Poll on HSA Specialties Box Direction/presentation

[El Presidente]

Most of you have seen the boxes in person by now. 

Have HSA got the direction in terms of specialties marketing/presentation right?

This is not about price. 

They would argue that it comes down to the following question. 

Do you or do you not like the new presentation direction for specialties?

 

 

 

 

[LLC]

I like the effort going into the boxes but if the cigars aren’t good, it doesn’t really matter what they do with the box. 

[Chas.Alpha]

Overall, I would say yes. Price not being a consideration I think they look appropriately luxurious. Sorry about the weird font, I hit the wrong button... 😔

[jakebarnes]

I like it. It let's each brand expand on its identity. They look cool and it adds to lore and the personality.

[LordAnubis]

I'd rather whomever seems to make the boxes to a high standard to make the cigars, and let the guys making the piss poor QC cigars make the boxes.

[coug28]

Just another testament to HSAs new business plan of selling fewer cigars at a higher premiums for the same net/net. Shinier boxes + more bands = more $$.
 

If this is the indeed the new trend….we’ll be waiting a long while for a correction to the supplies that we’ve grown accustomed to pre-Covid. 

[Hammer Smokin']

If commenting on the looks, without commenting on the price, well sure, they are nice. 

[El Presidente]

6 minutes ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

If commenting on the looks, without commenting on the price, well sure, they are nice. 

 

the thread is about marketing direction and not value.

[Hammer Smokin']

and they are certainly nice. 

so marketing direction is "positive". 

but Prez, what do you feel the reason is for the marketing to go in this direction? 

[Thirds]

I’ve been lured in for at least a box on each of these pictured (much deeper on the RAs) and have to say that each of the cigars are quite good, with the notable exception being the JL LCDH 150th.  I haven’t had the chance to smoke one yet as the box just recently arrived and are still napping.  I’m a big fan of the Monte and RA LEs, pleased with the QdO.  The presentation in the RyJs is truly stunning although my first few examples were underwhelming.  I think of the bunch, they need the most time down to shine  

In conclusion, I’m a fan if the elevated presentation is indicative of premium content contained within. From a sheer marketing perspective, I’d say they’ve accomplished their objective successfully with me.  I also suffer greatly from FOMO and a ridiculously crammed Cabinet of cigars that I might not smoke in my lifetime (but at least the option to smoke them is there)! 

[El Presidente]

12 minutes ago, Hammer Smokin' said:

but Prez, what do you feel the reason is for the marketing to go in this direction? 

I am old school......timber cab of 50, simple band, all good. 

However, the market generally loves something that shows a little effort and I am quite sure that I am not who they are appealing to. 

• Premium box production cost is no longer expensive when in volume. 
• Targetting younger upwardly mobile market.  Look at what they are doing with premium liquor botles. 
• Product and price differentiation from regular lines. 
• Reinforcing collectability. 

 

 

 

[Thirds]

Quite stunning, really. 

[El Presidente]

They did a great job on the JL 

[Fuzz AI]

I personally love the look of the RyJ box. Really eye catching. Next would be the JL and the QdO.

The least one I like is the RA box. Just don't like that green and the weird hump on the lid.

[El Presidente]

14 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Just don't like that green and the weird hump on the lid.

...like that four day old plastic container of thai takeaway in the fridge  

[Islandboy]

Not into the new packaging at all....I'm finding myself increasingly disappointed by EL’s and recent limited releases, and the fancy packaging just seems completely superficial with an intent to distract attention from the fact that the contents are mostly mediocre. I want artisan cigars first and foremost, couldn’t care less what they come in.

[yossie]

6 hours ago, El Presidente said:

Targetting younger upwardly mobile market.  Look at what they are doing with premium liquor botles. 

I can understand their thought but I also want them to understand the value of their history. Who wanna buy EV Harley Davidson?

[El Presidente]

7 minutes ago, yossie said:

I can understand their thought but I also want them to understand the value of their history. Who wanna buy EV Harley Davidson?

It is why they should bring out a "Heritage Line" celebrating their history, celebrating cigars of yesteryear. 

From PL Magnums to SLRDC.  200,000 sticks and produced no more than once every 5 years. 

There would be no greater lay down misère, in the cigar world. 

However let's put this all in perspective. 40% - 50%  of their current portfolio is unavailable today, they can't meet the market requirement on what they do have available......... distributors  ran out of Monte 4 this month. 

This goose is cooked for some time. 

[Edicion]

There was another thread about what members do with empty, old boxes. Throw them away was a fairly common comment.

