You have won the tender to market one of the following six brands.

[El Presidente]

After international expressions of interest. Habanos S.A has provided your group a 10 year Licence to develop and market one of the following brands...

 

Diplomatico

El Rey Del Mundo 

Juan Lopez

La Gloria Cubana

Sancho Panza 

Vegas Robaina 

 

1. You can only pick one brand. 
2. You can introduce no more than 5 new cigars during the 10 year period.
3. You can drop one of the existing lines in the marques portfolio if need be. 
4. You determine the packaging
5. The cigars selected must each be a commercial success. 
6. Minimums and maximums to be determined. KPI's met will mean an automatic period extention. 

You have the keys. Imagine Tabacuba has had a rework (investment) and is now relatively competent. 

 

Pick your brand and develop up to 5 new cigars + packaging 

[El Presidente]

I would love to take over a brand such as Sancho Panza  

• I would bring back the SP Molinos in 25 (90%)  and 50’s (10%).
• SP Belicoso would stay in 25's (95%) and 50's introduced (5%)
• Introduce the Lancero in 50’s.
• Reintroduce the Churchill (Coronas Gigantes) in 10’s.
• Introduce a Robusto in 25’s (90%) and 50’s (10%)
• Rework the PC.

Update the packaging without throwing out the history. Some names need to be seriously reworked. 

 

[MrFolgers]

20 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

I would love to take over a brand such as Sancho Panza  

• I would bring back the SP Molinos in 25 (90%)  and 50’s (10%).
• SP Belicoso would stay.
• Introduce the Lonsdale in 50’s.
• Reintroduce the Churchill (Coronas Gigantes) in 10’s.
• Introduce a Robusto in 25’s (90%) and 50’s (10%)
• Rework the PC.

Update the packaging without throwing out the history. Some names need to be seriously reworked. 

 

You're speaking my language Prez. Love SP, especially the Beli... You're just forgetting to create a regional for OZ called "The Dirty Sanchez"

[targa88]

I would agree with the Sancho Panza concept provided by @El Presidente

That being said. Sorry to see the demise (early 2000s) of Diplomatico - particularly the #1(Lonsdale) and #4 (Petit Corona)

Never had the Bushido ( price premium excluded) = Double Robusto 

However would support the Norteños = Robusto

[jakebarnes]

ERDM.

1. Revive the Lonsdale

2. Kon Tiki is a standard production, in 25s. Special edition 1x a year at the original release packaging that has been aged for 2 years. Premium pricing. 

3. Choix Supreme stays put, but some 50 cabs (90/10 split)

4. Revive the Tainos in 10s and 25s (10s can also have tubos)

5. Move a Gordito into the line. 

6. Revive corona gorda for selfish purposes

 

Packaging generally stays the same. Love the packaging. Hard part is, this line needs age. I also probably should replace 6 with a short/fat cigar as those seem to be the rage. But I'll stick to my guns. 

[Andy04]

Doesn't matter which brand:

 

1. Make 5 sizes.  Determine RG and length by determining how much wrapper leaf you have available, and put as much filler inside to maximize size and length.

2. Make all boxes into a gift like presentation format.  Use a heavy expensive wood.  Put many bands on each cigar in gold color.

3. Name each of the 5 sizes after a Chinese Celestial Animal.

4. Make it Chinese market exclusive only. 

5. Determine what you think is a fair selling price.  Multiply that by 5 fold. 

6. Watch the Chinese market buy you out the next morning.  Spend that afternoon drinking mojitos whilst regretting that you didn't multiply the fair selling price by 10 fold.

[pohlmad]

Great topic to consider and love all the other thoughts!  My choice is Juan Lopez.  I would keep No. 1 and 2, add a Lancero, Petit Robusto, and Genios. What I love about Juan Lopez is that I rarely find friends/family that don’t love them. I also love that they can be a great daily cigar at the price point. I would keep the packaging simple because my goal is to keep it a daily, shareable cigar for all to enjoy. I would offer cabs of 25 and 50 since my goal is to keep them an accessible cigar for every occasion. 

[Bill Hayes]

[Thirds]

I’d kill for a VR 109 PCC or H&F regional release - don’t even need it to be a regular production.  Going DEEP if that ever were to happen.  And bring back the DA, please. 

