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Business owner satisfied with the the sale of their business by Trinity Business Partners! We are very thankful for Michael Rubin and Trinity Business Partners services because after we had been trying to sell the business within 12 months, they helped us do it within in one month. Number one, and number two, it was very professional and credible service. It was great communication, absolutely been notified about any changes. Like my husband said, it sold above our expectation in price range. We are very thankful and it opens for us fantastic opportunities in the future.

Machine-made or mass-market cigars are the largest segment of the sales. The most cigar smokers prefer the cost-effective machine-made cigars by about 95%.  Cigar sales numbers are strong with about 13 billion cigars sold last year?including almost 12 billion large cigars and just under a billion little cigars.

The number of cigars sold pales in comparison to cigarettes sales, which topped 315 billion for the same period. While cigar sales do not approach those of cigarettes, they can offer convenience stores better margins. Sales of little cigars have been dropping since 2008 when the number of little cigars hit a peak of nearly six billion. Demand for little cigars was strong in the first quarter of 2009, until the federal State Children`s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) tax hit little cigars on April 1. At that time, the tax on little cigars jumped from four cents a pack to .01 on parity with cigarettes. Sales immediately plunged 60% and that trend has continued. But those figures do not tell the whole story.

As defined by the federal government, a little cigar weighs under three pounds per thousand, uses all tobacco (even the homogenized tobacco leaf wrapper) and, instead of the flue-cured tobacco used as filler in cigarettes, the cigar tobacco needs to be air-cured like the larger premium cigars. Many manufacturers of little cigars knew the SCHIP tax would hit them sooner or later, so they began to reblend their products by adding a bit more tobacco to come in above that three-pound limit, making them what the federal government calls large cigars. Most of these transitions were completed by 2009 when the tax hit. The numbers bear this out in that the number of large cigars jumped by three billion from 2009 to 2010.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considering a ban on the sale and distribution of menthol cigarettes in the United States×a measure that could save thousands of lives each year and drastically cut elevated smoking-related health problems experienced by African Americans as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans who often bear the brunt of smoking-related diseases. For so many reasons, this ban is a no-brainer.

In 2009 Congress directed the FDA to ban all other candy-, fruit-, and spice-flavored cigarettes but they fell short of eliminating menthol flavoring×even though it was believed to be the most widely used and highly addictive of all flavored cigarette additives. Instead, they mandated a comprehensive study to assess the impact of menthol smoking on the health of the general public, especially among our nationÒs youth and minorities who smoke menthol cigarettes at the highest rates.

The trouble with little cigars and even the cigarillos is that across the country there is a crazy quilt of patchwork definitions. While the federal definition of little cigars remains primarily based on weight at three pounds per thousand, other states and municipalities do not play by the same rules. Industry insiders say there are more than 50 different sets of rules for the little cigars?some of which can even prevent their sale.

In Montana, for example, the state agrees on the federal weight definition for cigars, but then adds seven other criteria like having a filter or being sold in cartons of 10, which then classifies the product as a cigarette and subjects it to those taxes. It makes life complicated and industry insiders told CSD that the answers they are getting from government officials about little cigars can vary depending upon which official is giving the answer within a state.

Some states have applied cigarette taxes to the little cigars without changing the classification, while others like Pennsylvania and New York, have upped the weight limit on little cigars to four pounds per thousand, and Minnesota is talking about raising it to 4.5 pounds. In addition, Pennsylvania has added an “other tobacco” tax to little cigars. In the past, the state didn’t tax cigars.

Robert Perkins, vice president of marketing for 56 Rutter’s Farm Stores in York, Pa., said sales of little cigars have been hit because of that tax increase. In the Midwest, John Archer, a Shell-branded marketer in Hindsdale, Ill., moved his cigars behind the counter last year and said the decision has impacted his sales.

But not everyone is having those problems. Naser Nayeb, operator of eight Shop and Go stores in Garland, Texas, said that flavored little cigars like Dean’s or Supreme Blend are really moving in his market. As a whole, we are doing extremely well with the little cigars, he said. But the flavored machine-made cigars are doing the biggest numbers, and the original Swisher Sweets is our top seller.

While declining to give specifics, Catherine Huggins of Iowa-based Kum and Go said the company`s 430-plus stores in 11 states are doing very well in the cigar category and plans to focus on flavored products for the balance of 2011.

Tobacco consultant Lou Maiellano, president of TAZ Marketing, is expecting to see solid growth in the flavored market throughout 2011. The wild card remains FDA intervention. However, any FDA legislation of cigars is still viewed as several years away.

