Cigar Weekly

TommyBB · 07-15-2010, 11:27 AM

Carlos Toraño Cigars is announcing this afternoon, that they have retaken control of their own distribution from CAO International. Also, at the same time have rebranded, changing logos and renaming the company Toraño Family Cigars.

CW News and Feature Article

N99 · 07-15-2010, 11:55 AM

Good article.

Good on the Torano's for taking back distribution of their brand, I didn't see any improvement with CAO distributing.

I'm not sure about them coming out with two new premium cigars for retailers only. That is a surefire way to make sure I never buy them as the local retailers here price way too high (even after considering tax) not to mention I don't think I have ever seen a Torano product in any of the B&M's close to where I live.

I like their cigars, just don't know about how they are going about marketing them.

TommyBB · 07-15-2010, 12:02 PM

Thank you for the compliment. I actually worked a bit on this one instead of just the press release.

I was speaking to a friend in the industry just now on the phone. And he believes, as you, that the distribution deal didn't help one bit.As he told me, anyone who's been observant will not have forgotten this quickly.

Over the last couple visits to the IPCPR, there are a fair number of manufacturers who want to "reward the folks who stuck by" them. They're trying to help the brick-and-mortar retailers, and they aim to have only those retail outlets carry their cigars. It's not a new idea. At this point, I don't know how well it works or doesn't work.

For example, Luis Molina, Devil's Weed, tried this. Luis was a retailer for years, and wanted to "give back" by making his cigars only available this way. But, as he was new and a relative outsider in comparison to the folks in Miami, he had a rough go of it, as we saw. He was forced to sell his inventory to CI in order to recoup even some of his investment.

infiniterapture · 07-15-2010, 04:01 PM

Good to hear! I always thought Torano's would be second fiddle since CAO had their own line of products. It's good to see them take the reigns of their own distributing again.

Breech · 07-16-2010, 08:46 AM

Had the chance to meet the old man at a local B&M, and he was an absolute delight to talk with!! He had me laughing!

They are a great company, and I love their cigars.... Hope it all works out!!

John

eastwood44mag · 07-16-2010, 08:45 PM

So who do I need to talk to about getting a job?

mealstrom · 07-30-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyBB

They're trying to help the brick-and-mortar retailers, and they aim to have only those retail outlets carry their cigars. It's not a new idea. At this point, I don't know how well it works or doesn't work.

For example, Luis Molina, Devil's Weed, tried this. Luis was a retailer for years, and wanted to "give back" by making his cigars only available this way. But, as he was new and a relative outsider in comparison to the folks in Miami, he had a rough go of it, as we saw. He was forced to sell his inventory to CI in order to recoup even some of his investment.

Bucanero tried this too. At one point they refused to sell online because they wanted to reward the B&Ms that carried their sticks. Unfortunately changing times kept that from being a profitable venture. More and more cigar companies are opening up online stores directly from their websites. One day they could even end up closing down online retailers if they keep offering their cigars at cheaper prices from their own websites.

H311oLHD · 08-01-2010, 01:28 AM

Great article Tommy, thanks for it!!

I really think that some of these companies need to get with the times. I cannot tell you the last Torano I've had, and it's not because I haven't been smoking! Hardly anyone ever talks about Torano anymore, and I'm pretty sure that's the reason I never reach for them. The Toranos better start coming onto CW or something to get their name talked about again.

macsauce13 · 08-01-2010, 10:52 AM

And its really too bad. They have some fantastic smokes.

mealstrom · 08-02-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H311oLHD

Great article Tommy, thanks for it!!

I really think that some of these companies need to get with the times. I cannot tell you the last Torano I've had, and it's not because I haven't been smoking! Hardly anyone ever talks about Torano anymore, and I'm pretty sure that's the reason I never reach for them. The Toranos better start coming onto CW or something to get their name talked about again.

I also haven't had a Torano in FOREVER. For me they price themselves out of my range for the quality of the smoke. To me they just don't have the complexity or depth that I like if I'm going to be paying in the $8 - $12 range for a cigar. I like them, but there are very few Toranos that haven't bored me by the end of it. (One notable exception being the Casa Torano Maduro)

A cigar can be a good simple cigar - I enjoy those too. But if you're going to charge top dollar then I'd expect you to be in the same league as other top dollar cigars.

