Super-Events: Outlaw Cigar Co. - content preview

Offering anything different from the usual store operations can constitute an Event. The key to having a successful event is communicating it to your customers! Even those that do not attend will appreciate the service and recognize you as a vital business who strives to please their customers.

Something as simple as providing coffee, donuts, and a newspaper on a Sunday morning can be marketed as a “Cigar Brunch” while cigar makers, food, live music, and endless other novelties can be brought together to create a Super-Event.

While most Tobacconists may be satisfied to organize intimate events with 10 to 30 customers, others can be more extravagant. The Super-Event is defined by its scale and ambition. Perhaps any event that extends beyond the physical boundaries of you store can be a Super-Event. While Super-Events may be hard to define, you will indubitably know one when you see it.

Case Study:
The Outlaw Cigar Co. in Kansas City, MO has monthly events which draw thousands of visitors. Located in a suburban mall, The Outlaw utilizes its parking lot (and store) to create what is America’s biggest and most exciting regular cigar party. While this type of event may not viable for all Tobacconists, it is the ultimate example of what extraordinary (Certified) Tobacconsits, organization, and leadership can accomplish.

HealthScare Ping-Pong

Just one week ago the media was disseminating the good news about a new study that showed one cup of coffee a day reduced the risk of oral cancer by 50% in both normal and high risk individuals.

As a coffee drinker and cigar smoker, I thought this was excellent news. While drinking coffee comes easy to me, I am constantly grumbling about having to work out and eat healthy.... so I was quite thrilled about the newly discovered benefits of coffee.

Today, I tuned into AOL and saw this:

And, for a second I almost felt bad for the coffee industry. I was thinking, 'here we go again; sensationalized headlines touting something else to be afraid of".... And, then I remembered, "I'm in the tobacco industry!!!".... No one gets more beat up, demonized, be-smirched, taxed, legislated, and scapegoated than us.

The fact is, health and safety are big businesses... and there will always be contradictory, conflicting, or sensational claims on every side of an issue. One day meat is good, another it is bad. Sometimes alcohol is good, other times it is bad for you. And the news media loves reporting anything dramatic; and reporting everything dramatically. And it certainly seems like negative and scary things get much more play - notice the AOL header: 'Don't Drink That Coffee'. While positive (non-scary) topics get more mundane exposure:

Sadly, fear and death sells (just watch how easily legislators pass anti-smoking laws). People 'click' on scary articles and 'stay tuned' for negative news. In our fast paced world, it can be very difficult to get 'the real story'; today's 'real story' is tomorrow's lie - and vice-versa. I suppose the best thing an enlightened citizen can do is stay educated and open-minded, practice tolerance and moderation and avoid harsh knee jerk reactions to the news, science, and everything else. The world is far too big and dynamic to think we can know it all.

But, I am really preaching to the choir here, as cigar and pipe smokers take the time to sit back and relax, contemplate and get perspective on life. I suppose that is what the anti-smokers in the world don't understand; they don't understand that cigar and pipe lovers are savoring their time... We are trying to decompress from the hysterical and sensationalized world we are forced to live in... like we have been for thousands of years. Instead of reacting to HealthScare Ping-Pong and every other fear that is thrust upon us, we should make it our mission to share our values with those that are less enlightened.... thus, making the world a better and more healthy place.

Morhealthity: confessions of a fake health and safety advocate

Well, I have a confession to make and it makes me sick just thinking about what I have done. But, in my defense, I did it all in the name of preserving freedom. For about a week in 2008 I wrote a blog called Morhealthity - Beyond Liberty: Legislating Safety, Health, & Morality. As you can see, it was an exercise in stupidity and narcissism, void of freedom-loving values, tolerance, and common sense - but it was 'logical'. Honestly, it made me feel like a dirty person; a nazi or some other kind of grotesque totalitarian pontificating morality and social structure.

