Tobacco Retailer articles from August 2001

Tobacco Retailer archives from August 2001

Show me the money.
August 1, 2001... In putting together our yearly editorial calendar for Tobacco Retailer it dawned on us that in some cases we might be guilty of putting the cart before the horse. Sure, it's nice to provide ideas on how to display and market the myriad products...

Star Scientific sues R.J. Reynolds.(patent infringement)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In June, Reuters reported that cigarette maker Star Scientific Inc., Richmond, Va., had filed a federal lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Winston-Salem, N.C., charging that Reynolds infringed a Star Scientific patent covering a process...

Icahn expands stake in Vector Group; new products next.(Carl Icahn)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The Miami-based Vector Group, Ltd., a holding company which indirectly owns cigarette manufacturer Liggett Group, Inc., in May said billionaire Carl Icahn plans to buy more than 1.6 million of its common shares for about $50 million, giving the...

Canada implements new tobacco laws.(packaging information)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Tobacco regulations that took effect in June in Canada require companies to print the amounts of toxins in cigarette smoke on their packaging. The amounts of benzene, hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde must be listed on cigarette packs and...

Pennsylvania MSA funds going to health-related programs.(Master Settlement Agreement)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In June, Governor Tom Ridge signed landmark legislation that distributes Pennsylvania tobacco-settlement dollars for health-related programs. House Bill 2 earmarked 12 percent of settlement dollars to establish tobacco-prevention and...

Appeals court rules MSA doesn't violate antitrust laws.(Master Settlement Agreement of tobacco companies)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... A federal appeals court upheld the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between states and major cigarette manufacturers, ruling in June that the settlement did not violate U.S. antitrust laws. The court rejected claims brought by a cigarette...

Judge dismisses ban on cigarette sales by mail, Internet.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In June, a federal judge struck down a New York state law banning mail-order, Internet and telephone sales of cigarettes because the law violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Reuters reported. In her ruling, U.S. District...

New York 7-Elevens add age verification.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 1, 2001... Dallas-based 7-Eleven, Inc. has completed the installation of new equipment in its 251 New York stores to assist sales associates in checking ages of customers wishing to purchase age-restricted products. The equipment is called IDDetective and...

Analysts foresee solid profits for tobacco companies.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Analysts expected United States tobacco companies to post solid profits when they reported second quarter results in late July, Reuters reported. Analysts expected the top two U.S. cigarette makers, Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, as well...

Washington retailers fight cigarette-tax increase.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Proponents of an initiative that would raise Washington state's tax on cigarettes to the highest in the nation are misleading voters with their claim that the measure would help low income families, T.K. Bentler, executive director of the...

International Tobacco Expo sets attendance mark.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Record numbers of retailers, distributors and manufacturers from around the world converged on the Rio Suites Hotel and Casino from April 17-19 to take part in the annual International Tobacco Expo. "Attendance at this year's expo was...

Idaho retailer hosts Reserva Selecta anniversary party.(Big Smoke)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... On March 16, Big Smoke, a six-store chain of tobacco shops in Boise, Idaho, hosted a celebration of the first anniversary of Carlos Torano's flagship premium cigar, the Reserva Selecta. Big Smoke owners Bruce and Shannon Baird held the...

La Tradicion Cubana unveils new Web site.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... La Tradicion Cubana, one of the few remaining Cuban-style cigar factories in Miami, has unveiled its new Web site, www. tradicion.com. "Our new site presents our complete story to consumers and retailers alike," said Luis Sanchez, founder...

Arango continues to refine operations.(Arango Cigar Co.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In May, Arango Cigar Co., Northbrook, Ill., announced that it had moved production of the Arango Sportsman line of vanilla-flavored aromatic cigars to the Dominican Republic. General Cigar Co., New York, is now producing the Arango Sportsman...

Universal Leaf North America to build new facility.(in Nash County, North Carolina)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In May, Universal Leaf North America, Richmond, Va., a division of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, Inc., announced the selection of a site in Nash County, N.C., for the construction of a new state-of-the-art leaf tobacco processing factory....

Brown Leaf running Yumuri incentive offer.(Brown Leaf Co. offering retailers deal on Yumuri Colorado cigars)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... Smoke shops that buy 10 boxes of the new Yumuri Colorado premium cigars will be entitled to a free box of cigars in a new promotion from Brown Leaf Company, Guntersville, Ala. Yumuri cigars are a true puro with filler, binder and wrapper...

Vector hires DiDonato to fill position.(Vector Tobacco; Richard J. DiDonato)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In June, Miami-based Vector Group Ltd. announced that its Vector Tobacco subsidiary hired Richard J. DiDonato as vice president of sales. At Vector Tobacco, DiDonato will head up the sales effort for the company's upcoming Omni and Omni...

Study: MSA-funded programs helping curb youth smoking.(anti-tobacco programs; Master Settlement Agreement)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... A new federal study released in July offers encouraging signs that anti-tobacco programs funded by the states' 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with major tobacco companies are helping reduce the use of tobacco among young people, Washington...

