Poll on HSA Specialties Box Direction/presentation

[joeypots]

The boxes are very nice and will surely entice some to buy.  The old adage that you sell the sizzle, not the steak is applicable here. There are a lot of people around the world that can afford anything. If that's the market Habanos is going after then a box of cigars in a up scale presentation makes sense. In the end, for me, they are cigars and are meant to be smoked. So a nice box isn't going to sway me much. A 25 or 50 SLB bands or not works for me. I'm buying steak.....

[...]

While the boxes are pretty, I prefer the traditional look. In my imaginary world, only 50 count cabs and 25 count 898 boxes should be used 😇

[cigaraholic]

I think the JL box is gorgeous!!

The Monte and RA boxes look like something you’d keep crayons in🤮

The RyJ Box looks like it’s for chocolates 🤮

The QdO Box looks like a scratched record 🤮

[BlueRidgeFly]

I do like these boxes and the presentation. But I also don't care about this aspect of cigar marketing.

NC makers frequently talk about this kind of stuff in interviews. It's like they're talking to us as though we're wholesalers... or telling us without any shame how they sucker us.

Marketing is a combination of things. Pretty boxes, sure. But value, authenticity, and quality also factor heavily into our *perception* of the product. To me, this fancy packaging actually detracts from my mostly fond perception of the traditional CC experience.

Not that HSA gives a crap what I think. They no doubt know their market, and clearly think this helps make them more money.

[SCgarman]

The boxes look nice but ultimately you smoke the cigars and not the box. These empty boxes will likely go into the trash just like any other empty cigar box. What else you suppose to do with them? Display in the curio cabinet?

[Thirds]

6 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

Totally agree with this.  These haven't been around enough to determine how well they fare in a humidor.

Very valid point that I hadn’t considered.  

[Digi]

I'd say Habanos is doing a good job of keeping up with market trends here.  The question I have is - are they having trouble selling cigars?  Doesn't seem like it.  From an economics perspective, they seem to be in an interesting place - they could probably continue the price hikes with old packaging (or even simpler packaging) and consumers would still clean out what's available.  Why spend the bucks on this if you're moving product regardless - just hold on to those increased margins instead.

I like the new boxes, some a very pretty.  I don't like presentations where the top of the box isn't flat though.  Those RA EL boxes are such a pain to stack.  Anything on top of them is tipsy and tends to fall when I'm rummaging.  RyJ Oro's have the same issue with the raised medallion on top - yarrr.

  

7 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

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. 

FWIW, companies like Fuente have been doing this for many years and by all counts the cigars still age very well.

[...]

18 minutes ago, Digi said:

I'd say Habanos is doing a good job of keeping up with market trends here.  The question I have is - are they having trouble selling cigars?  Doesn't seem like it.  From an economics perspective, they seem to be in an interesting place - they could probably continue the price hikes with old packaging (or even simpler packaging) and consumers would still clean out what's available.  Why spend the bucks on this if you're moving product regardless - just hold on to those increased margins instead.

Based on the information available for the past 10 years, I'd say the Habanos top staff decision making processes are likely not 100% purely informed by facts and logics...

[Hammer Smokin']

57 minutes ago, Digi said:

I'd say Habanos is doing a good job of keeping up with market trends here.  The question I have is - are they having trouble selling cigars?  Doesn't seem like it.  From an economics perspective, they seem to be in an interesting place - they could probably continue the price hikes with old packaging (or even simpler packaging) and consumers would still clean out what's available.  Why spend the bucks on this if you're moving product regardless - just hold on to those increased margins instead.

I like the new boxes, some a very pretty.  I don't like presentations where the top of the box isn't flat though.  Those RA EL boxes are such a pain to stack.  Anything on top of them is tipsy and tends to fall when I'm rummaging.  RyJ Oro's have the same issue with the raised medallion on top - yarrr.

