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SeekCompetitiveAdvantageTOBAdjustBusinessHoursAccordinglyKnowYourBest-andWorst-SellingMonthsDontTrytoBeattheLawTreatLocalsandTouriststheSameKnowyourRentOpportunityConsiderSellingEventTicketsSpreadtheSecret26TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSMARCHAPRIL2011Rhumbarsnicelyappointedbarisapopulargatheringspotforwatchingtelevisedevents.AndresintheMonteCarlooffersaprivatecigarloungethatfeaturesrarespirits.Sowhenthereisaspecialpromotionorcigareventitswisenottoshutthedoorsifpeoplearehavingagoodtime.Infactitmightbehoovetobaccoretailerstoextendtheirhoursaheadoftimeinanticipationoftheeventorevenonadeemedcigarnight.Converselyknowingwhichdaystocloseearlieriskeyforprottoo.ItsallaboutstayingexiblewithyourhoursandadjustingaccordinglysaysKristl.Weredependentoftentimesonwhetherornotaconventionisintown.Andwhenitsrealcoldherewedontsellasmanycigars.Youjusthavetoknowyourclienteleandcatertotheirtimeclocks.EvenLasVegashasslowmonthsperhapsmorenowthanever.PullingbackoninventoryandexpectationsduringslowtimesmakesreapingthefattertimesallthemoreprotableaccordingtoKristl.AndthebestmonthforsellingcigarsinSinCityrightnowisMarchhesays.ForMarchMadnesstheseguystakeothewholemonthtobetonandwatchthegamesallthewhilesmokingcigars.Soitsnotjustoneeventitsthewholemonth.AprilsabadmonthbecauseoftaxseasonexceptforthosewhoaregettingmoneybacksaysKristl.HeranksSpringBreaktimeasbadbecausecollegekidsdontsmokemuchandwhentheydotheywantthecheapestthingpossible.ContrarytomanytobaccoretailerswhowaitforthesummermonthsforcigarsalestopickupinVegasitstheopposite.Julyishorribleits120degreeshereandcigarsblowupsaysKristl.Suretheycanstayinsidebutwelosetheoutsidecustomersitstypicallytheonlytimeofyearherethatyoucantgooutsideandsmoke.Augustisbadalsobutforadierentreasontheback-to-schooltimeistypicallyaslowtraveltimeforpeople.Butassoonasthebigconventionshitinthefallthingspickupagain.KristlnamesNewYearsEveSuperBowlweekendandChineseNewYearasverygoodcigar-smokingtimesforhisstoresandlounges.Withjustalittlesaleshistoryundertheirbeltallcigarretailersshouldbeabletoratetheirbestandworsttimesoftheyearlikethis.isshouldseemobviousbutitisimperativefortobaccoretailerswhoareconsideringaddingaloungeandoralcoholtoknowtheirstateandlocallaws.KristlwarnsthatinVegasheisawareofloungesthatwereshutdownbecausetheydidnttakethenewsmokinglawsseriouslyguringthatyouneverseeagovernmentworkerpastveoclock.atmaybetrueornotbutdontforgetaboutcompetitionthatismorethaneagertoratoutyourstoreifyourenotplayingbytherules.Andspeakingofcompetitionifyoureabouttoopenacigarloungeyoumightwanttodoyourhomeworkandgoforanareawhereyoullhavetheutmostcompetitiveadvantagei.e.therearentanyotherfriendlyloungesaround.EventhoughLasVegashasalotofplacesthatsellcigarsnotmanyofthemoeredambianceatmosphereandsegregatedloungesapartfromthenoiseandbustleofthecasinosuntilFreyBoyTobaccosveryuniquecigarloungeswereopened.WegetalotoflocalsaswellastouristsfromallovertheworldbutwetreateveryonewhowalksinthedoorthesamelikefamilystatesCasaFuentesFayerverger.Whetherpeoplecomeintotownonceayearvetimesayearoronceamonthwegreetthemandservicethemliketheywereourbestcustomer.DoyouhaveorplantohaveasegregatedcigarloungethatmightbeworthrentingoutforclientspartiesoreventsInadditiontothecognacsthatsoneofthewaysAndresCigarLoungemakesaprotespeciallysinceitdoesntsellmanycigarsfromitssmallhumidorthemajorityofcustomersbringtheirowncigarstosmoke.Butitmakesitsloungeavailableforeventhesmallesttimeperiodssuchasoneortwohours.WedontchargeacoverchargeorhaveaminimumorderandwellworkoutapricewithanyonewhowantstorenttheroomoutexplainsTanyaBuchananmarketingandsalescoordinatorforthealcove-likecigarlounge.Cigarclubsbachelorpartiesandeventhosewhowanttosmokeanddiscussbusinessundisturbedhaveaneedtorentoutsuchavenueaslongasyouletthemknowaboutit.Ifyourloungeisreallytop-notchandat-screenequippedlikeRhumbarsoutdoorpatioyoumayevenwanttoconsidersellingeventticketssuchasfortheSuperBowloranyothersportingevent.FortheSuperBowlthisyeareveryseatatRhumbarandCasaFuentewassoldmaintainsKristl.WhichsecretyouaskWellthatyounowhavethebest-keptcigarsecretintownofcourse.Suggestivemarketinglikethisreallyworksespeciallyfortucked-awayspotslikeAndresCigarLounge.ItsnotahugespaceandcertainlycouldntentertainthecrowdslikeatRhumbarorCasaFuentebutperhapsitsmodestappealwillinspiretobaccooutletretailerstocreatetheirownlittlecigaralcove.