LGC Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 None. Just cut the REs and dedicate the resources back to the regular production sticks that were foolishly cut. I never cared for the thick, over powering wrapper of the ELs either.
coug28 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I'd be all in on a Trinidad Corona Gorda....but only if it was regular production. until the EL wrapper is ditched...I won't be wasting anymore of my money on this program ever again. At least some of the REs ive tried attempt to stay true to the marca to an extent. The ELs....not so much.
mk05 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 No one is making you buy ELs or forcing you to buy ones with the dark wrappers. There are plenty of long format ELs with lighter wrappers. I can't wait for the liberalization of this industry. I would live to own ERDM and bring this blend to its full potential ( just to name one possibility). Pat, ERdM is my thing, as you know. My concern with liberalization is this...I don't want some idiot flying into Cuba on his Citation wearing his dumb paisley shirt with oversized reflective aviators and white Tods, and then making a mockery of the famous blends. No, I think I like these blends exactly where they are, in the hands of the starving artists given no other incentives. Pun not intended but unfortunately evident.
khomeinist Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 If I owned or managed ERDM, I would make a lot of changes that I think would be warmly received by the hardcore guys. I think HSA is doing a fairly impressive mockery job with many of the blends/marcas as it is. ERDM is practically obsolete. There is really only room for improvement at this point. Could the hatchet job to Partagas be any more ridiculous? I think liberalization is the answer.
khomeinist Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Ps. What's wrong with reflective aviators? You need to watch more CHiPS
ramon_cojones Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I'd be all in on a Trinidad Corona Gorda....but only if it was regular production. until the EL wrapper is ditched...I won't be wasting anymore of my money on this program ever again. At least some of the REs ive tried attempt to stay true to the marca to an extent. The ELs....not so much. I have not ever purchased an EL due to the wrapper thankfully and don't plan on starting anytime this century.
PigFish Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 If I owned or managed ERDM, I would make a lot of changes that I think would be warmly received by the hardcore guys. I think HSA is doing a fairly impressive mockery job with many of the blends/marcas as it is. ERDM is practically obsolete. There is really only room for improvement at this point. Could the hatchet job to Partagas be any more ridiculous? I think liberalization is the answer. ...along these lines I will cop a line from Wm. Buckley. I would rather see Tabacuba run by 5 members off this board's roster than 5 goose-stepping morons from the school of Tabacuba! You got my vote Kommie! -the Pig
mk05 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 If I owned or managed ERDM, I would make a lot of changes that I think would be warmly received by the hardcore guys. I think HSA is doing a fairly impressive mockery job with many of the blends/marcas as it is. ERDM is practically obsolete. There is really only room for improvement at this point. Could the hatchet job to Partagas be any more ridiculous? I think liberalization is the answer. What would you do differently? I mean, other than reinstating most of the discontinued, I can't really think of any other nitpicks...maybe give us hardcore guys a Choix 100ct cajon. Definitely can't ask for a blend change, as it is very specific flavor that develops after aging. Ps. What's wrong with reflective aviators? You need to watch more CHiPS I wasn't even alive back then.
Fuzz AI Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Ps. What's wrong with reflective aviators? You need to watch more CHiPS You'd need sunglasses to watch CHiPS, else the glare from Eric Estrada's teeth would blind you!
khomeinist Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 What would you do differently? I mean, other than reinstating most of the discontinued, I can't really think of any other nitpicks...maybe give us hardcore guys a Choix 100ct cajon. Definitely can't ask for a blend change, as it is very specific flavor that develops after aging. Well.... I charge a consultancy fee.... Let's just say that bringing back the Grandes de España would just one of many moves on the tobacco side. My main focus would be strengthening the brand through marketing and outreach. What does each brand represent? How can a brand take on a unique identity in a crowded marketplace? So work from a theoretical base and plan strategy accordingly. Briefly stated, I think there is incredible opportunity to use and expand upon some of the business models utilized by NC makers. While I don't smoke many NCs, I am impressed with the way some of these guys hustle and do business. I would love to model ERDM using Padron as an eventual outcome. Different price points. Occasional special releases (ERDM culebra and such). Focus on quality and classy brand representation. It ain't that hard. I just don't think HSA has a clue. What will they do when the jawbreaker fad diminishes?
