Tobacco Retailer articles from April 2004

Tobacco Retailer archives from April 2004

A juggling act.(Editor's Note)(Editorial)
April 1, 2004... It's a debate that probably goes back to the days shortly after Ugg invented the first wheel: how much could he charge his fellow cavemen to purchase his new invention before they threw up their hands and exclaimed, "You know, I never really...

UST, Inc. resolves antitrust claims.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... On March 15, UST Inc., Greenwich, Conn., announced that it had taken significant steps to resolve the remaining antitrust claims filed against it as a result of the Conwood litigation. "We concluded that it was in the best interest of our...

Amendment to hike federal tobacco tax dies.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... On March 11, Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., offered an amendment to levy a federal tobacco user fee of 61 cents per pack, bringing the total to $1 per pack. The cigarette excise tax now stands at 39 cents per pack. The...

Iowa mulls 60-cent cigarette-tax bump.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is seeking to raise the state's cigarette tax to 96 cents per pack, a move that is being criticized by both opponents and proponents. The proposed increase would hike Iowa's tax higher than that of neighboring states...

RTDA Centurions create Scholarship Program.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In March, the Centurion Division of the Retail Tobacco Dealers of America announced that it would offer $100,000 in college scholarship for the 2004-05 academic year. The Centurion Division of the RTDA was created last summer to provide...

Smoking ban proposed for California prisons.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Inmates in California's prisons may be forced to go cold turkey. In January, a California state Assembly committee approved a bill to prohibit smoking by prison inmates incarcerated in the state. Assemblyman Tim Leslie's measure was...

VCU professor wins grant for tobacco research.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology and head of the Clinical Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been awarded a $2.2 million, five-year grant from the National Cancer Institute to...

Quest cigarettes available in Arizona.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Vector Group Ltd. has announced that Quest, the first cigarette brand that allows smokers to transition to nicotine-free smoking, is now available in Arizona. The state accounts for approximately 1 percent of all cigarette sales in the United...

Supreme Court rejects R.J. Reynolds' appeal.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In January, the United States Supreme Court turned down R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.'s, Winston-Salem, N.C., request to block a Florida law that permits lawsuits to be filed against cigarette manufacturers because of their products. ...

Cigarette-smuggling ring busted.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In February, law-enforcement officials arrested 10 people in five states for smuggling more than 100 million cigarettes into the United States. The New York Times reported that the counterfeit cigarettes, which bore the names of popular...

New York delays tribal tax collection.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... At a budget hearing in Albany, N.Y., in February, New York state tax commissioner Andrew Eristoff announced that the state had "indefinitely" postponed the March 1 start of tax collections on Indian sales to non-Indians. On May 15, 2003,...

Hagler joins National Tobacco Co.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... National Tobacco Co., Louisville, Ky., has announced that Kenneth J. Hagler has been appointed vice president, marketing and national accounts. "We are delighted to have Ken, a 30-year retail marketing and operations veteran, add depth to...

Santa Fe Natural announces retailer of the year winners.(Industry News)
April 1, 2004... Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co., Santa Fe, N.M., has announced the winners in its Natural American Spirit Retailer of the Year 2003 contest. The contest is an ongoing effort to help retailers increase sales of Natural American Spirit cigarettes by...

Top DJs to compete in KOOL Mixx 2004.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Menthol cigarette brand KOOL, a product of Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Louisville, Ky., has announced KOOL Mixx 2004, billed as the ultimate national DJ competition. Now in its sixth year, the KOOL Mixx competition promises to be...

Improved health behind proposed Michigan tax hike.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In March, Michigan Gov. Granholm announced she wants to hike the state's excise tax from $1.25 per pack to $2 per pack, an increase she claimed could help the poor health status of the state's residents. Granholm and others think an increase in...

Cigars Around the World program targets retailers.(Industry News)(Cigars Around the World)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Tobacco retailers looking to increase their profitability have a new outlet, the turnkey program offered by Cigars Around the World, a leader in providing a full program of fine cigars. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Founded eight years ago by...

CigarWise to distribute Marabel y Cia Cigars.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Los Angeles-based CigarWise, a Centinella Holdings, Inc company., has announced the signing of an exclusive international distribution agreement with Dominican Republic tobacco grower and cigar manufacturer Marabel y Cia. CigarWise will be...

