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caughthiseyewastheaddedbeneftothestoressignifcantlylargerootprint.ItinspiredhimtothinkbigbothliterallyandfgurativelyabouttheutureandhequicklydecidedtotaketheVernonlocationandmakeithisnewheadquartersaterwhichhesoonsoldtheWindsorlocation.Nicolettireadilyadmitsthestorewaslargerthanwhatheactuallyneededatthetimebutheleaptatitbecausethenewspacewouldallowhimtodefnethecenterpieceobothhisstoreandhisstoresbrandnamelyhisgianthumidor.Itshugebyanystandardhesays.Inmyfrststorethehumidorwas12eetby12eetwhichisalreadyprettybigbutthatspacequicklygotusedup.WhenImovedintotheVernonlocationIknewIneededtoexpandthings.At30eetby15eetHaveaCigarproudlyboastswhatNicoletticlaimstobethelargestwalk-inhumidorinNewEnglandasignoutrontdeclaresitandsoarnoonescalledtodisputethepoint.HisrationaleorthehumungidorWhenyouvegotahumidorthisbigcustomersfgureyouregoingtohavewhatevertheyrelookingor.IcouldfllitupjustwithMacanudosorgoshsakebutIhavetheroomtostockitwithbrandsthataremuchhardertofndandIcangiveshelspacetoproductsthatwontseethelightodayinyouraveragestoreheexplains.YouhavetocarrythebigbrandsbutasmallerstorejustwouldnthaveroomortheRockyPatelsLaFlorDominicanasandPerdomos.Stockinghishumidorwiththecigarsthetop-qualitywell-pricedcigarshisclientswillwanttobuyisthetrickypartbutNicolettiincorporateshisowntried-and-truemethodohomespunmarketingresearchtodeterminewhathiscustomerswillbuyHegiveshisregularcustomerssamplesandasksthemwhattheythink.IreceivedsomeVallejuelocigarstheGranToroandRobustoGordowhichhadreceived92and93pointsrespectivelyrombutIwasntsoldonthemsoIgavethemouttomybestcustomerstheoneswhohangoutinthestorealotandaskedthemwhattheythoughthesays.Iaskthemtotellmewhetheritsgoodorbadthenexttimetheycomein.TheyappreciatethereecigarandIbeneftromthereeinput.WhenaskedwhatheseesasthebiggestchallengelyingaheadorHaveaCigarandtheindustryasawholeNicolettididntwasteanytimewithpretense.Taxesnoquestionaboutithesays.Thesestatesthatgobacktothesintaxourbiggestchallengeisconvincingtheseidiotsthatiyouraisetaxesrom20percentto100percentyourenotgoingtogetfvetimesthesamerevenue.Youllgetlessrevenue.Andtheproblemwillonlybecompoundedwhenretailerssuerromsaleslosttotaxhikesheadds.Thesepinheadsneedtotakeintoaccountthattheyllbeputtingpeopleoutobusinesswhichmeanstheywontgetanysalestaxrevenuesanymore.Itheyregoingtoslaparidiculouspercentageonitcapit.Iyouthinkpeoplewillpay100moreoraboxocigarsoracartonocigarettesyourecrazy.TheylljustgotoadierentstateorbuytheirproductsontheInternet.Theresareadilyaccessiblemarketonlinethatavoidstaxespoliticiansneedtounderstandwhattheyrereallydoinghere.InthepastIhavewrittentoseveralpoliticiansandtalkedbyphonetosomeothelocalstatesenatorsandrepstoexplainmyviewpoint.ButImostlyleaveitinthehandsopeoplelikeChrisTopperoTopperCigarsandsomeothelocaltobaccoarmerswhowenttothecapitolorhearings.Ourlastgovernorwantedtogoto90percenttaxaewyearsagoandIbelievethatgroupactuallywasabletokillthatcigartaxincrease.Butsincethentheydidraiseitrom20percentto27.5percent.Thelargerpointisthatpeoplewillpayalittlemoreorconveniencebuttheyarentstupidormasochistic.Taxeschangebehaviorliketheluxuryyachttaxthathadtoberepealedseveralyearsagobecausethetaxdecimatedjobsoryachtbuilderssellersandanythingconnectedtothem.HowmuchhigherdoyouthinkcigarettetaxeshavetogobeoreorganizedcrimestartskillingpeopleoverthemYoucanbuyatruckloadinSouthCarolinaor30percartonandpeopleinNewYorkCitywouldhappilypay80insteadothe110ormoretheypaynow.Thatsaproftmarginthemobtakesnoteo.66TrialnoTerrorTaxingmaTTersrightCigarAfcionadoTOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMAYJUNE2011