Banning Fast Food?

If I had a therapist I think they would force me to write this particular blog so my head would not explode.

Some intellectually bankrupt and misguided politicians in Los Angeles are trying to ban any new fast food establishments from opening in south Los Angeles, since the "obesity" rate is 6% higher there than in the rest of the city/county. I contend that AMERICAN legislators have gone completely mad and lost all sense of what AMERICA is. And of course, there are marginal "authorities" popping up all over the area praising this ridiculous act because they believe it will help people be "healthier". All of this with no regard to free market, capitalist, or democratic principles, much less the value of FREEDOM and the Individual Pursuit of Happiness. Of course I don't believe fast food leads to happiness, but I also don't think this is the right approach: Masking symptoms does Not cure the disease. And I would imagine that the so-called "disease" of obesity in this area is probably linked more to lower incomes and failing educational systems. We should be helping people empower themselves instead of taking away their choices and freedoms! (good, bad or indifferent)

Where are today's Big Thinkers? Leaders with long term vision? And Legislators with an appreciation for our Constitution? I suspect the only ones left are sitting around at their retail Tobacconists lamenting the sad state of our nation's small minded legislators.

When will we learn that legislating "HEALTH" is not the job of government? Nor can a society be managed by health statistics, or its success be determined by individual longevity!!!

It is the job of our government to protect our FREEDOMS and our Inalienable Pursuit of HAPPINESS... as defined by the individual.

There........ the pressure in my head has been relieved a little... now it is time to smoke a cigar...

Shoplifting Scumbags

Retail is Guerrilla Warfare. While most customers are pleasant and wonderful, occasionally retail Tobacconists unwittingly service thieving scumbags with no respect for social order or any sense of morality. The first lesson of retail shoplifting is that you Cannot profile. You can never predict who will steal from you. In this case, these middle aged villains took us for $667 on Labor day in less than two minutes. Just going through the videos to find these pictures to post has made me sick to my stomach. We gave these animals great service, said please and thank you, and welcomed them into our home/humidor with open arms. In return, they stole hundreds of dollars worth of Padron 26's and Ashton VSG's. I imagine these are the kind of people who beat their dogs and children; they are vile humans. While I am not a violent person, I wish I was there to exact some justice. Ironically, our Manager walked into the humidor to see if he could be helpful, and the husband blocked his view while his haggardly wife continued to pillage us: did i mention it was $667!!!

Obviously these (insert expletive here) were very professional. We did almost all we could to prevent their thieving. The major challenge for retail Tobacconists is giving their customers enough space to enjoy their shopping experience, and having a walk-in humidor is a HUGE risk. But I am passionate about providing that space for our customers so that they may be surrounded by our amazing products. It is a catch 22, and I fully understand why many Tobacconists separate and protect their most valuable products. I hope we never have to resort to that, but we live in a crazy mixed up world where anything is possible.

I hope that our customers appreciate how hard we work to keep prices reasonable and to make their shopping experience as pleasurable as possible. Unfortunately there are always rotten people around to spoil the party. This was our biggest one day theft in over twelve years of business, and I desperately hope that it doesn't happen again. If you see these animals on the street, I hope you will feel disgusted and compelled enough to kick them in the shins.

Currently, I have several videos of these (insert another expletive here) and other criminals which will be posted on Tobacconist University Service College. Hopefully these videos and the complimentary content will help retail Tobacconists deal with the problem: it effects our bottom line and makes business extremely difficult. The more you observe animals in the wild, the more you will understand them. So stay tuned for the Shoplifting section in Service College.

Happy 12th

Today, September 8, 2007 is my 12 year Anniversary as a retail Tobacconist in Princeton, NJ. I almost forgot until my mother called to congratulate me. In Cuban culture September 8th is a special, holy, and lucky day, so by coincidence, synchronicity, or just plain luck, this is an auspicious day for me.