In the past I have said that smoke bans, excessive tobacco taxation, and most health and safety laws imposed on individuals are intellectually bankrupt ideas as they fail to preserve our freedoms. In fact, freedom is inherently risky, like life, and that is what makes it precious. So for about a week I put myself in the mentality that many of our contemporary legislators and health and safety advocates use.... and the results were clearly disastrous. Using their logic I easily managed to justify making hair dye illegal, closing down any business where an accident may happen, and created posses to try and tame and manage the 'dirty' smokers in our society. While I only wrote about a handful of ideas, my mind conjured up hundreds - like banning grilling, sizzling fajitas, bar-b-q, or any type of cooking that produces carcinogens or smoke - oddly the smoking bans have never addressed any of these realities. In addition, I started to think about how horrible the sight of smokers and 'less than physically perfect' people might have on our children.... maybe we should keep them out of sight... The most horrific thoughts popped into my head many times a day. Every time something bad happened in the news, I would think: 'close it down', 'ban it', 'tax it', 'legislate and control', etc....

This is what happens when individual liberty is displaced as the highest value of a society.... and I truly fear what the future holds if we do not get a grip on our most precious values! Remember, that our constitution guarantees the individual right to the pursuit of happiness! And remind your friends and legislators too.... Health, Safety, and Longevity are all useless without Freedom. And while every man dies, not every man lives well and the government has no right to tell people what will make them happy.

There are billions of dollars funnelled into the anti-smoking campaigns, both by the tobacco companies (capitalism's greatest irony), the cancer, lung, heart institutes, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (winner of the 2008 Anti-Smoking Hypocrisy Award), drug companies, and the Robert Wood Johnson foundation - just to name a few.... These lobbies work day and night pressuring legislators to pass these feel good laws. And they continue to succeed. In the end, all I can think of now is what a massive waste of human life and intelligence this has been. After all, couldn't these do-gooders accomplish so much more addressing war, genocide, disease, mal-nutrition, potable water, education, etc.... ??? Our legislators continue to restrict what individuals choose to do to themselves instead of fighting the injustices that we do to each other.

Food for thought:

In Dallas, TX Tobacconists cannot keep their doors open now because the local legislators fear people might actually smell tobacco smoke wafting outside - protecting odor annoyance?

Apartments and Condominiums throughout the country are now making smoking illegal both indoors and on balconies because some tenants hate the smell - will they legislate what and how you can cook next?

PLEASE DO YOURSELF AND OUR SOCIETY A FAVOR: SIGN THE TOBACCONIST PRESERVATION ACT PETITION.

Sign This: Tobacconist Preservation Act

Please sign the petition if you support The Tobacconist Preservation Act, a proposed Federal Law which will preserve and protect Tobacconist and consumer rights to smoke in retail Tobacconist stores.

THE PETITION

* Please note, you can only sign The Tobacconist Preservation Act Petition once; whether you sign it online or a paper copy - only one signature per person.

Product Placements - Intro

Product Placements are technical product listings in our academic curriculum which are used to teach Tobacconists and consumers. Companies participating in Product Placements (PP) donate their products to the TU Product Library and get a picture, technical specs, and hotlinks in the academic curriculum - (read more). While PP help support TU services and the websites, they are also an ideal resource for consumers and Tobacconists. Looking for new Torch Lighters, Double Guillotines, Two-Way Humidifiers? Just go to TU and get the facts! Learn about the products that interest you, in an educational environment; free from marketing exaggerations and advertising bias.

We have spent years creating this 'product' and are very excited to introduce you to it. At this point, you will see one extraordinary manufacturer who has contributed and is participating with TU - that is Xikar. In addition to extraordinary products and service, Xikar continues to lead the way in quality and innovation and we are grateful for their help and vision while helping us develop the TU Product Placement model. While many companies are getting ready to participate in PP, Xikar was the first and that says a great deal about their commitment to Tobacconists and consumers.

