Tobacco Retailer articles from August 2003

Tobacco Retailer archives from August 2003

A matter of taste.(Editor's Note)(flavored cigars and cigarettes)
August 1, 2003... As hard as it is to believe with the popularity of TV shows like Joe Millionaire and MTV's Jackass, the return to popularity of 1970s fashions and the still-unexplained phenomenon that is Carrot Top, it appears that the American public has...

Republic Tobacco wins lawsuit.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Glenview, Ill.-based Republic Tobacco L.P., was awarded $18.6 million in damages from New York City-based North Atlantic Trading Company by a jury in federal district court in Chicago on July 8, following a four-day trial. 'This verdict...

As July dawns, taxes jump again.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... When dawn broke on July 1, seven states had higher state cigarette taxes. By the end of the day, New Jersey became the eighth, and now has the highest state excise tax in the nation at $2.05 per pack. New Jersey's new $24 billion budget...

Virginia, New York restrict online cigarette sales.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Online cigarette retailers will face new restrictions on their sales as a result of tougher legislation signed into law in Virginia and New York. On June 12, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner signed legislation that requires online cigarette...

Report: RJR, B&W talk merger.(Industry News)
August 1, 2003... R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C, the nation's second-largest tobacco company, and Louisville, Ky.-based rival Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. have held talks about merging their U.S. operations, the Wall Street Journal...

Study shows smokeshield reduces carcinogens.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... A human clinical study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology in June, offered evidence of protection from the carcinogenic effects of smoke through the Smokeshield herbal formulation. All smokers in the clinical trial with...

Case against retail leaders program dismissed.(Industry News)(Philip Morris)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on June 24 affirmed the United States District Court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit challenging New York-based Philip Morris USA's Retail Leaders merchandising program. "We are...

Philip Morris airs new ads.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... New York-based Philip Morris USA, as part of its ongoing efforts to communicate about tobacco issues, in June began airing its latest round of television advertising. The ads feature its Web site, www.philipmorrisusa.com, as a resource for...

AMA wants graphic warnings on cigarette packs.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The health warnings currently carried by cigarette packs aren't enough, according to the American Medical Association. The AMA is pushing for graphic warnings to help prevent smoking, including pictures of black lungs and cigarette butts,...

Tabacalera Perdomo appoints Canadian distributor.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Miami-based Tabacalera Perdomo S.A. has signed an agreement with North American Tobacco, Inc., for the distribution of Tabacalera Perdomo premium cigar brands throughout the 10 provinces and two territories of Canada. NAT will maintain its...

Illinois bans ephedra sales.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... In late May, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the nation's first statewide ban on ephedra and urged other states and the federal government to adopt similar bans. The ban, which took effect when it was signed, had won unanimous support...

Ohio cigarette taxes escape hike.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The Ohio House and Senate struck a final budget deal in late June that increases the state's sales tax from 5 cents to 6 cents but does not include tax increases on cigarettes and alcohol. Gov. Bob Taft had wanted to boost the state's...

FTC: manufacturers selling less, advertising more.(Industry News)(Federal Trade Commission)
August 1, 2003... The Federal Trade Commission's annual report on cigarette sales and advertising for 2001 shows that cigarette sales by manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers decreased 3.8 percent from 2000 levels, while advertising and promotional...

Florida latest to establish smoking ban.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... On July 1, a voter-mandated smoking ban became effective in the state of Florida. The bill bans smoking at most restaurants. Stand-alone bars that get less than 10 percent of their sales from food and outdoor dining areas will be exempt....

King of Spain selects Torano Cigars.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The Spanish newspaper Diario de Navarra reported recently that King Juan Carlos of Spain selected a cigar made by Miami-based Torano Cigars, during a banquet in the city of Pamplona, Spain, site of the dramatic annual running of the bulls...

