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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
size—by taking over the empty units next
door,” explains Justin Samona, director of
operations. “Our ‘superstores’ have allowed
us to put [in] additional registers for quicker
checkout lanes. With the bigger stores, we
are able to increase the size of our walk-in
humidors and add a cigar lounge.”
And as far as the vapes go, Wild Bill’s
launched three ‘Mr. Vapors’ inside select
stores; Samona reports that his company’s
“Mr. Vapor section of the store is now just
as good,if not better,than any specialty vape
shop in the country.” (See Electric Alley for
more on how traditional tobacco outlets are
competing in the vape category.)
Since Wild Bill’s does not just sell vape
products, it is able to offer juices and
hardware brands such as Innokin,Smoktech
and Kanger at much cheaper prices than a
specialty vape shop, Samona reports. “We
offer our customers only authentic pieces
and only American-made liquids,” he says.
“We have also partnered up with some
of the best boutique juice brands to have
their product sold exclusively at Wild Bill’s,
giving us a great competitive advantage over
vape shops.” All staff members have also
gone through extensive training programs
specifically dedicated to electronic cigarette
products. “Having a knowledgeable staff
is key to retaining existing customers and
gaining new ones in any business,” Samona
adds. “For these reasons, we have not and
will not lose market share to any vape shop,”
he opines.
Beyond the positive vibes surrounding
vapor, Tobacco Central dba Low Bob’s
based in South Bend, Indiana with 122
stores, was very excited to kick off its Low
Bob’s Loyalty Reward Program, “and
the customers shared in our excitement,”
according to Frank Davoli, director of
marketing. “What a great way to show our
appreciation to our loyal customers,”he tells
TBI
.
HiTimes LiquorMart/Smoker’s Outlets
in McCook, Nebraska with seven stores
enjoyed converting many of its tobacco
shops into a convenience store business
model/layout. “We have been adding
liquor, alcohol and wine into our previous
tobacco outlets to entice more customers to
shop at our stores,” says Nick Nothnagel,
president and owner. “And that’s not only
beer, wine and liquor, but actually offering
an expanded selection of snacks, drinks
and daily consumer-needed products as
well.The products that are helping us grow
are value-added products that people can
purchase with their tobacco needs.”
2014’s Challenging Moments
On the flip side of the coin, there was
plenty that kept our industry’s top players
awake at night last year.
“As always, the legislative front,” was
Davoli’s most concerning issue for 2014.
He defined this as “unfair taxation on e-cig
and vape products, including smoking
bans and advertising restrictions. We must
continue to be vigilant and fight for our
rights,” he says.
Nothnagel got a bit more specific,
although he shared the same sentiment.
“The most concerning issue for me as a
tobacconist and entrepreneur purchasing
and selling tobacco is the overabundance
of government regulation in selling tobacco
to adult consumers. I run a legitimate
wholesale and retail operation purchasing
many forms of tobacco—my business
model is aimed at selling adult products to
informed adults,” he says. “That being said,
government regulation on smoking and/
or consuming a legal tobacco product is
becoming more and more illogical.”
The thing he fears the most is the
government taxing legal products and
regulating adult consumers. “Tobacco will
try to be taxed to death, but this will only
fuel black markets on cigarettes and state
‘border jumping’ that will deplete state tax
“
We will
continue to add
vape lounges
and have
monthly vaping
contests and
sales. We are
creating a
true vaping
experience for
our customers.
“
I
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015