Cigar Store

[drew_goring]

O.K.......haven't found suitable property that I can afford. Was thinking of naming the place Ashauler's........yep, I'm not very imaginative. Does it sound alright?

I'm going to make the retail section seperate from the "members" area. In the retail section I will have a relatively small smoking area, newspapers, magazines, coffee and soda.

In the members area there will be a TV, leather sofa and recliners, wi-fi, a couple of tables with some comfy chairs for those that want to spread out and work a little on the intenet or whatever.......I'm trying to find some kind of portable tables or something that will work for people on the sofas that want to work on their laptops and don't want them in their actual laps. Humidified lockers and lockable individual liquor cabinets will be available.

What is the typical fee that is charged for the memberships to places like this? What do you guys feel is reasonable? Base it on a monthly fee with options to pay by the year? Tiered memberships of some type, or one price gets all?

Thanks for the help everybody.

From what I've seen a lot of places charge a monthly/yearly fee, as well as a per use fee. The monthly makes you a member and then you only pay as much as it is used. Usually with a max and a min for each month.

Sounds like you have some great ideas already.

[The Korean]

Like others have said, it more about the atmosphere and staff than anything else. In my area there is a smaller B&M, that I would go visit mainly to support the small businesses. I found that there weren't always as friendly and helpful as one of the others in town. I now just go to the one that has the friendly staff. One other thing that I enjoy is they have events usually on Thursday nights, it cost $5 to get in the door, but you get a smoke or two out of it and a coupon on your purchase that night, there are reps from cigar brands come in and do the normal stuff. Good luck man, I wish you all the success in the world.

[FunkyCold5]

Renting/leasing humidor normally range from $25-$250 per month. I noticed the closer you get to the city (Washington, DC) the higher the humidor lease in the B&Ms here.

I say, if they rent/lease a humidor, they should have membership to all that is available. They'll be your "whale", since most likely they'll be your big spenders when it comes to cigars. Separate them in Tiers. Members shelling out $100-$200 month to get a in-house humidor will be Tier A.

Tier B would be regular members who don't want to shell out $100+ for humidor space, but would like to use the Wi-Fi, sit on the couch, watch tv, etc. Charge $50/month or less.

Normaly foot-traffic or now and again customers that don't want to pay for membership can sit on the chairs that are available at the retail section. Get water or soda (they need to pay for it obviously), etc.

This sounds like a great idea. LOL. Hope you don't hold it against another BOTL for opening it up in their own state.

Andrew

[ashauler]

Renting/leasing humidor normally range from $25-$250 per month. I noticed the closer you get to the city (Washington, DC) the higher the humidor lease in the B&Ms here.

I say, if they rent/lease a humidor, they should have membership to all that is available. They'll be your "whale", since most likely they'll be your big spenders when it comes to cigars. Separate them in Tiers. Members shelling out $100-$200 month to get a in-house humidor will be Tier A.

Tier B would be regular members who don't want to shell out $100+ for humidor space, but would like to use the Wi-Fi, sit on the couch, watch tv, etc. Charge $50/month or less.

Normaly foot-traffic or now and again customers that don't want to pay for membership can sit on the chairs that are available at the retail section. Get water or soda (they need to pay for it obviously), etc.

This sounds like a great idea. LOL. Hope you don't hold it against another BOTL for opening it up in their own state.

Andrew

WOOT....I smell franchise opportunity......naw, just kidding, though that is where the money is. I checked out getting a Tinderbox franchise, but the minimum liquid cash investment was 65,000 - 85,000 and the minimum cash available through financing had to be 275,000....way out of my league.

[prostartjr1738]

What about something like a live music night. Charge a few bucks at the door and have a live band or dj. Get some 6 foot heros or have some food catered. Make it a once a week or once a month thing.

[prophetic_joe]

There is a place about 2 hours north of where i live that has a nice smoking lounge. It's a little bar that sells cigars and stuff so not quite what you're looking at doing but at night it has nice turned down lights and there are really comfortable leather couches and stuff with some corner fireplaces situated around and they have a live music deal where one guy comes in with an acoustic electric guitar and plays. Very nice relaxing atmosphere, exactly what you need when smoking a good cigar. Just an idea man.