someone who doesn't know anything about cigars isn't going to be able to sell cigars to another person who doesn't know anything. You're going to find the experienced smokers will enter your store already knowing what they like and what they will spend.

I just started smoking cigars regularly a few months ago and i can tell you I flat out refused to buy from a store when I asked the sales person for a suggestion and she said "well I don't smoke cigars so I can't really tell you anything, but the Acids sell really good." Conversely, I don't drink wine but went into a spirits store and was sold wine by a very knowledgable sales woman and I enjoyed it. I also went into a really good shop an hour from my hometown and the owner took me into the humidor and showed me around telling me about his favorite smokes, what he finds smooth, what he finds harsh, I find it hard to not buy a humidor full of smokes anytime i go in there.

Bottom line you're in a business and business is about building relationships, you need a staff that knows the product and is going to make the customer feel good about the purchase, That's how you make a one-time customer a regular customer..