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RESPECTING CIGAR RETAILERS

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In Leland, Michigan, “One of Leelanau County’s most unusual businesses last week gained one of the county’s most unusual amenities – a walk-in humidor,” reported the Leelanau Enterprise.

"The Leelanau Cigar Company, also known as 'Joe’s Place' on Front Street in the Village of Suttons Bay, now includes a 95-square foot humidor for storing cigars. It’s believed to be the only walk-in humidor in the county."

Owner Joe Barrera retired from Delphi AC Spark Plugs in 2004 and opened the 1,000 sq.ft. shop in mid-2006. His wife operates a scrapbooking store close by.

"The point of starting the Leelanau Cigar Company was not for me to make a fortune," said Barrera, age 58, in an interview. "I'm only doing this to supplement my retirement income and make some friends."

He even has a mascot: Pancho, the Cigar Store Pirate. It was a gift from one of his daughters and looks suspiciously like a carved wooden figure of Punch, but with an eye patch and a pirate's hat added. It sits next to the store's chess board, obviously watching for cheats.

In addition to stocking the more popular lines of cigars, he also had a special line made for the store which are infused with the essence of apple brandy made at Black Star Farms in nearby Bingham Township. You can’t get much more local than that.

These kinds of stories are not only fun, but are a critical point of difference between cigar and pipe lovers and those who smoke cigarettes. The mass marketing of cigarettes in supermarkets and service stations is an impersonal experience that is light years from the joy of entering a smokeshop and strolling into a well-stocked walk-in humidor to see what’s new.

If the taxman or the FDA don’t intervene, that experience will likely continue well into the 22nd Century and beyond. Because the successful tobacco retail shop isn’t about cigars, pipes or tobacco. It’s about people.

Smoking ban backfiring in Hong Kong:
The South China Morning Post reported that although a smoking ban in public places was instituted more than a year ago, smoking rates appear to have risen during that time!

The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department reported the collection of duty fees on cigarettes had increased by an average of almost 12 million cigarettes per month since the smoking ban was instituted.

"I think the smoking ban can prevent second-hand smoke in public places . . .but to motivate people to quit, the government still has a long way to go," said medical sector legislator Kwok Ka-ki. Maybe they could reduce the smoking rate by eliminating the ban?
~ Rich Perelman

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