  

FWIW, companies like Fuente have been doing this for many years and by all counts the cigars still age very well.

fancy boxes help the buyer justify the ridiculous prices. 

[NSXCIGAR]

1) Yes, almost all of the new packaging is aesthetically pleasing.

2) I don't want to pay more for it. Lower the price and give me unbanded SLBs.

[NSXCIGAR]

19 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

It looks like a Vegan vomited out that color.

Unfortunately it is the standard RA box color. Of course in the old days RA was brown. The box shape itself is unattractive though. 

As far as aging if the boxes have the same inner slots as standard BN boxes they should be quite airtight with the varnish/lacquer. 

 

[Tstew75]

ELs are already outrageously expensive, why not put em in a fancy box? The same reason my winery refuses to put our $60 Pinot Noirs in a screwcap...price carries an expectation of prestige, and packaging is a part of that.

The Supremos & Selección Especial presentations are pretty spectacular.

It's worth noting that folks crapping on the new packaging probably aren't EL purchasers anyways...so this luxury marketing plan likely isn't being targeted at you.

[99call]

7 hours ago, Tstew75 said:

It's worth noting that folks crapping on the new packaging probably aren't EL purchasers anyways...so this luxury marketing scheme isn't being targeted at you

Whilst I think there is some validity to this comment.  I would add there are two luxury markets.   One that might be called Nouveau riche, that stereotypically might lean towards flashy, glitzy, tacky stuff.........and old money, that's also happy to drop a lot of cash to buy something, but may be a little more discerning on materials/craft of production. 

Both are stereotypes,  but I would suggest the LE boxes above are catering to the former, and this images attached below might be catering to the later. i.e. more heritage styled releases. 

 

[Fuzz AI]

On 4/20/2022 at 1:28 AM, Corylax18 said:

I may be in the minority, but I prefer to receive my cigars in a plastic bag, un banded, un adorned.

Handed to you under a bridge, at 3am in the morning under the cover of a thick fog, after a secret handshake and passing over a nondescript envelope?

[Ford2112]

18 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Handed to you under a bridge, at 3am in the morning under the cover of a thick fog, after a secret handshake and passing over a nondescript envelope?

Risky. Don't get burned like my friend here...

 

[Corylax18]

51 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Handed to you under a bridge, at 3am in the morning under the cover of a thick fog, after a secret handshake and passing over a nondescript envelope?

You can't have the cash and the product in the same spot! You have to maintain plausible deniability. Only dead drops. 😆

[jakebarnes]

7 hours ago, 99call said:

Whilst I think there is some validity to this comment.  I would add there are two luxury markets.   One that might be called Nouveau riche, that stereotypically might lean towards flashy, glitzy, tacky stuff.........and old money, that's also happy to drop a lot of cash to buy something, but may be a little more discerning on materials/craft of production. 

Both are stereotypes,  but I would suggest the LE boxes above are catering to the former, and this images attached below might be catering to the later. i.e. more heritage styles releases.

I'd fall into the "former" in terms of lifestyle, but tend to act like the latter (big purchases are for special things that I specifically seek out). I still prefer the SLBs or slightly spiced up "LCDH" boxes over anything. Or the beauty of the varished boxes for the 898 or MdO series. 

[gustavehenne]

I love a good box design and think the Fuente Opus X, Juan Lopez Seleccion Especial etc. boxes look utterly brilliant. With that being said, they are a huge pain to try and store in my humidor and take up way more space than anything else.

SLBs of 25 or 50 don't stack as well as dress boxes of 25 and that is my preferred format (I also love a bit of box pressing which I prefer) and anything bigger just takes up more space and therefore is an annoyance. Unless I'm in love with the cigar inside a fancy box that takes up oodles of space actually turns me off rather than makes me buy.

 

[TBird55]

I am no a fan at all. Takes up too much room in humidors. Slb's boxes or cabs are just fine with me. In my opinion a cab of 50 looks better than any fancy box.