Local Advertising is important. As we move deeper into the digital age, maintaining an online presence is evermore the focal point of businesses worldwide. However, a real-world, local connection is now more necessary than ever for a cigar shop’s success. So, local advertising for cigar shops is key to cultivating a booming business built for the long haul.
Cigar shop advertising grows more challenging by the day. So, our marketing and advertising pros put together this quick guide to help you get the most out of your local advertising. We’ll show you simple strategies to bolster your shop’s presence in the community, connect with your local customers better, and increase sales.
Why Local Advertising for Cigar Shops Matters
Cigar customers are often social by nature, enjoying personal interactions, from learning the latest from their favorite tobacconist to sharing world views with fellow cigar lovers over a good smoke. So, tapping into that desire for social connectivity with local advertising for cigar shops can improve customer engagement, traffic flow, and sales.
Local exposure generated by advertising for cigar shops can translate into greater prestige for your shop, drawing even more consumers to your business locally and online. Providing great customer service with a personal “local” touch helps build trust and makes your shop the ultimate destination for cigar customers. So, taking advantage of a wide array of local advertising opportunities lays the groundwork for lasting sales growth.
Hosting Engaging Cigar-Themed Events
Hosting cigar-themed events is a great way to take full advantage of local advertising for cigar shops while enjoying a deeper connection with the community. It’s a great way to get more people into your cigar store. More customers on the premises means more chances to make sales. Cigar-themed events also let you get to know your customers better. The more information you can learn about them, the better off you’ll be when designing future marketing strategies catered to your customer’s buying habits.
Cigar events are also a chance for your customers to get to know you better. The more personal connection you can make with cigar enthusiasts, the more engaging customer experience you can deliver. It’s a trust-building strategy that can go a long way to building your cigar shop’s prestige locally, regionally, and beyond.
For example, hosting events like cigar tastings, cigar picnics, or other cigar socials are ways of “thanking” your customers for their patronage and enticing new customers into the fold. It gets your shop’s name out there, builds customer trust, and ultimately can lead to improved sales. Plus, cigar events can be a lot of fun for everyone. The trick is to get the word out about the events. Combining in-store promotions and community-focused advertising channels can help maximize awareness and drive event attendance.
Strategic Collaborations with Nearby Businesses
Another effective way to take your cigar shop advertising to the next level is by partnering with local businesses to expand your shop’s visibility within the community. Strategic collaborations open up the playbook, allowing you to reach an untapped community sector and take advantage of new marketing and advertising opportunities. In addition, local businesses coming together can spawn new ideas that greatly benefit all parties involved. So, strategic collaborations can be a win for everyone.
Collaborations don’t have to be strictly cigar-focused, yet partnering with businesses that complement your cigar shop’s products and services is helpful. For example, partnering with a nearby brewery or distillery lets you capitalize on the great pastime of cigar and drink pairing. Restaurants are also a natural fit for cigar shop collaborations. An event as simple as a cigar dinner can open up more avenues for advertising. When you collaborate with local businesses, there is limitless potential for tapping into better ways of advertising for cigar shops.
Another way to partner with other businesses is through cooperative or co-op advertising. Co-op advertising works when a partnering business assumes all the advertising costs. For example, suppose your shop is part of a local shopping center, business district, or chamber of commerce. In that case, your business might be eligible for co-op advertising those entities offer. Also, cigar and accessory manufacturers sometimes offer co-op advertising to feature their products and generate more traffic for your store.
No matter what the business you partner with, be sure you both agree on funding, strategic structure, and advertising plan that is mutually beneficial. Choose a partner with the same voice or values you want your business to promote when possible. It can make for a smoother, more fruitful relationship and continue to build your shop’s local stature. A personalized advertising team can help you identify potential collaborative partners and implement winning advertising strategies.
Sponsoring Local Events and Charities
Sponsorships can provide tremendous exposure within the community, increasing your shop’s prestige and customer base. Local sponsoring opportunities are everywhere, from golf tournaments and local team sports to farmer’s markets and business fairs. Charitable sponsorships and donations are also a great way to generate good press for your cigar shop while helping those in need throughout the community.
Supporting charities or causes demonstrates leadership and trust, further building on your cigar shop’s standing in the community. As a sponsor or charitable supporter, you are in a great position to engage with the public. It is a chance to showcase your business’s voice. You can alleviate concerns, debunk cigar shop myths, and demonstrate a greater worth to the public, who may have little or no understanding of the value your neighborhood cigar shop offers.
Building trust and goodwill in the community is key to a business’s long-term health and it’s just good karma. So, adding sponsorships and charitable giving to your advertising for cigar shops can make all the difference. However, finding the right sponsorship or charity to support can be challenging, so our advertising gurus can work with you to pinpoint the best options.
Maximizing Traditional Advertising Channels
While today’s advertising and marketing tactics have more tech-savvy, digital leanings than ever before, traditional advertising methods should not be ignored. Print, billboards, radio, television, and other forms of traditional advertising are still mainstays in business today. These tried and true advertising methods can be especially effective when coordinated strategically with alternative advertising channels, such as social media platforms.
No matter your advertising goals, budget, or target audience, there is an advertising channel that fits the bill. It takes some planning and often outside-the-box thinking to find the combination of ad channels that best suits your cigar shop, and we can help with that. We’ll help you navigate various advertising channels, like social media and email marketing, and overcome today’s cigar shop advertising challenges.
Reap the Rewards of Going Local
Local advertising for cigar shops gets people in your shop, making purchases, and spreading the word about your shop’s customer experience and value. It’s a chance to get creative and boost sales into the stratosphere. So, put advertising tactics to use effectively and get more customers in the door.
Cigarketing has the resources to help you create a winning local advertising strategy and maximize your shop’s visibility, sales, and community presence. Contact us to schedule a meeting with our crack team of advertising commandos to put the power of local advertising to work for you.