Cigars come in so many different shapes and sizes, there is something out there for everyone. Some folks love sitting down for two hours and fully enjoying a Churchill. Others just need a quick ten to fifteen-minute smoke during a break from work. There is no denying the rising popularity of smaller cigars. Here is why you should be marketing small cigars better in your shop.
Benefits of Small Cigars
Lots of cigar smokers find plenty of benefits in small cigars. For starters, there’s a lot of busy people out there. Take note that not everyone has the time to sit down for a significant time to enjoy a large cigar. That is an unfortunate fact of life for some. But, luckily, many cigar brands have a myriad of sizes to choose from, allowing for plenty of options.Â
The most significant benefit for smaller cigars and cigarillos from a smoker’s standpoint is the fact that it’s quick. Perfect for so many scenarios, cigarillos can provide a quick fifteen-minute break from work. Have a nice little addition to pair with your lunch. Have a great enhancement to your commute to and from the office. The average commute in the United States is less than half an hour. So, most people don’t work in an environment where they can keep puffing on a cigar in the office. They go for something shorter to enjoy the full experience. If you’ve never experienced enjoying a good cigar in the car with the windows down on a warm day, you are seriously missing out.
Another one of the huge benefits of smaller cigars is the fact that less smoke time leads to less palate burnout. It’s nice to taste different things all throughout the day. You probably don’t want to wake up with a two-hour smoke and then blow out your palate for the rest of the day. By keeping your cigars small, you can retain your flavor tasting abilities for other times during the day. The best part about that: you get to smoke a greater variety of different cigars, and fully enjoy the experience each time. This is great for newer smokers looking to learn more about cigars. Many new smokers may not have the time or budget to dedicate to cigars when they first get into the hobby, so small cigars and cigarillos are perfect, because they generally cost a little less than larger cigars, allowing people to purchase a larger variety of cigars while maintaining a beginner’s budget.Â
Increasing Average Sales with Cigarillos and Small Cigars
One of the big benefits of small cigars and cigarillos is their lower cost. But lower cost items can actually positively affect average sale numbers.Â
Cigarillos generally come in packs, varying in number, but mostly containing 5-10 cigars per pack. A lot of smokers that are looking for smaller cigars are looking to smoke more than just one a day. By having cigarillo packs in your store, you are enticing customers to spend $20, $30, $40, or more on a pack of cigarillos. On the other hand, if you do not carry cigarillos or smaller cigars, then that same customer who is maybe looking to smoke on the drive to work, during lunch break, and after dinner, might just get one cigar and try to re-light it throughout the day. Carrying cigarillo packs can bring in higher average sale numbers for your shop, and it gives the smoker a better experience.
Another huge way small cigars can increase your shop’s average sales numbers is with box sales. As with cigarillos, a huge part of the market of small cigar smokers is smokers who want to smoke multiple times a day. Attack this part of the market by offering box discounts to customers, and make it an offer they can’t refuse. On top of that, having small cigars and cigarillos up at the front by your register can increase totals at the point of sale by doing add-ons to purchases.
When utilized properly, cigarillos and small cigars can be instrumental in helping your shop increase your average sale numbers.
Merchandising Small Cigars
Proper merchandising of small cigars and cigarillos is what will really drive your numbers up. The relatively small footprint of these products makes them easy to fit in wherever you can find the space. Some brands, like Drew Estate, even have stand displays they will send to you. These are skinny towers that can fit just about anywhere and can hold a wide variety of different cigarillo packs. Place this right up front beside the register, and you have an easy upsell vehicle right by the point of sale.Â
Smaller cabinet humidors can also be a great spot to put a collection of small cigars. It is eye-catching and separate from the main collection, so it is sure to draw attention. Once people recognize it, you can start driving up box sales.
Lastly, putting out a table is a great way to merchandise your smaller cigars. When somebody walks into a cigar shop, and sees a table out with products on it, they immediately want to ask what’s special. This won’t be a good permanent option, but it is a good way to draw attention to your products every once in a while, or when they come in new to the shop.
Top Smaller Cigars to Stock
There are tons of different options when it comes to small cigars and cigarillos, but here are some great ones we think you need to consider bringing into your shop.
- Illusione Rothchild – This medium-bodied cigar has a San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler. With notes of black leather, earth, and nuts, this is an easy go-to.
- Caldwell Long Live the King Manzanita – This petit corona is a full-bodied masterpiece featuring a Corojo wrapper, and coming from the Dominican Republic.
- Liga Privada Unico Nasty Fritas – The Nasty Fritas has a unique cone shape and is made with a Connecticut Oscuro wrapper, Brazilian binder, and Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. These have a smooth rich flavor to them and produce smoke like crazy.
- Acid Krush Classic Cameroon Red – These ten-pack tins are perfect whenever you need a quick smoke. Keep them in your bag and light up whenever you want with rich Nicaraguan flavor and an unsweetened Cameroon wrapper.
- Undercrown Tins – Take the famous under crown lineup to-go. Drew Estate offers the full Undercrown lineup, of Maduro, sun-grown, and shade, in ten-count tins. These are perfect for lighting up a quick smoke no matter what you are in the mood for.
Making the Case for Small Cigars
While they may not be for everyone, small cigars and cigarillos have a place in your shop and in your customers’ humidors. Properly marketing small cigars can help your business, and we can help you with marketing. To learn more about Cigarketing and how we can help your business grow, reach out to us. We’d love to meet you and talk about your goals.