced.
On a comedic closing note, we would remind everyone that our good friend and avid supporter, Trevor Burk in Mississippi, has claimed that he will attempt to purchase every available box.
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