|
|
Post by Legend Lover on Jul 30, 2019 17:30:55 GMT -5
I've noticed several reports on the poor customer service at Irish shops the past couple of years. It is one thing when the country is mostly anti-tobacco, but when the employees of a B&M act in consort of those attitudes, it would certainly drive me to go online exclusively. They may be reports of the same shop. |
|
captblack
Junior Member
Posts: 224
Favorite Pipe: Peterson, Tsuge, Savinelli
Favorite Tobacco: Aromatics and English Blends
Location:
|
Post by captblack on Jul 31, 2019 15:01:09 GMT -5
Brick and mortar shops do deserve to survive and thrive. Tobacco is a part of our heritage and is enjoyed by many throughout the world. Tobacco shops do not deserve to be regulated out of existence, and this is happening in many countries today.
But a poorly run business of any kind does not "deserve" to survive. Owners of tobacco shops need to run a good business model with positive customer interactions, just like any other retail shop.
|
|
Winton
Junior Member
Posts: 220
First Name: John
Favorite Pipe: I love all the pipes I have from slow smoke contests
Favorite Tobacco: no latakia please
Location:
|
Post by Winton on Aug 1, 2019 9:58:55 GMT -5
I appreciate 8to8 Cigars, where we have our pipe club meets. It is great to be able to smoke with friends, indoors, when the snow is falling or temps are over 100.
This month, I will get a free cigar, since it is my birthday month.
|
|
BrunoT
Junior Member
Looking forward to the next bowl
Posts: 289 
First Name: Bruno
Favorite Pipe: Ser Jacopos, Canadians, Dunhill
Favorite Tobacco: My Own Blend Everest
Location:
|
Post by BrunoT on Aug 2, 2019 16:45:48 GMT -5
Interesting thread. Here the situation is much simpler as you might have read already: the shops will survive as long as there's tobacco to be bought, simply because there's no other way to get it. Tobacco can't be shipped to individuals. "Survive" is the operative word here however.
I've got a pretty good relationship going on with mine, but he's a resourceful guy. He employs two shopkeepers and runs a successful daily press & magazines business from the same spot. Also a book exchange, not to mention it's a prime spot on the main street. He seized the market gap for pipe smokers so he's a go to for the entire region.
So the bottom line for me would be, without getting too philosophical, that you need to run it like any other business... fill a need and give people a reason to come back. Our guy's got it figured out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Legend Lover on Aug 2, 2019 17:10:58 GMT -5
Interesting thread. Here the situation is much simpler as you might have read already: the shops will survive as long as there's tobacco to be bought, simply because there's no other way to get it. Tobacco can't be shipped to individuals. "Survive" is the operative word here however. I've got a pretty good relationship going on with mine, but he's a resourceful guy. He employs two shopkeepers and runs a successful daily press & magazines business from the same spot. Also a book exchange, not to mention it's a prime spot on the main street. He seized the market gap for pipe smokers so he's a go to for the entire region. So the bottom line for me would be, without getting too philosophical, that you need to run it like any other business... fill a need and give people a reason to come back. Our guy's got it figured out. I think if they are to survive they need to adopt this practice above... Have the tobacco and pipe sales as part of a bigger setup. |
|
