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12TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2009NEWSTRENDSMARCHAPRIL2009HigHligHtsaltogetherthesaleosinglecigarsthatsellorunder2.50requiringthattheybesoldinpacksoive.VirginiaTaxDefeatAVirginiaHouseoDelegatescommitteerejectedtwobillsthatwouldhaveincreasedVirginiax19scigaretteexcisetaxincludingGov.TimKainex19sproposed60-cents-per-packtax.Opponentscontestedthetaxbyarguingthatthehikewouldthreatenjobsinthetobaccoandretailindustries.Howeverthevictorymaybeshort-livedasthereareotherbillsthatseektoincreasethecigarettetaxpendinginVirginiax19sGeneralAssembly.TwomonthsaterbeingraidedbyCayugaandSenecacountyauthoritiesinNewYorkx14whoseizedabout18000cartonsounstampedcigarettesx14twoconveniencestoresownedbytheCayugaIndianNationinSenecaFallsN.Y.reopened.Bothareonceagainsellingtax-reecigarettesaswellasassortedothermerchandise.ThestoresareattheorerontoanongoingbattlebetweenNewYorkStateandtheCayugaIndianNationovertheissueowhetherthestoreshavesovereignstatusandisowhetherthatstatusexemptsIndiantribesrompayingexcisetaxesoncigarettessoldtonon-tribemembers.TheCayugascontendthatthetwostoresarelocatedonancestrallandthatispartoitslandclaimagainstNewYorkState.TheCayugaswentorwardwithreopeningthestoresaterastateappealscourtruledthatthetribecannotbecriminallychargedornotpayingcigarettetaxesandamid-levelappellatedivisioncourtinRochestergrantedtheCayugaNationx19srequestorapreliminaryinjunctiontemporarilyblockingthetwocountiesromprosecutingthetribeonelonytaxevasioncharges.ThoserulingsollowadecisionbystateSupremeCourtJusticeKennethFisherwhoruledinDecemberthatthetribedoesnothavesovereignrightstoselltax-reecigarettesatitsstores.Fisherx19srulingalsosaidtheCayugasx14whoauthoritiessayowed485000instateexcisetaxesatthetimeotheraidx14couldbeprosecutedontax-evasioncharges.TwoNewYorkstoresclosedafteracigarettetaxraidinNovemberhavereopened.ReservationStoresBackinBusinessRetailerWinsTriptotheProBowlOrlandox19sNishantBajariawinsZippox19sProBowlSweepstakes.AFloridaretailertooktheprizeinZippox19ssweepstakesorretailerswinningatriptotheNFLProBowlinHawaii.NishantBajariaoPreciousFineJewelrywontheopportunitybyregisteringonZippoRetailer.comasitewhereretailerscanaccesstheinormationtheyneedtocreatedynamicdisplaysandpromotionsmakebuyingdecisionsandreadup-to-datecompanynews.Hewillalsoreceiveapersonalizedspecial-editionProBowllightertocommemoratehistriptotheAlohaState.Bajariaalsoreportsx1ndingawinningsalessolutionduringthiseconomicslowdown.Noticingthatconsumerswerenotbuyinghigh-ticketitemsovertheholidaysheputemphasisonmoreaordablepocketlightersandpurchasedanumberoZippoGitKitswhichincludedlighterfuidandapackageofintsoreachohisthreestorelocations.ThestandardZippoGitKitsweresopopularthatBajariaranoutothemearlyintheseasonanddecidedtoassemblehisownbypurchasinggitbagsromaneighboringretailer.Theactthatcustomerswereabletowalkoutothestorewiththelighteralreadypackagedorholidaygivingwasabigsellingpoint.Bajariaalsoboostedsalesbycustomizingthelighters.x1cEveryonelovespersonalizedgitsx1dexplainstheretailerwhoownsthreestores.x1cZippolightersareeasytoengraveandourengravingbusinessdex1nitelyaddedtothebottomline.x1dTopromotehisholidayoeringsBajariaalsoprovidedinstructionsonhowtolightandrex1lllighters.Asaresulthesold360lightersbytheendotheyearx14a20percentincreaseinsalesoverthosein2007.x1cZippoRetailer.comhassuccessullyengagedourretailerstolearnmoreabouthowZippolighterscanincreasetheirprox1tsx1dsaysMarkPaupZippovicepresidentsalesandmarketing.x1cWecanx19tsendalloourretailerstotheProBowlbutwehopethatretailersregisteredonthesitesawthesweepstakesopportunityasagenuinethank-youorseekingadeepermorevaluablerelationshipwithus.WecommendNishantorhispersistencetoincreasesalesduringsuchadix1culteconomictimeandhopeoursitededicatedtoretailingourproductshelpedhimalongtheway.x1d