PigFish Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Well.... I charge a consultancy fee.... Let's just say that bringing back the Grandes de España would just one of many moves on the tobacco side. My main focus would be strengthening the brand through marketing and outreach. What does each brand represent? How can a brand take on a unique identity in a crowded marketplace? So work from a theoretical base and plan strategy accordingly. Briefly stated, I think there is incredible opportunity to use and expand upon some of the business models utilized by NC makers. While I don't smoke many NCs, I am impressed with the way some of these guys hustle and do business. I would love to model ERDM using Padron as an eventual outcome. Different price points. Occasional special releases (ERDM culebra and such). Focus on quality and classy brand representation. It ain't that hard. I just don't think HSA has a clue. What will they do when the jawbreaker fad diminishes? I think that it needs to be understood that cigar smokers mature. While some or many may have never noticed it, nor agree with it, it is an axiom as far as I am concerned. It must also be understood that not all cigars will sell at the same rate and price of a set of cigars. Ultimately it must be understood that a broad market, includes niche market subsets. Today the ERdM Grandes de Espana will likely not sell any better than it used to. THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD. I don't think marketing and boxes will do it Kommie! The vast majority of smokers don't want these as a first choice. The entire market must move to change that. Who knows if it ever will. The point is that there is a market, limited to a small experienced group that adore the cigar. We don't care about packaging! We care about a cost performance. We will smoke them if they are good, but not if they are good and overpriced. They must represent a market value and be good at the same time. This defines the subset that I am in. Classify it as you will! I believe thinking that they will give robustos a run for the money in this market is delusional (not implying that anyone believes this)! But cigars like these will capture the more mature smoker. It will get the mature smoker to buy another box of cigars when he already has more Monte Esp's and Lancersos than he needs now. I think the idea should be to sell 'another' box of cigars, not a specific box of cigars. In order to sell another box of cigars you need a broad catalogue. You need to understand your following from novice to experienced. This is lost on Tabacuba. Their model is that you 'will' smoke what they produce. You 'will' like what you are told to like! They have left out the part where you stop smoking or chose a competitors product. Their model is an exclusive model. I suggest an inclusive model. Their model is a model for loss in market share. Mine is one of a gaining market share. I think bringing back the GdE is a damn good idea. -Piggy
pjansen Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 It ain't that hard. I just don't think HSA has a clue. What will they do when the jawbreaker fad diminishes? They will discontinue the jaw breakers and start making novelty shaped cigars.....
khomeinist Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I didn't mean to imply that a GdE revival would be the crux of my plan. That would be delusional. Pay close attention to what I said about Padron. That is not a company focused on packaging. Have a broad inventory line. Appeal to all segments of the market. Keep your approach classy with a focus on tradition and history with the occasional new introduction to appeal to the more image-conscious punter. I don't value flash over substance. I think both can be managed with class and integrity. HSA has lost the plot in this regard.
PigFish Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 I didn't mean to imply that a GdE revival would be the crux of my plan. That would be delusional. Pay close attention to what I said about Padron. That is not a company focused on packaging. Have a broad inventory line. Appeal to all segments of the market. Keep your approach classy with a focus on tradition and history with the occasional new introduction to appeal to the more image-conscious punter. I don't value flash over substance. I think both can be managed with class and integrity. HSA has lost the plot in this regard. I believe I understood your intent but made some assumptions when you mentioned marketing and outreach. Marketing is a broad term. Rereading your post I can see that my assumption of your use of marketing based on packaging was poor comprehension on my part. I know nothing of Padron's market plan. As you suggest I do believe a winning plan is simple. It is inclusive and expansive. It would appear that you are suggesting that this is the Padron model. If so, emulating it would be wise. Cheers! -Piggy
khomeinist Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 All good my friend. Yes. Padron has a very inclusive product line. The 5000s and such are tasty budget smokes. The anniversary lines are there for those who are interested. There are yearly special releases but they focus on tradition and are not gimmicky like some of the other NC brands (tatuaje. Cough. Cough). Am sure we essentially agree on this topic. The communist-corporate partnership just isn't working......
mk05 Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 So essentially reintroduce the discontinued offerings to reestablish the full line up as was originally intended.
khomeinist Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 No. A complete strategic reorganization. Not all vitolas need return. A cultural overhaul is thé first step.
CaptainQuintero Posted October 10, 2012 Author Posted October 10, 2012 One thing I don't understand is why the trend of huge fatties even appeared. What do they do that a Churchill or DC doesn't or can't do? Bring back the churchills I say!
mk05 Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 I like the Sublime size. Sometimes a blend necessitates a big ring gauge. I don't hear you whining about Behike's. You know what I want? Partagas 109.
OZCUBAN Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 Don't bother bringing out a "new" LE cigar. How about instead reviving a classic discontinued cigar as a historical release. Each year the new LE can be a discontinued cigar from 5-10 years ago. EXACTLY Took the words right out of my mouth
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