In the meantime, Maiellano said, customers are migrating to cigars. A recent study by research company Mintel International shows that about half of cigarette smokers who have not already tried cigars are interested in pursuing that smoking option, which could add more to sales.

It happens just once a year at Two Guys Smoke Shop in Salem NH March 4th this year is the date to get in on the Cigar Madness.

Article by Ann Knapp

And cigar aficionados could use some. With the economic crisis causing many state legislatures to consider tobacco tax hikes, smoking bans continuing to gain popular support, and bad stock market news making us all a little more conscious of the price of our favorite stogies, we need to hear that something is going right in the little world of those who love premium cigars. So, without further ado, here are some recent developments in the world of cigars that smokers can take to heart.

1. Smoking bans may be getting more popular–but they’re also getting more reasonable and flexible. More and more existing public-smoking smoking bans are being modified, and new bans being written, so as to include clear exemptions to the laws, so that cigar lovers are still allowed to light up in some bars, cigar lounges, casinos, or other places, depending on local policies. For an example, look no further than Laguna Beach–yes, the same Laguna Beach that passed one of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the country back in 1993. The local City Council has recently decided to start allowing smoking again at tobacco shops and lounges. This is good news for those who love to have a smoke with like-minded cigar lovers, and it’s also good news for area tobacco shops, which can now offer customers just such an experience (and reap the benefits in increased customer interest, retention, and loyalty). Nebraska is considering such an exception to its own smoking ban,

And in any case, the tendency toward greater regulation of public smoking isn’t universal. North Dakota’s state colleges and universities have just (as of mid-March) rejected a proposed smoking ban.

2. The Cuba embargo, which has prevented access to high-quality Cuban smokes since 1962, may just be headed for the chopping block. The magazine Cigar Aficionado devoted its January 2009 cover story to arguing for a more nuanced trade relationship between the United States and Cuba. Recently-declassified documents show the US making repeated overtures to Cuba and vice versa, and this newly-available history gives policymakers a map for future negotiations. In 1977, for example, Jimmy Carter nearly normalized US-Cuba relationships (talks foundered over Cuban troops stationed in Africa), and he later expressed regret that he’d scuttled this plan. Republican presidents such as Ford also considered the option. The embargo, as these documents remind us, is not a fact of nature.

And as Castro ages, even hard-line anti-Castroists in the US Congress are beginning to reconsider the effectiveness of a policy that, after all, has never succeeded in its announced objectives. And as this article goes to print, President Obama has just signed into law an omnibus spending bill that includes several little-noticed policy changes toward Cuba.

Cuban-Americans are now allowed yearly visits to the island (they were previously limited to one visit every third year), and restrictions on business travel have also been somewhat eased. Is this a step toward free trade with Cuba? With a major inter-American summit looming in April, many observers are wondering whether Obama may be planning to announce further liberalization.

3. Another sign that lawmakers have grown a bit more sympathetic to smokers, despite budget squeezes that make users of tobacco and other “nonessentials” an attractive possible source of revenue, comes from Maryland. This state’s cigar-sale restrictions were among the toughest in the country; most notably, they don’t allow the purchase of single cigars. That’s right: you can buy boxes, but not cigars. The rationale for this odd law, which passed in November of 2008? Well, the local constabulary were worried that high school kids would use hollowed-out single cigars to smoke marijuana. So the state legislature banned the sale of single cigars.

Aside from the fact that, on the same logical grounds, you could justify banning just about any form of cigar or cigarette–as well as hollow tube-shaped objects generally–this goofy law has faced challenges on constitutional grounds. The state legislature, facing lawsuits, is looking at getting rid of the restriction on single-cigar sales. Chalk up another victory for common sense.

4. Recession or not, tasty is still tasty.

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Question by Consul of Rome: Are you ready for this stupidity?
The increase in federal tobacco taxes that congressional Democrats are proposing to fund their new healthcare initiative is being praised by anti-smoking advocates as an effective way to discourage tobacco sales.”We are strongly in favor of the SCHIP proposal,” Erika Sward, director of National Advocacy for the American Lung Association, stated Cybercast News Service. “We see it as a win-win for children’s health.”"The first acquire is that the cigarette tax will be altered by 61 cents, which will have an earthshaking impact on youth fuming rates,” she stated. “And the other win is that millions of children, including those with lung disease, will be competent to have health insurance as a result.”The tax hikes would admit raising the northern cigarette tax from 39 cents to one dollar. Additionally, the tax cap on cigars would be raised from five cents to three dollars, a 6,000 percent increase.So if they do this, and everyone stops smoking, where is the money traveling to come from to pay for the health care? I am so cheerful I offshore half my income before taxes these days.