These later releases boxes are good enough to keep, maybe even use to restock. I use an old Behike box to keep later acquired Behikes or other special cigars. I feel it's worth keeping it and to me the design is excellent.

My two cents is therefore, have boxes that look this good and use them to restock new purchases into them. To me that's great marketing.

[Chibearsv]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I am old school......timber cab of 50, simple band, all good. 

However, the market generally loves something that shows a little effort and I am quite sure that I am not who they are appealing to. 

• Premium box production cost is no longer expensive when in volume. 
• Targetting younger upwardly mobile market.  Look at what they are doing with premium liquor botles. 
• Product and price differentiation from regular lines. 
• Reinforcing collectability. 

Old school here too.  I'm not the target of this marketing style, that's for sure.  I agree on "a little effort" but that can be a higher quality wood with varnish and a color variation.  Any box of Sir Winston looks better to me than any of these.  

[Puros Y Vino]

I'm torn.  The examples you've shown are all fine except for the RA one. It looks like a Vegan vomited out that color. 🤢  I guess fancy Habanos boxes era began with the Reserva series in 2003 and then got somewhat normalized with Behike in 2010? I still prefer the classic cabinet boxes.  The odd fancy box is nice if the release warrants it.  The JL one is very sharp and the RyJ ones look decadent.  The only negative view I have on these is that they are starting to look like NC style boxes.  NC makers compete in a large field against each other. Sharp box designs need to catch the consumers eye.  Cubans really don't compete against NC's in the same way.  People are drawn to Cubans for the tobacco, history and mystique to a degree.  In a sense, Habanos in throwing themselves with NC makers whose box designs are catchy but whose contents always leaves something to be desired.(with some exceptions.ie The Padron 50th Humidors are gorgeous and the cigars inside are stellar).

[99call]

Currently the market is pandering to the childish bling bling crowd, and If it's the easiest door to push against then why not.   Critically if these boxes are bought in from overseas, then there is no Cuban based burden of QC,  this is something I imagine they enjoy. i.e minimising pressure on their end. 

Personally I do not like the introduction of anything that off-gases solvents, or breaks down overtime in the humidor.   Paint, varnish, cheap gilt finishes, plastic, dyed fabrics etc etc.  In my ideal world all of this stuff would be banned from production. 

Simple timber branded boxes, with natural silk ribbons,  is the ideal.    This does not mean a ban of being forward thinking and expressive with designs, it just requires skill, and well paid labour.   I would like to see a return of marquetry, and stringing, on special releases.   

[Puros Y Vino]

1 hour ago, 99call said:

Personally I do not like the introduction of anything that off-gases solvents, or breaks down overtime in the humidor.   Paint, varnish, cheap gilt finishes, plastic, dyed fabrics etc etc.  In my ideal world all of this stuff would be banned from production. 

Simple timber branded boxes, with natural silk ribbons,  is the ideal.    This does not mean a ban of being forward thinking and expressive with designs, it just requires skill, and well paid labour.   I would like to see a return of marquetry, and stringing, on special releases.   

Totally agree with this.  These haven't been around enough to determine how well they fare in a humidor. Classic style Dress boxes and Cabinets have proven to have no negative effect on the contents.  Even lacquered Habanos boxes have been neutral in terms of off-putting odors, etc.  I remember years ago when Tatuajue released the "monsters" series and the first runs had problems with the fancy boxes in terms of odors inside and out.  Even Habanos faltered with the BHK. The felt, slip cover smelled horrible. I don't know of anyone who hasn't tossed those aside when storing the boxes. 

[tjkoala]

I think the boxes look very nice, although they look like a box an Opus X or Davidoff would come in. For that reason, I personally am not a fan of them because they stray too far away from the Cuban look and feel. It always feels great to open a dress box or SLB because it feels a bit like tradition and nostalgia. It's the same way I feel about new Jeep Wranglers that have lost the rugged and minimalist look to sell out for comfort and electronics, there's noting wrong with wanting that but go buy a Grand Cherokee instead. But in the end, it's just a box so who cares. Get off my lawn.

[Corylax18]

@El Presidente

You should add a 2nd question; "Will you buy more cigars because of the new boxes?"

I like the boxes, a lot. As Objects. but I don't like them as packaging for cigars. At All. I think they're pretty enough to use as accessory storage in a smoking room, or something along those lines.  

I may be in the minority, but I prefer to receive my cigars in a plastic bag, un banded, un adorned. I cant smoke any of the package, so that's just money down the drain to me. 

I've been buying fewer and fewer cigars from HSA over the last 5 years and these new presentations wont do anything to change that trend, even though I do like them.