I’m bringing back Vegas Robaina 

VR 109 regional release to spark off the new campaign 

Regular Production

1) Unicos (Pyramid) retained - dress box of 25s

2) Famosos (Coronas Extra) retained - experiment with the blend/consider Robusto modification.  Dress box and SLB 25s

3) VR DA (Double Corona) resurrected (dress box of 25s/Cabs of 50) 

4) Clasicos (Lonsdale) resurrected  (898 packaging) 

5) Petit Corona (same blend as the Andorra ER release - so freaking good) dress box 25/cab of 50  

On the back burner for next special regional release - Lancero. 
 

Maybe I’m weird, but 10-ct boxes annoy me.  Good for filling random voids in a humi but that’s about it.  

Minimal change to packaging.  I was kinda digging the yellow modifications they made last year.  Gave me false hope they had bigger plans in store…

[Ford2112]

I would pick Diplo as I like the profile. 

Lonsdale 

PC

Keep the 2

No Robusto as the market has enough of those so maybe a corona/corona extra

Well you said commercial success so a 56 RG 🤔

And a Churchill. The World needs more churchills.

I like the band with the little car train thingy. 25 and 50 on the pc.

25 for the rest. And maybe a SLB cab of 50 DC.

 

[SirVantes]

Wow, this is a dream come true! I get to do no work at all, look like a saviour/genius/visionary, and get money for nothing:

1. You can only pick one brand. LGC, no brainer
2. You can introduce no more than 5 new cigars during the 10 year period. I'll just introduce one: the "new" LGC MdO #2.  Instead of a Dahlias, it is a Cervantes. It's new, you see. Then I tease and tease about new releases and....nothing for a decade. 
3. You can drop one of the existing lines in the marques portfolio if need be. Nah, can't be bothered
4. You determine the packaging After much deliberation, consultation, market research and personal brilliance, I decide to go with a 8-9-8 box.  It's revolutionary thinking at its best.
5. The cigars selected must each be a commercial success.  Just the orders from PCC alone, destined for the end customers buying through some shady Antipodean outfit, will guarantee success.
6. Minimums and maximums to be determined. KPI's met will mean an automatic period extention. Let's talk at my villa, or on my yacht, in due course my friend, in due course.

[NSXCIGAR]

Any of these brands are ripe for the picking but I think you have to get a little more modern in terms of vitolas and packaging. These have to sell after all.

I don't think HSA would allow a 109 in regular production and 50 cabs would be tough to sell with new cigars. 

The temptation to produce vitolas we like must be resisted if they aren't likely to sell. My 5 would be: 

Laguito Especial

Robustos (Dobles or Mag 50 for JL) 

Genios

Hermosos No. 1

Sublimes

All available in dress box 10s and 25 cabs except the Sublimes which I would offer only in 10 or 20 luxury box or at least a varnished BN box. I might also do the Hermosos No. 1 in 8-9-8 and 3-4-3 formats. 

After a couple years the best-selling cigar I might consider doing a 50 cab. 

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Ford2112 said:

No Robusto as the market has enough of those...

Actually there's less than it seems. Only 7. And they are big sellers and always will be. Epi 2 and PSD4 sell tremendous numbers. Probably 25 million sticks a year between the two of them. 

In my opinion you must have a Robustos or close to it in your portfolio if you are serious in marketing your brand. 

[cigcars]

11 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I would love to take over a brand such as Sancho Panza  

• I would bring back the SP Molinos in 25 (90%)  and 50’s (10%).
• SP Belicoso would stay in 25's (95%) and 50's introduced (5%)
• Introduce the Lancero in 50’s.
• Reintroduce the Churchill (Coronas Gigantes) in 10’s.
• Introduce a Robusto in 25’s (90%) and 50’s (10%)
• Rework the PC.

Update the packaging without throwing out the history. Some names need to be seriously reworked. 

 

     *Yeah, I notice no Bolivars or Ramon Allones is one of the list choices. Those two are my all time favorites 

[El Presidente]

4 minutes ago, cigcars said:

     *Yeah, I notice no Bolivars or Ramon Allones is one of the list choices. Those two are my all time favorites 

I considered both but they have 3+ cigars in the range. Hardly "on fire" I know 

[Ford2112]

8 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Actually there's less than it seems. Only 7. And they are big sellers and always will be. Epi 2 and PSD4 sell tremendous numbers. Probably 25 million sticks a year between the two of them. 

In my opinion you must have a Robustos or close to it in your portfolio if you are serious in marketing your brand. 

I know I was kind of being facetious. Hence the 56 rg idea. It's a horrible size. Anything over 52 is redundant IMO. Also Diplo is so not well known as it is. There's a reason I'm not in marketing!