I'm not necessarily fond of anniversaries or birthdays, but this seems like an important one. After all, when I opened A Little Taste of Cuba in 1995 the cigar boom was just kicking into high gear, the internet was blossoming, the economy was booming, tobacco taxes were a fraction of what they are today, and you could still smoke in some restaurants and entertainment venues: those were 'heady' days and I was too young and busy working to truly appreciate them. I was so young I had to maintain a '5 o'clock' shadow just to look old enough to smoke. I made a lot of mistakes (still do) and spent all of my time LEARNING voraciously. Ironically, I still feel overwhelmed by the amount of things I DON'T KNOW. I suppose that is why I started Tobacconist University!

I'm reminded of something one of the Georgetown Tobacco Tobacconists told me last month. I will paraphrase:

'There are Tobacconists who have forgotten more than I have ever known.'

That rings powerfully true to me. There is so much more to learn!!! And there is so much more content coming up on Tobacconist University that is seems overwhelming while I spend my time writing emails, letters, and faxes to my senators, governor, and congressmen, trying to preserve our luxury tobacco industry. But I am still positive. The products inspire me. The customers inspire me. And Tobacconists inspire me.

NJ Freedom Fighting

I just sent out the following letter to Governor Corzine here in New Jersey. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Ruth and Burton Weiss of Greentree Tobacco Company, the Governor's office has become interested in how the SCHIP legislation will ruin their tax base. As most 'normal' people (non-legislators) understand, the demand for premium pipe tobaccos and cigars is elastic, and the absurd taxation proposals included in SCHIP will decimate our profession and industry.




Dear Governor Corzine:

I am writing this letter in response to the current State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation which includes astronomical tax increases which will devastate the retail Tobacconist profession in New Jersey and throughout our country. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of jobs are also at stake in Central America and the Caribbean.

As the founder and president of A Little Taste of Cuba in Princeton, New Jersey, I can tell you that any significant tax increase will put us out of business. While we pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in taxes, we also employ eight individuals and provide health insurance for half of them. As Certified Tobacconists we are experts in luxury organoleptic products which are used in moderation by people savoring their time. Premium and luxury cigars and pipe tobaccos are delicacies which take years to produce and are touched by artisans’ hands several hundred times before they ever reach the consumer. As Tobacconists, we are honorable professionals who take pride in enhancing the quality of our customers’ lives and carrying on traditions that enrich our culture.

Please do not support SCHIP in its current form, as it will unduly punish and obliterate an entire industry and tax base. Please insist on alternative and more stable forms of revenue which will not result in adverse consequences and a decrease in tax revenues for the state.

Our entire industry is fighting this brutal tax on every level. Not a day goes by that I am not on the phone, writing letters and/or emails to combat this oppressive mistake. We are fighting in Central America and the Caribbean through diplomats, embassies, and the State Department. We are fighting through our local, state, and federal legislators as well. We have hired lobbyists, attorneys, and experts to help us all. But the biggest impact will be made by consumers who write letters, faxes, email and contact their representatives in government. Please get up off your rump and fight for your rights! Or there won't be a 'next time'.

FAMILY VALUES

This is the blog I really wanted to write.

I am used to socializing with cigar makers and members of the luxury tobacco industry so the sight of grown men kissing and hugging each other is nothing new to me. The sight of children playing, roller skating, and tossing a ball while we drink and smoke is also completely common. Husband and Wife Tobacconists teams are one of my favorite things to see. And it is more common than not, to see extended families working together in our industry. In fact, I have never thought twice about it. Yet, my father helped me build my first store by coming in after work and leaving at two in the morning and my mother was my first employee! FAMILY and the luxury tobacco industry are intrinsically linked. This is how traditions are maintained and how extraordinary things are accomplished; Families working together.

