Marketing ideas for a Cigar Lounge

Smoking a cigar is all about the experience. You have to paint the picture of the ultimate cigar smoking experience.

Also, maybe you can buy or rent a local list from Cigar Aficionado magazine or others like it.

This would be something that I am familiar with.. you really need to get ahold of Cigar companies. IE General Cigar ( Macanudo, La Gloria Cubana, Cohiba, CAO ) - Drew Estates ( Acid, Chateau Real ) Arturo Fuente - Ashton - Altadis - and Davidoff to name just a few.

Being that this facility is also a bar.. you will want to work with the wine distributors as well.

You then want to promote Rep nights for the different brands and have the wine / beer reps there to assist in pairings for the highlighted cigars. I will assume the Cigar lounge has a mailing list? The Cigar companies have a mailing list, and I will bet the wine reps have a short list of people they could invite as well.

The obvious #1 JV aside from the ones mentioned would be local golf courses ( Private clubs are preferred ), that you could advertise in their member newsletters. In the past when I lived in Myrtle Beach we would tie events such as this with the pro of the club, and call it his night out, and then tie in the Cigar rep and wine / beer tastings together. they were fun events, and some f the cigar reps were better than others. Drew Estates Arturo and Davidoff stand out as nights that were exceptionally awesome.

Hope that Helps!

Hello Chris,

Please focus on your market, not on the product itself. I could say that it is about prestige, luxury, experience and I would be right. However, at the same time, it comes down to a few specific questions like:

1) What makes you different?
2) What is the avatar of your customer?
3) Where are you located? This matters on both a micro and a meta level as there are market and cultural differences.
4) What is your business model?

Personally, I'd focus on these if I were in your position. Most lounges are quite exquisite but the truly memorable ones pay special attention to a few key details, details ignored by most people but appreciated by the patrons.

I hope this was helpful and I'm looking forward towards answering any other question you may have.

Best regards,
Razvan Rogoz

Nice thread! following it.

savidge4, you have me starting to think about cooperative efforts with other businesses.... golf courses are a perfect example. This shop shares a neighborhood with a nice club (golf, tennis, pool, restaurant). Certainly an opportunity there.

I wonder if this group can come up with other similar ideas. Wine and scotch tastings also a great idea. Anything to bring in couples.... Here are a few...

cooking classes/demonstrations where food and drinks are paired with cigars....
kneeling massage
private meeting room
mini investment seminar
joint event with local liquor store


thoughts??

Here's another related question... Does anyone know of PPC companies that will accept tobacco and alcohol advertising?

cheers,
Chris

I think the reason I love the cigar niche probably the most out of the many niches I deal with is the precision in the industry. Every brand, every label, every nuance of each cigar is driven by demographic. What Drew Estate offers targets a specific market. What Arturo Fuente offers targets a specific demographic. Davidoff, from Cool Water to their precision cutters, to their cigars, again a unique well targeted demographic. Then there is Macanudo... They want it all, and pretty much get it.

As much as its not about the product / brands you have to understand in this market space I would say above and beyond any other, it is. Any event that has a brand association will draw a different crowd. If you look at Primings cigar, and check out their listof cigars they carry in store... they are targeting a more refined older crowd. Then look at something like Nice Ash Cigar Bar - and if you know Cigars, you know the refined labels are not listed.. this is targeting more of the 30 something and Millenials.

Regardless of what they carry.. most every cigar bars has a few things in common. Monthly Cigar tastings. A few times a year they tend to do themed parties. And most of the "Good" ones use Instagram like a mug.

In regards to PPC... I find that in most cases it is not needed - obviously depends on your market, but going heavy with the local listing route is usually more than enough to get you were you need to be. In many cases with PPC you are financially competing with the brands themselves ( you cant win ) again some local targeted content and ensuring your Google and Bing business listings are up to par is all that is needed.