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.

TU Email News: 6/4/2007

Dear Friends & Fellow Tobacconists;

“Houston, we have lift-off”

It is my great pleasure to announce that Tobacconist University will give its first RTDA Seminar for Retail Tobacconists at this year’s 75th Anniversary show in Houston. On Saturday, August 4, it will be our privilege to address an audience of esteemed Retail Tobacconists between 4pm and 5pm: just one hour before the 75th Anniversary Celebration!

This historic Seminar will punctuate Tobacconist University’s debut year with a lecture on the importance and value of Tobacconists. In addition we will show our fellow Retail Tobacconists how to leverage education as a Promotional and Sales Tool as well as increase customer loyalty, service, credibility, and overall success.

Space is limited, so please sign up for the Seminar through the RTDA website at http://www.rtda.org/.

And visit http://tobacconistu.blogspot.com/ or http://www.tobacconistuniversity.org/ for updates and an enhanced perspective.

My Best Wishes;

TU RTDA SEMINAR

It's official! The RTDA has announced that Tobacconist University will be giving the final Seminar at the 75th Anniversary show in Houston. The opportunity to introduce TU to RTDA's Retail Tobacconists will prove to be a historic event. A University for Tobacconists, by Tobacconists, is long overdue for this venerable industry. And it is an honor and privilege to unveil Tobacconist University to such an esteemed group of professionals. Ultimately, as TU advocates, Retail Tobacconists are the cornerstone of this industry.... the absolute key to preserving our health, wealth, and survival. Retail Tobacconists are an essential and extraordinary part of our culture which must be preserved for generations to come. On Saturday August 4th at 4pm, Tobacconist University will address the best of the best and drive our mission forward: "To set the highest standards of excellence in Product Knowledge, Appreciation, and Professionalism in the luxury tobacco industry."

While we cannot teach all of TU during a one hour seminar, we will use our web site and other educational materials to teach Tobacconists how Education can be leveraged as a Sales and Promotional tool. TU will illustrate exactly how Retail Tobacconists can strengthen relationships and add value to consumers, increase loyalty and sales, reduce turnover, and increase their competitive advantages!


RTDA RELEASE:

RTDA Seminar in Houston
Saturday August 4: 4:00 PM - 5:00PM
Seminar 3 - The Value of Retailer Product Knowledge and the Importance of Today's Tobacconists
Presented by Jorge Luis Armenteros, CMT, President and founder in 1996 of Tobacconist University and owner of Little Taste of Cuba retail stores in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Jorge puts into context the importance of what we do and illustrates how valuable we really are ways to get more societal acceptance in today's environment. TU's introductory curriculum is an in-depth academic study of tobacco, its history, agriculture, processing, manufacturing, and marketing.