Best answer:

Answer by mrstarware
People won’t need as much health care if lung cancer goes down from people not smoking

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) March 18, 2008

The tobacco industry often confronts the toughest regulations almost across all regional markets in the world. Though governments have been toughening regulations with the sole aim of abating tobacco consumption levels. Governments are forced to toughen their stands against tobacco consumption mainly due to the rising public health concerns associated with tobacco use. Despite the regulations, global tobacco products market is witnessing positive growth due to growing demand in regions such as Asia-Pacific and Europe. Although there has been a slow down in consumption levels, the absolute number of smokers has been on the rise with increasing population. Leading tobacco producing countries in the world include China, India, Brazil, the US, Turkey, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Asia-Pacific represents the largest market for tobacco products in the world, both in terms of volume and value sales. China, the most populous country in the world represents the single largest market for cigarettes in the world. Global cigarette market is worth $ 364.7 billion in 2007, as stated in a recent report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. In value terms, Europe and Asia-Pacific, together account for over 55% of the global cigarette market. In terms of volume, cigarette sales in Europe and Asia (including Japan) are expected to be around 4100 billion units in 2010. Volume wise, Europe and United States, collectively account for 72% of total cigar sales in the world.

Major players in the marketplace include Agio Cigars, Altadis, Arnold Andre, British American Tobacco, China National Tobacco, Djarum, Gallaher Group, Godfrey Phillips, Habanos, Imperial Tobacco Group, ITC, Japan Tobacco, Korean Tobacco, Liggett Group Inc, Philip Morris, Reynolds American, Souza Cruz, Swedish Match, Swisher International and Vector Tobacco.

“Tobacco Products: A Global Strategic Business Report”, published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, product profile, recent developments, mergers, acquisitions, profiles of major players and other strategic industry activities. Analysis is presented for major geographic markets such as US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Spain, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Australia, Malaysia, India, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and rest of world. Analytics for the period 1991 through 2015 are provided in terms of product segments including cigarettes and cigars.

For more details about this research report, please visit http://www.strategyR.com/Tobacco_Products_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world’s largest market research publishers. The company employs over 700 people worldwide and publishes more than 880 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers a range of over 60,000 smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Telephone 408-528-9966

Fax 408-528-9977

Email press @ StrategyR.com

Web Site http://www.StrategyR.com/

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Bedford, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2005

walkabout, n., Australian term meaning a short period of wandering as an occasional interruption to regular work.

Texas entrepreneur Michael Makens became familiar with the term walkabout while attending University in Australia. With the ability to speak 4 languages, including Chinese and Spanish, he took the term to heart and has traveled or lived in over 30 different countries. Every three to six months he is off to a new place. When asked why he is constantly on walkabout he commented, Â?Sometimes you just need to stop your daily routine and see what else the world has to offer; you never know what youÂ?re going to find.Â? This theory has never proven truer than during a trip to Honduras three years ago when Makens discovered one of lifeÂ?s great pleasures: a hand rolled Honduran cigar. Makens says that in traveling to Honduras, Â?all I wanted to do was find some nice cigars to bring home for my friends as gifts.Â? As he smoked the finest cigar he had ever enjoyed, he realized that he had found much more. Now, after years of tireless work, he has founded Flor De Jardin and is fulfilling his dream of bringing premium quality cigars back home.

When Makens first arrived in Honduras, he was surprised to discover that here, in the heart of the cigar world, not only were the factories and cigar producers off limits to visitors, but that there were no cigars for sale anywhere in the town. Discouraged by his less than cordial reception, he was nearly ready to move on when a taxi driver said that he could take Makens to the best cigars around. The taxi driver drove him out of the town and stopped at an old, run-down factory from which an elderly Cuban man emerged. He introduced himself and after several hours of discussion he finally warmed to Makens and invited him inside. Eventually Makens was allowed to sample a cigar and immediately fell in love with it. Â?Everything about that first experience was amazing. It was and still is the best cigar I have ever smoked.Â?

Armed with two bundles of cigars and promises to keep in touch, Makens returned to Texas with a new future in mind. He was determined to make sure people back home could experience the same cigar that he fell in love with.

It has taken three years for Makens to found Flor De Jardin. Â?Many things went into starting this company,Â? he says, Â?including permits, production, and most importantly trust from my friends in Honduras.Â? Today he is striving to introduce his cigar to the world, with quality as his top priority. From the construction of the cigar to the construction of the boxes, Makens vows to maintain excellence. Â?I will only produce as many cigars as I can and still guarantee the quality. I donÂ?t want to be a huge name producing 20 million sticks a year; I canÂ?t maintain quality with those numbers.Â?    

To learn more about Flor De Jardin go to (www.flordejardin.com).

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