Tobacco Business

[ 48 ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ MAY / JUNE | 21 ] figure out how to attract and retain consumers outside of their four walls. The expectation of traffic coming back in full for the time being without a major catalyst is highly unlikely. Omni-channel, platform-focused retail models are the future. The consumers decide when, where and how they choose to engage and transact.” After nearly 13 years of working at Davidoff, Austin is still amazed by how well the company’s founders set the company and its brands up for success from the start. Davidoff’s founders had a clear vision for what they wanted to accomplish and were able to instill these values, hopes and dreams into the processes, company mindset and every person—including Austin—that has worked with the brand since its inception over 50 years ago. “This is what makes our legacy so important,” says Austin. “It’s the strength of the foundation we all walk on. It’s also why it’s important that as we evolve, we also make sure we stay grounded with our roots and the foundational aspects that got us to where we are today.” Looking to the future of Davidoff, there are some exciting new releases planned for the company’s core brands that are scheduled to be released throughout 2021. In addition to those product releases, Austin is also teasing some big things that are in the works from an experience standpoint. As Davidoff continues to pivot and adapt to the changing needs of today’s cigar market, one thing is for certain: It’s going to be a big year for the iconic brand that has set out to fill time beautifully, and leading the charge will be Dylan Austin, a man who has learned how not to fear change but instead embrace it with open arms. TB DYLAN AUSTIN’S SUCCESS FORMULA For Dylan Austin, president of Davidoff of Americas, each week is dedicated to work and fitness, leaving the weekends open for all other activities and interests. In recent years, Austin has focused on his personal health and fitness, a change that he attributes to making him a better person all around and what he also calls his winning success formula. “The routine I have now is pretty amazing, and I’m well in tune with when I need to recover and when I can push myself further,” Austin says. “These are also two metrics I monitor on a daily basis, and it’s ultimately critical to the energy and mood you have. It’s also greatly improved my focus, and it builds mental toughness as well. Until I really dedicated myself to improving my health, I had no idea how needed it was, how much there was to learn about your body and how positive the effect could be.” For years, Davidoff's mantra has been "time beautifully filled," something that's accomplished through its portfolio of handcrafted premium cigars like the coveted Royal Release.