[BrightonCorgi]

I would do LGC and the range would be "LGC 50's".  Whatever were the most popular LGC's from 50 years ago will be the same ones produced today. 

Keeping that same logic every 3-4 years. 

[SCgarman]

7 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I considered both but they have 3+ cigars in the range. Hardly "on fire" I know 

I know this is only "pipe dreams", but you would like to pull Sancho Panza out of the ashes. Just curious. In a fully stocked LaCasa del Habano (hypothetical of course), what percentage of buyers would seek out the Sancho Panza "section" and walk past Montecristo, Cohiba, H. Upmann, Bolivar, RyJ etc. ? I would venture to say it would be miniscule. Hasn't Sancho always been a small, obscure marca compared to the "heavy hitters"?

 

[Puros Y Vino]

For me it's a toss up between LGC and ERDM.  If you had offered up La Escepcion, it'd be much easier for me to pick!

Nonetheless, I'll go with LGC.

The Cetros will make a return (42 × 165 mm (6½″) Lonsdale ) (10 count 898SLB, 50 cab SLB)

As will the Flechas. Never had one but love the vitola.  37 × 156 mm (6⅛″) Perfecto  25 count 898 SLB.

A Laguito No 1 is necessary. In SLB Paratagas SDCno1 style.(25, 50 cab SLB 898 style)

MInutos returns.  5 count petacas and 100 count Cajon.

A Double Corona with a 109 Head.  (10 count 898 SLB only.  100 count Cajon for the ballers)

 

 

[Uncle Oscar Club]

Indicative names and branding for Diplos, but this will work with any of these marcas and you know it.

5 new cigars

Sostenibles: Maduro Petit Robusto

Justos: Laguito #1

Pactos: Robusto

Pacificadores: Churchill

Amistosos: Cannabis Cigarillos

+ ligero blunt wraps

+ live rosin vape cigars

 

Global strategy

• Branded as "An enduring prosperity": the world's most futuristic, regenerative, fair trade artisanal luxury good

• 100% certified organic on biodynamic farms

• Every purchase pays living wages and benefits to the Cuban artisans

• All products availlable in 3s, 10s, and humidor cabinets until price curves support 25s

• Singles and 3-packs in gift sets with coffee and rum pairings and LE merch when tobacco supply contracts

• Minimalist blonde wood boxes

• NFTs with each purchase secure provenance down to the hectare and hourly weather sconditions, document the living wages and benefits paid to individual workers, and include unlocks like festival passes, espressos at LCDH, a sampler every year, etc.

Cigar sales exceed those of all other Habanos brands by Year 5. Novel product sales and NFT premiums exceed tobacco sales beginning in Year 1.

We're available for consulting.

[Edicion]

Juan Lopez

1.       Keep only the JL 1 and #2

2.       New cigars:

Petit Robusto – think a dark-wrapped NUB size 4” x 60 RG – boxes of 20 sticks

Toro – make the blend like the Regional Edition (Great Britain) in boxes of 10 – 54 x 150mm

Campana – there can never be too many good Campanas 52 × 140 mm - boxes of 20 sticks

[MagicalBikeRide]

15 hours ago, Puros Y Vino said:

For me it's a toss up between LGC and ERDM.  If you had offered up La Escepcion, it'd be much easier for me to pick!

Nonetheless, I'll go with LGC.

The Cetros will make a return (42 × 165 mm (6½″) Lonsdale ) (10 count 898SLB, 50 cab SLB)

As will the Flechas. Never had one but love the vitola.  37 × 156 mm (6⅛″) Perfecto  25 count 898 SLB.

A Laguito No 1 is necessary. In SLB Paratagas SDCno1 style.(25, 50 cab SLB 898 style)

MInutos returns.  5 count petacas and 100 count Cajon.

A Double Corona with a 109 Head.  (10 count 898 SLB only.  100 count Cajon for the ballers)

This sounds awesome. 100 count minutos all round. 

[NSXCIGAR]

On 11/2/2023 at 7:31 AM, Ford2112 said:

I know I was kind of being facetious. Hence the 56 rg idea. It's a horrible size. Anything over 52 is redundant IMO. Also Diplo is so not well known as it is. There's a reason I'm not in marketing!

I would resist 55+ for as long as I could. Sublimes would be my gesture to those who prefer big cigars. I think the ones I picked are the best combination of classic vitolas and what could sell well right off the bat. 

I do think you'd eventually have to offer a 55+. I would probably go with a Maravillas No. 4 or if I had to do a 56 an Aromosos.