Dutch to ban smoking in "coffee" shops.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... Proving that the United States is not the only country where the use of tobacco products is being assailed, a ban on tobacco smoking in public places in The Netherlands will also affect the country's popular "coffee shops" that are used as...

Virginia law targets underage tobacco buyers.(Industry News)
August 1, 2003... On July 1, minors in Virginia who now attempt to purchase tobacco products became subject to fines, community service and possibly a suspended driver's license. The new law makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to attempt to...

Salem launches " Stir the Senses" campaign.(Industry News)(R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company)
August 1, 2003... R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, N.C., has created the "Stir the Senses" campaign for its Salem brand. The campaign is designed to evolve and strengthen the brand's positioning, further differentiate Salem from its competition and...

"Thames Oak" pipe a piece of history.(Industry News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2003... The new limited edition "Thames Oak" pipe from Alfred Dunhill features pieces of wood from an actual timber from the first Roman port facilities built in London around 63 AD. The wood was found when an archaeological team from the Museum of...

Surgeon General would abolish tobacco.(Washington Report)
August 1, 2003... "If Congress chose to go that way, that would be up to them, but I see no need for any tobacco products in society." The rate of cigarette and tobacco use in this country as we know it continued to be up for debate as several newsworthy...

Singular success: specialty cigarettes build substantial business for CTS retailers.
August 1, 2003... The specialty cigarette category has been enjoying a recent whiff of popularity with a demographic somewhat new to the CTS market. New flavored and additive-free, natural cigarettes are taking over sales, moving into staid territory with fresh...

New frontiers: changing demographics and tobacco styles give a boost to the pipe business.(Product Profile)
August 1, 2003... Brian Levine understands the interest in pipes. He understands the needs of the pipe smoker and the demands of the consumer. He understands the growth of the pipe-tobacco business. That's why Levine, the specialty products manager for Peter...

Onward & upward: what you need to know if you are thinking about upgrading your POS system.(Operations)
August 1, 2003... One of the most difficult things for business owners to keep up with is technology. Hardware and software are constantly advancing, and knowing when it's necessary to upgrade your systems can be hard to determine. And, because keeping track of...

Winning the tax battle.(NATO News)
August 1, 2003... As of the first week of July, some 36 state legislatures had considered or were still debating increasing cigarette and tobacco taxes to fund programs and solve a portion of state budget shortfalls. However, unlike 2002, the number of cigarette...

Preparing your front line.(The Personnel Touch)
August 1, 2003... There's an old saying that goes: Knowledge is power. I totally disagree with that statement. Why, you ask? Because I know a lot of people with a tremendous amount of knowledge, but no idea how to app]y it. I subscribe to a more appropriate...

A rare victory for taxpayers.(Tax Tips)
August 1, 2003... Let's set the stage with a true story for a must-do tax-saving strategy. Joe (from North Carolina) had just gone to the big business in the sky. His wife had preceded him two years earlier. Joe's son, Sam, called me looking for some post...

Web directory.
August 1, 2003... www.torano.com Torano Cigars' new Web site utilizes the latest in interactivity technology to ease, simplify and speed site navigation. Combined with interesting graphics, eye-restful shades of tobacco browns, crisp photography and even a...

Republic debuts top merchandising racks.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Republic Tobacco L.P. has introduced custom wire display racks for TOP make-your-own cigarette products, designed specifically for tobacco retailers. Responding to RYO and MYO category growth, along with the need for improved merchandising and...

Felipe Gregorio unveils new Nicaraguan premium cigars.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Felipe Gregorio Inc., is now offering three new premium cigar brands in the $3 to $4 retail-price range. The Geronimo brand cigars have an Ecuadorean shade-grown Connecticut seed wrapper, which gives this medium-bodied cigar a spicy flavor. The...

Skoal adds Berry Blend to pouch line.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... U.S. smokeless Tobacco Company has launched Skoal Berry Blend Pouches, the first new flavor in a convenient, easy-to-use tobacco pouch product since the successful introduction of Copenhagen Pouches and Skoal Wintergreen Pouches last fall....

