Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2011TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2011arelimitationsinherenttohavingyourbranddistributedbyanothercompany.Soattheendof2009wegavenoticethatwewerenotgoingtorenewthedistributionagreement.TenamonthortwolaterScandinavianobaccotheownersofCAOannouncedthattheyweremergingwithSwedishMatch.Tatmergerwasnotinanywaythecauseofourdecisiontotakebackthedistributionbutitdidspeeduptheprocess.UnderthetermsofouragreementwewouldordinarilyhavebegunhandlingourowndistributioninJanuaryof2011butthemergerputusinapositiontodothatinAugustof2010.In2009and2010myfatherandIcrisscrossedthecountrydoingourRootsRunDeepour.WeheldCuban-themedeventsbecauseourrootsasafamilygobacktoCubanhistory.IamthefourthgenerationinthebusinessandallthreegenerationsbeforemecamefromCuba.SototellstoryofthebrandwecreatedeventsthatcelebratedthatheritagewithCubanfoodrumandmusic.JustafterthedistributionchangeIjusttalkedaboutwecameoutwithtwonewbrandsSingleRegionandMasterbothofwhichwerelaunchedatIPCPRInternationalPremiumCigarPipeRetailers.Sothisyearwellbedoingtwoseparatethemedeventsthatwillfocuslessonourfamilyhistoryandmorespecicallyonthosetwoproducts.ForSingleRegionweborrowedtheconceptfromsinglevineyardwine.Wewantedtomakeacigarfromtobaccosourcedfromoneregionofonecountryorevenifwecouldfromonefarm.SowecameoutwithSingleRegionSerieJalapa.Jalapaisawell-knownareainnorthernNicaraguawhereincredibletobaccoisgrown.Weconguredablendthatiscompletelycomprisedoftobaccofromthatregionincludingthewrapper.Itisaveryrichverysweetmedium-bodiedcigarInadditiontoeventspromotingitscigarsoraoFamilyCigarstepsuptosupportawiderangeofcommunitycauses.InthelastfewmonthsalonethecompanyhassupportedeventsbenettingtheBoysGirlsClubofBrowardCountythenot-for-protNeatStuforKidsandtheMissionofHopeinHaiti.Mostrecentlythecompanyteamedupwithco-sponsorPrimeCigarWineBarfortheBocaRatonConcoursDeleganceathree-dayfundraisingeventheldinMarchtobenettheBoysandGirlsClubofBrowardCounty.PriortothatthecompanyworkedwithNeatStuforKidsacharitythatoerssupporttoabusedandneglectedchildrenontwojointeortsHelpingtoorganizeatoydrivetobenetabusedandneglectedchildrenandholdingacasinofundraisingeventattheexclusiveCoralGablesCountryClub.AndbackinOctoberthecompanysponsoredtheMissionofHopesGalaforHopearedcarpeteventorganizedintheaftermathofthemassiveearthquakethatcreateddireneedinHaitiformedicalsuppliesanddisasterrelief.SinceitsalwaysnicetoseegoodcompanieshelpinggoodcausescongratulatesandcommendsoraoFamilyCigarontheirongoingeortstosupportworthyendeavors.ToraosHelpingHandTOB6262Backin2009youtraveledacrossthecountryholdingRootsRunDeepeventsandnowyourelaunchinganewtour.HowwillthisonediferWhatistheconceptbehindSingleRegion