Companies who participate in Product Placements are doing TU, Tobacconists, and consumers a great service. While they could spend their money in a myriad of ways, they choose to focus on Tobacconists and consumers interested in educating and improving themselves. PP companies are helping us build a more professional and prosperous industry, one Tobacconist at a time: 'preserving luxury tobacco for generations to come'. For that, we are very grateful.

The Tobacconist Preservation Act

THE PETITION

This proposed federal law is intended to preserve the rights of retail Tobacconists* (and their customers) who must be allowed to taste, smell, and sample their products within retail Tobacconist stores.

Retail Tobacconists acknowledge and accept any and all risks associated with smoke and knowingly and willingly choose to work in retail stores. Retail Tobacconists accept any potential risk associated with their profession in the same way that professional pilots, skateboarders, truck drivers, judges, police, dancers, mountain climbers, factory workers, soldiers, and other professionals accept the specific risks of their chosen professions.

Professional Tobacconists are custodians of natural products which are artistically grown and hand crafted into delicacies which are beloved by millions of consumers. Premium and luxury cigars and pipe tobaccos are enjoyed by individuals who seek the natural human pleasures of taste, aroma, camaraderie, and relaxation while savoring their time - no different than the pleasures derived from food or drink. The artistry and specialized qualities of luxury tobaccos requires legitimate professionals to represent the products and serve their customers. In addition, professional Tobacconists are well suited to ensure that tobacco products are sold only to adults.

The Tobacconist Preservation Act acknowledges the existence, validity, and necessities of the Tobacconist profession and preserves Tobacconists' rights to smoke on their premises. This act overrides any local and state laws which may prohibit retail Tobacconists from performing their professional duties, representing their products, and serving their customers; including but not limited to the right to smoke in retail Tobacconists. In addition, The Tobacconist Preservation Act acknowledges the significance, validity, traditions, and historical value that Tobacconists represent in The United States of America; in so doing this act protects the rights of a minority of the population and enriches the whole culture.

*Tobacconist: an expert dealer in tobacco and the related accoutrements.

President's Note: As the IPCPR and organizations like the CAA & CRA fight to protect our industry from S-CHIP, FDA, more taxation, and increasingly repressive smoking bans, The Tobacconist Preservation Act will be the first/only proactive and direct political act to be initiated by Tobacconist University. Go directly to our Petition website if you would like to sign our petition to support federal legislation that will preserve Tobacconists' rights to smoke in their shops. We must act now, so tell your friends to start signing the petition too.

Prohibition 2.0: Boston & Dallas

This December the Boston Public Health Commission voted unanimously to ban smoking outdoors on bar and restaurant patios. Similarly, the Dallas City Council successfully voted to ban smoking 15 feet from public doorways. Both cities banned the opening of new cigar bars and Boston has only allowed cigar bars to exist for the next 10 years. WTF?

These laws are based solely on a hysterical response to the fears of secondhand smoke. In reality, the outdoor bans only protect citizens from the potential of odor annoyance; since educated and reasonable people understand that a whiff of smoke is no more unhealthy than a sip of whole milk. In addition, banning the opening of new cigar bars is the equivalent of sanctioning a monopoly - far from protecting business owners and individual rights. And, only allowing them to exist for 10 years is just an insulting usurpation of rights - as it is common sense that you need at least a ten year lease (with options) and a commercial mortgage usually lasts 20 years. So, how can anyone expect to build a career, invest in their community, take care of their family, and live the American dream under these conditions? Or, is the American Dream only available to non-smokers?

Any politician who votes for laws like these is placating a mis-informed public, fear mongering, usurping rights, and undermining the most fundamental values behind our Constitution; including but not limited to the pursuit of happiness as defined by the individual. Please be proactive and help us protect our rights by signing The Tobacconist Preservation Act.

To learn more about these new Prohibitions see CRA or CC. To learn more about the lies behind secondhand smoke propaganda read what Dr. Michael Siegel, a scientist with integrity, has to say at http://www.tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/.