So, I was a little surprised on a few occasions when my girlfriend got a little choked up this week at the show in Houston. She has been to other RTDA's with me and even visited with cigar makers, but now that she has a lot of corporate experience under her professional belt, she really shined a new light on the real luxury tobacco business. She was stunned at how many families work together in this industry. She was also amazed at how close all of us in this industry seem. I guess accountants and computer technicians don't run around kissing and hugging each other at their conventions. Katelyn had her heart warmed at this year's show because she realized why I refuse to leave this industry: We Are All Family. We Share the Same Values. And We love our Products and each other for honoring them.

Simply put, the luxury tobacco industry represents the best of America, Earth, and the Human Experience. The rest of our smoke-hysterical society could learn a lot from this business. Cherish your family, friends, traditions, and honor your time by doing your best and being honorable in everything you do.

Thanks Hon, you really shed a light on that which is important! Go get your own blog so I can get back to work.

RTDA / IPCPR Report

I just returned from the 75th Anniversary of the RTDA, now IPCPR, in Houston. I thought I might sleep a full 24 hours today, but I got up bright and early. Despite my bloodshot eyes, aching muscles, and the loss of my voice, I am rejuvenated and more excited about the future than ever before. Great Cigar makers are proactively organizing and working to defeat the absurd taxes proposed by the Senate and Congress: this is truly a fight for our livelihood. For the first time ever, these artists and artisans are working hard to project the Credibility and Value of our industry, demonstrating the differences from a luxury, quality of life experience, and an unhealthy habit. We must separate ourselves from big tobacco.

TOBACCONIST UNIVERSITY: Retailers
The TU Seminar was a GREAT SUCCESS!! Beyond all expectations! Over one hundred people came to our public debut and the feedback was overwhelming. Tobacconists are thirsty for Credibility and we are just the organization to empower them to earn it. It seemed like I couldn't walk more than a few feet without being stopped by someone who attended or heard about it. Tobacconists were so excited I was giving mini lectures on the sales floor, at vendor booths, in the bar, lobby and even in moving automobiles. Here is an excerpt from the introduction part of the Seminar:



"Welcome and thank you for coming. It is a privilege to be here, speaking to you: Retail Tobacconists, my favorite people in the world.

No other professionals have as much passion yet fight as hard for their integrity, credibility and success.

So, Tobacconists are my favorite people...... Great American Freedom Fighters, in the tradition of our Founding Fathers, Tobacconists are preserving our inalienable right to pursue our own happiness. Not "happiness" which is defined by our government, legislators, pop culture, warped statistics, or anything else. Happiness can only be defined by the individual. By me, for me. By you, for you."

And then they applauded, so I will stop there.

As Mr. Jose Orlando Padron says: ' You must crawl before you walk, and walk before you run '. So we will heed that advice and take things slow, since every effort and decision we put in now is geared towards PRESERVING LUXURY TOBACCO FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

As usual, we are dealing with TU specific, or big-picture topics here. If you want some day to day coverage of the show, check out David Savona's Blog on the CA website. I think he was blogging prolifically in his sleep; I don't know when he found the time since every time I saw him he was drinking, smoking, or eating.

Up In Smoke? part 2

I spent a couple of hours on the phone today talking to retailers, Tobacconists (both Certified & Not), and some high profile industry fellows. It was both enlightening and invigorating. This new federal tobacco tax ambush has rallied the industry in an unprecedented way. For the first time ever, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can all get on one page. This is a fight for our survival and no one can disagree with that.

My hope is that professional Tobacconists will unite under the umbrella of our shared profession. While manufacturers and distributors must lead the fight against the draconian tax laws and repression, Tobacconists are the backbone and infantry of this business. Tobacconists are the public face of the luxury tobacco industry and we must be ready and willing to project our credibility. We are honorable professionals selling exquisite luxury products which enhance the value and quality of human life. We are honorable professionals selling exquisite luxury products which enhance the value and quality of human life. (Yes I wrote that twice.) Keep saying it and maybe it will start to sink in.

I think that this is just the beginning of the long road back to the America I love and cherish. You can only kick a puppy so many times before it fights back. Perhaps we have hit our breaking point.