Revel now available in Charlotte.(Industry News)(U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Greenwich, Conn.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Greenwich, Conn., has announced an expanded test market in Charlotte, N.C., for its Revel Tobacco Packs. Revel is now available at retail at more than 500 stores, including Food Lion, Sam's Mart, Petro Express,...

USSTC celebrates Skoal's 70th anniversary.(Industry News)( U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Greenwich, Conn.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In honor of Skoal's 70th anniversary this year, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Greenwich, Conn., has announced that Skoal Fine Cut Wintergreen will be available at retail in a vintage package that pays tribute to the brand's history. For those...

Cusano Cigars moves to new headquarters.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Cusano Cigars, Sarasota, Fla., recently purchased and customized a new facility providing a centralized headquarters for sales and distribution. A steady increase in sales made increased inventory capacity, a larger staff and new technology...

Study: equal N.Y. tax collection would boost jobs, wages.(Industry News)(New York)
April 1, 2004... New York state would see a net gain of 2,000 jobs, and a resulting $60 million boost in taxable personal wages, if it collected taxes on all cigarettes sold or consumed in the state, a new study shows. "This is the first picture we've seen...

Torano ad campaign spotlights Exodus 1959 brand.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Miami-based Torano Cigars has announced its first product-oriented ad campaign in several years. Comprehensive in scope, it blankets the major domestic trade and consumer publications, as well as consumer magazines in Spain, Italy and Germany,...

Trimming the fat: U.S. House favors ban on obesity lawsuits.(Washington Report)
April 1, 2004... On March 10, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation prohibiting obesity lawsuits. Dow Jones reported that the bill would automatically dismiss lawsuits related to obesity and weight gain in both state and federal courts....

Making their points: skillful marketing can help retailers profit from all segments of the cigar category.(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... A good cigar is a sensory delight. From the strong visual appeal of a smoker to the feel of fine tobacco between the fingers to the first taste to the aroma drifting through the air, cigar smokers relish the experience of smoking. That...

At what price discount? CTS industry watches and waits as discount smokeless tobacco trend revs up.(Product Profile)
April 1, 2004... CTS retailers have heard the call to discount before; cigarette companies targeted the price-conscious consumer about 18 months ago. And smokeless tobacco companies are now following suit. These companies are lining the shelves with...

AtangledWeb revisited: Internet sales remain a concern, but help may be on the way.(Operations)(Internet Sales)
April 1, 2004... Sixteen months ago, in our December 2002 issue, we took a look at the state of Internet cigarette sales, namely what their impact at that time was and what was the long-range forecast for those sales as they related to their effect on the CTS...

The real deal AWMA event.(American Wholesale Marketers Association)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Proving the old adage that "Everything's big in Texas," the American Wholesale Marketers Association's REAL DEAL Convention and Exposition descended on San Antonio from Feb. 18-20 with impressive numbers of buyer's and exhibitors on hand. The...

Happy birthday to us.(NATO News; National Association of Tobacco Outlets )
April 1, 2004... At the recent NATO Expo, the National Association of Tobacco Outlets celebrated its third birthday, having been officially formed in March of 2001. In these three ensuing years, NATO has grown in size and in its mission. The association is...

Interview effectiveness, part II.(The Personnel Touch)
April 1, 2004... Picking up where I left off in February, let's discuss one the keys to a successful interview: questioning technique. Behavior-based interviewing relies on the premise that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior....

Slaying the IRS monster.(Tax Tips)(Column)
April 1, 2004... Over the years, this column has ground out over 1,200 articles on a ton of subjects. But the response has always been greatest to two topics: income in respect to a decedent (IRD) and subtrusts. IRD is a problem. A subtrust, on the other...

Music City Marketing stocking new Zippo designs.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Music City Marketing is now carrying all the new Zippo lighter designs for spring. Four new designs mirror the look of the world's wildlife. You can choose from Snakeskin, Peacock Plumage, Grouse Feathers or Holy Holstein, all with suggested...

Scripto goes back to nature.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Scripto has launched a new line of fishing themed disposable lighters that are sure to catch the consumer's eye. Featuring five different freshwater fish, the lighters have been designed to attract diehard anglers and amateurs alike. This...

ITL (USA) Limited updates du Maurier.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... ITL (USA) Limited has introduced a new style of du Maurier Special Mild 100 mm. An evolution of sophistication brings a more slender pack and the change to a new 25 flip-top format that offers great additional features. In response to...