Supreme Court strikes down tobacco advertising ban.(Massachusetts Supreme court says Massachusetts ban on outside advertising and point-of-sale displays of tobacco products is unconstitutional)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In a victory for the CTS industry, the United States Supreme Court in June struck down Massachusetts' proposed restrictions on tobacco advertising, agreeing that the ban violates retailers' First Amendment rights. Five tobacco companies --...

NUTS and BOLTS.(starting up a tobacco store)
August 1, 2001... CTS financing takes lots of legwork, but the results can be worth the effort. For years, Judy Best and her husband talked about starting up a cigarette and tobacco store. Initially, it was not much more than a far-fetched dream. But,...

Art & Hobby.(selling pipes and pipe tobacco at tobacconists)
August 1, 2001... Pipe smoking sales reflect lifestyle trend CTS retailers take note -- the pipe-tobacco sales category is alive and well. Most CTS customers are predictable in their purchases and the pipe-tobacco category can be a steady and enduring...

Service with a smile.(customer service at tobacco retailers)
August 1, 2001... A little effort can go a long way in building customer loyalty If you look around at the competition, tobacco retailers are the underdog in a lot of categories. Convenience stores have a broader selection, making them better "one-stop shop"...

Walk this way.(cigar retailers with walk-in humidors)
August 1, 2001... In addition to keeping cigars fresh, walk-in humidors make a statement My father owned a meat company for 19 years, and I vividly remember the detailed construction of his two 8-by-10-foot walk-in coolers and freezer when he upscaled his...

Plan a tax vacation.(spouse travel expenses and business travel deductions)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... The tax law can get downright unfriendly when it comes to deducting your spouse on a convention trip. Yet, most trade associations design their annual conventions to be a combination of business and pleasure, with spouses accompanying the...

You've got to earn employee loyalty.(Brief Article)(Column)
August 1, 2001... You've got to salute the military. Sometimes it seems they are the only ones who have figured this loyally thing out. A drill sergeant barks orders to a group of new recruits and everyone jumps at his command. There is no questioning of...

Swisher extends cigar, smokeless lines.(new Swisher International tobacco products)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Swisher International has added two new programs to its cigar offering. Furthering its popular Outlaws line of Swisher Sweets, Swisher has introduced Double Barrel Rum-Flavored Outlaws which have been double-dipped in dark rum. They are...

Puros Indios celebrates anniversary with new cigar.(Reserva Especial)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... After two years in the making, Puros Indios Cigars has introduced its Reserva Especial line of premium cigars to honor the 65 years of cigar-making by its 78-year-old founder, Rolando Reyes, Sr., who still operates the Puros Indios factor in...

New XIKAR a cut above.(Xi3 MIM Tech cigar cutter)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... XIKAR recently unveiled the Xi3 MIM Tech, the latest addition to its line of Xi cigar cutters. The Xi3 MIM Tech is manufactured using advanced metal injection molding (MIM), allowing the cutter to be one solid piece of stainless steel....

New portable bar-code printer.(K-Sun LABELShop 200 1XLB)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... K-Sun Corporation has introduced a new portable resin thermal transfer bar-code and general label printer. Called the K-Sun LABELShop 200 1XLB, this new printer contains six popular bar-code formats and prints industrial-grade labels on...

NAS Ultra Lights now available in hard packs.(Natural American Spirit Ultra Light Filter Cigarettes)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2001... In response to consumer requests, Natural American Spirit Ultra Light Filter Cigarettes are now available in hinge-lid hard packs. The new hinge-lid packaging, which features a yellow-and-white gradation and the familiar Tobacco Chief logo,...

Punch reintroduces Rare Corojo.(General Cigar Holdings)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Punch cigars has announced the reintroduction of its popular Rare Corojo cigars. The new Rare Corojo, which became available in April, is squarepressed and features a more robust flavor and richer taste than the original. The Rare Corojo is...

Corona introduces two new cigar lines.(adds the Intensa and Classico)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... After experiencing success with its El Cheapo, El Repo, Ranchero and Nicaraguan Selection cigar s, Corona Cigar Company has added the Intensa and Classico to its proprietary line of cigars. The Intensa, marketed as "resembling a Cuban cigar at...

New TOP cigarette filter tubes.(from Republic Tobacco)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Republic Tobacco L.P has introduced TOP Light Cigarette Filter Tubes, the newest member of the TOP make-your-own family. In keeping with the Republic Tobacco tradition, the new Light Tubes complement the great taste of TOP Tobacco while...

Copenhagen Black adds bourbon flavor.(from US Smokeless Tobacco)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has debuted Copenhagen Black, a bourbon-flavored mid-cut product that represents the brand's second line extension in its 179-year history. Bourbon-flavored Copenhagen Black boasts a smooth, distinctive and mellow...

New device allows adults to sample cigarettes.(Stand Alone Sampler from Promotions-Lab)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... Promotions-Lab Inc. has introduced a new and unique cigarette-sampling device known as the Stand Alone Sampler. The SAS is designed to allow cigarette marketers and retailers to sample brands in adult venues. The distinguishing feature of the...

Red Seal adds line extension.(Red Seal Long Cut Straight from US Smokeless Tobacco)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 1, 2001... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has announced the introduction of Red Seal Long Cut Straight, a new choice in value-priced moist smokeless tobacco. Red Seal Long Cut Straight offers 25 percent more tobacco than competitive value-priced products...