Dolce fills out flavored-cigar line.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Miami Cigar & Company just extended its Tatiana flavored premium cigar line with the Tatiana Dolce, a 5 x 32 handmade, long-filler cigar. Although the Tatiana line includes 10 flavors, the new shape is presently limited to Dolce Vanilla, Rum,...

Xikar launches new cutter.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... XIKAR, Inc., has introduced "meansardine" the latest in the company's broad line in precision cigar cutters. The new meansardine name and logo, a ferocious, cigar-chomping fish, reflect the cutter's large-mouth 560-ring gauge capacity, along...

Fresh wave eliminates tobacco odor.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Fresh Wave is a new product which removes a wide spectrum of odors, including odors associated with tobacco smoke, from the air without using fragrances or harsh chemicals. Instead of simply masking the odor, it chemically attracts, captures...

Skoal Vanilla Blend available Sept. 15.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company has announced the launch of Skoal Vanilla Blend following last year's successful launch of Berry Blend. Skoal Vanilla Blend combines hand-selected, 100 percent American-grown premium tobaccos with the rich flavor...

Price is right for new Alec Bradley.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... A new premium cigar line, Spirit of Cuba by Alec Bradley, is described as "offering top quality at low cost." The mild-to-medium profile Spirit of Cuba line embodies Central American filler and binder tobaccos and a natural wrapper. The...

Hit a Home Run with MCM ryo/myo.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Music City Marketing bas introduced Home Run premium roll-your-own/make-your-own tobacco that is ideal for tube systems or regular rollers. Home Run premium ryo/myo tobacco comes in a one-pound resealable bag and is available in regular and...

Puros Indios adds third size to Piramide line.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Puros Indios Cigars bas added the third Piramide size to its Puros Indios family of Honduran premium cigars. The new cigar, the Piramide #3, is a short, fat (50 x 5) belicoso, with straight walls and a pointed head. It joins the Piramidcs # 1...

Scripto introduces sports-grip lighters.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Scripto-Tokai Corp. has introduced the first line of textured lighters for sports fans. Sports Textured Grip Lighters feature a unique feel that matches the texture of a golf hall, basketball, baseball. football and soccer ball. The line is...

Sherpa avilable in two lines.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Beach Cigar Group, makers of Gurkha brand premium cigars, has introduced two new lines of handmade premium cigars. Named for the faithful Nepalese mountain guides of Everest fame, the new Gurkha Sherpa is available in two blends and wrappers,...

A new "twist" to Gizeh ryo/myo lines.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Twister Tubes and Papers are the latest addition to the Gizeh, Silver Tip and Mascotte roll-your-own and make-your-own products that Gizeh of North America, Ltd., already imports. Twister Tubes and Papers come packed in a bright yellow box that...

Cigars can go Bob-Bob-Bobken along.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Sanco Products, Inc., manufacturer of the Bobken self-extinguisher for cigarettes, has developed the Cigar Bobken. Hang it on your car window frame, place it in your cup-holder, or just use it on a desk or patio. The patented Cigar Bobken holds...

Butz-Choquin puts a new face on briar.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... Music City Marketing and the Butz-Choquin line of pipes have introduced a new line of image pipes carved from traditional briar. The Bull is a strikingly life like image with horns carved from the real thing. With the Claw, the bowl of the pipe...

Improve cross-selling with Paddle messages.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... The capability to display custom messages on Pusher Paddles from Trion Industries, Inc., offers new opportunities for retailers to cross-sell other merchandise. The purposely oversized Pusher Paddles are designed to permit manual application of...

ADT's smart AES links anti-theft systems.(Product News)
August 1, 2003... ADT Security Services, Inc., a business unit of Tyco Fire & Security has introduced its Sensormatic Smart EAS product line. Smart EAS is an end-to-end solution that transforms Electronic Article Surveillance from an effective theft prevention...