Poul Winslow makes mark on new tobacco.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Master pipe-maker Poul Winslow has unveiled two new blends of pipe tobacco and Music City Marketing has been named the exclusive distributor of Poul Winslow Blend #1 and #2. The tobacco is aged three to five years and has a flavor ranging from...

MacBaren tobacco goes ryo route.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... MacBaren Tobacco has entered the roll-your-own arena with its announced intention to make a line of premium quality roll-your-own cigarette tobaccos. The new product line consists of two blends. The Premium Haltzware is available in 40-gram...

Uncle Louie's brings taste to pipe tobacco.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Kretek International, the exclusive importer of Denmark's MacBaren pipe tobaccos, has announced the arrival of Uncle Louie's Whisky and Uncle Louie's Rum flavored pipe tobaccos. Uncle Louie's combines sweet, aromatic Virginia, full-bodied...

Tabacalera Perdomo adds to Perdomo Reserve line.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. has expanded its La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve line with new "frontmarks" and two new wrapper variations: a "Cuban Cafe" or an elegant, ebony-hued "Maduro" leaf. Both new La Tradicion Perdomo Reserve line extensions will...

Heavenly Vanilla now comes in 10-Pack box.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Heavenly Cigar Company has announced the release of a new Cedar 10-Pack box of Heavenly Vanilla flavored cigars. All Heavenly flavored cigars have Cuban-seed Dominican fillers and binders, along with Indonesian wrappers. The Cedar 10-Pack, in...

First Don Lino extension since 1995 introduced.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Miami Cigar & Company has announced "Don Lino Africa," the first new cigar in their flagship Don Lino premium cigar line since 1995. Don Lino Africa is 100 percent long-filler and handmade, using a combination of tobaccos. The cigar is rounded...

Manage inventory with new Merchandiser.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... The Retail Owners Institute has introduced the new $89 Retail Strata:G Merchandiser, designed to help every retailer manage inventory and cash flow. The Merchandiser is a simple-to-use, but sophisticated Open-to-Buy planning program. It...

Bronco the latest Puros Indios style.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Puros Indios Cigars, Inc., has announced the latest line extension to its original Puros Indios. Like all other regular Puros Indios cigars, the new Bronco's filler is a blend of Nicaraguan, Dominican and Brazilian tobaccos, while the binder is...

Perique Cigarettes now in hard packs.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Thanks to consumer demand, Natural American Spirit Perique Blend Filter Cigarettes are now available in hard packs. Grown exclusively in the rich, black soil of St. James Parish, La., Perique tobacco is among the rarest in the world. When...

Reach the heights with TETON Tobacco.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Wind River Tobacco Company recently introduced a new product line, TETON Premium Cigarette Tobaccos and Starter Kits. Wind River Tobacco offers TETON in 6-ounce resealable bags of Regular, Mild, Ultra-Mild and Menthol styles and each style in a...

Lure smokers with FishNLure Torch Lighter.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... American Buyers, Inc., has introduced a follow-up to its popular Shotgun Shell Lighter. Called the FishNLure Torch Flame Lighter, it is a refillable butane lighter and is available in replicas of a fisherman's favorite baits. Each lighter is...

Felipe Gregorio salutes troops with Victory Smokes.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Felipe Gregorio, Inc. has introduced GI Cigar Ordnance cigars that are packaged in camouflage boxes of 25. The boxes and bands state "GI Cigar Ordnance" in bold letters, along with "Victory Smokes." They are made in the Dominican Republic, and...

Desert Skins lighters feature reptile designs.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Scripto has introduced a line of Desert Skins lighters in five assorted reptile designs. Desert Skins Textured Grip Lighters feature a unique feel that resembles the scales of various snakes and lizards. This line is offered with a choice of a...

Pipe Smoker's Kit made for the beginner.(Product News)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Kretek International has announced the arrival to the United States market of the Ultimate Beginners Pipe Smoking Kit. Now, thanks to this coordinated effort between Kretek and MacBaren, any smokeshop can be in the pipe and pipe tobacco...

Doran introduces new portion-control scale.(Product News)
April 1, 2004... Doran Scales has introduced the Model PC-400 stainless steel portion-control scale. This new scale measures just 8.75X6.5 inches and 2 inches high. It is available in maximum capacities of 2, 5 or 10 pounds and displays the weight in a large...