07-15-2010, 11:27 AM	#1
TommyBB Editor-in-Chief Herf God Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Harvey, LA Posts: 87,228	Torano Takes Back Distribution Carlos Toraño Cigars is announcing this afternoon, that they have retaken control of their own distribution from CAO International. Also, at the same time have rebranded, changing logos and renaming the company Toraño Family Cigars. CW News and Feature Article __________________ +In Memory of E.Guevara(Cubano67)W.Orlando(Shadow) A.Morris (Knife) D.Odom (dodom) D.Revermann (dgr) S.Bouchard (sb1396) M.Cole (Matt76) S.Faccenda (TOJE) R.Smith(IBMer) V.Vandermeer (van55)M.Davis(boxdoctor)S.Singer(bassman)K.Doetze l (drillrk1)D.Hart(garme1962)J.Coleman(John C 81)T.Gossett(Dartplayer1)J.Bolt (jb)E.J.Ferralles(CaballoPinto)M.Cataldo(FVFanMC)K Payne(SanchoPanza)F.Seltzer(Mowee)+LB+Connor Olson+Micah Kercheval+Maggie Bonefas+Karen

07-15-2010, 11:55 AM	#2
N99 Herf Meister Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: WA State, north of Portland,OR Posts: 6,049	Good article. Good on the Torano's for taking back distribution of their brand, I didn't see any improvement with CAO distributing. I'm not sure about them coming out with two new premium cigars for retailers only. That is a surefire way to make sure I never buy them as the local retailers here price way too high (even after considering tax) not to mention I don't think I have ever seen a Torano product in any of the B&M's close to where I live. I like their cigars, just don't know about how they are going about marketing them. __________________ Ave Imperator, Te Morituri Salutamus! THINK, GADDAMIT! gone bad (fff)

07-15-2010, 12:02 PM	#3
TommyBB Editor-in-Chief Herf God Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: Harvey, LA Posts: 87,228	Thank you for the compliment. I actually worked a bit on this one instead of just the press release. I was speaking to a friend in the industry just now on the phone. And he believes, as you, that the distribution deal didn't help one bit.As he told me, anyone who's been observant will not have forgotten this quickly. Over the last couple visits to the IPCPR, there are a fair number of manufacturers who want to "reward the folks who stuck by" them. They're trying to help the brick-and-mortar retailers, and they aim to have only those retail outlets carry their cigars. It's not a new idea. At this point, I don't know how well it works or doesn't work. For example, Luis Molina, Devil's Weed, tried this. Luis was a retailer for years, and wanted to "give back" by making his cigars only available this way. But, as he was new and a relative outsider in comparison to the folks in Miami, he had a rough go of it, as we saw. He was forced to sell his inventory to CI in order to recoup even some of his investment. __________________ +In Memory of E.Guevara(Cubano67)W.Orlando(Shadow) A.Morris (Knife) D.Odom (dodom) D.Revermann (dgr) S.Bouchard (sb1396) M.Cole (Matt76) S.Faccenda (TOJE) R.Smith(IBMer) V.Vandermeer (van55)M.Davis(boxdoctor)S.Singer(bassman)K.Doetze l (drillrk1)D.Hart(garme1962)J.Coleman(John C 81)T.Gossett(Dartplayer1)J.Bolt (jb)E.J.Ferralles(CaballoPinto)M.Cataldo(FVFanMC)K Payne(SanchoPanza)F.Seltzer(Mowee)+LB+Connor Olson+Micah Kercheval+Maggie Bonefas+Karen Last edited by TommyBB; 07-15-2010 at 12:13 PM.

07-15-2010, 04:01 PM	#4
infiniterapture Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 180	Good to hear! I always thought Torano's would be second fiddle since CAO had their own line of products. It's good to see them take the reigns of their own distributing again. __________________ And a woman is only a woman, but a good Cigar is a Smoke. Rudyard Kipling~

07-16-2010, 08:46 AM	#5
Breech Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Inna Godda Devita...... Posts: 3,838	Had the chance to meet the old man at a local B&M, and he was an absolute delight to talk with!! He had me laughing! They are a great company, and I love their cigars.... Hope it all works out!! John __________________ Now, when I was young boy at the age a-five, my mother said I was gonna be the greatest man alive - Muddy Waters Talkin' 'bout some back rent, she lucky if she get any front rent.- John Lee Hooker Strike While The Iron Is Hot!!

07-16-2010, 08:45 PM	#6
eastwood44mag Club Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago.......ugh Posts: 4,559	So who do I need to talk to about getting a job? __________________ I am a mushroom. They keep me in the dark and feed me horse shit. "My cigars tend to attract the kind of women that b#*ch a lot" --N99

08-01-2010, 01:28 AM	#8
H311oLHD Herf Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schaumburg, IL Posts: 8,248	Great article Tommy, thanks for it!! I really think that some of these companies need to get with the times. I cannot tell you the last Torano I've had, and it's not because I haven't been smoking! Hardly anyone ever talks about Torano anymore, and I'm pretty sure that's the reason I never reach for them. The Toranos better start coming onto CW or something to get their name talked about again. __________________ -Aaron- Proud member of the 2006 Newb Coalition! Full fledged CAO whore & Pepin Ho! Rest In Peace Cubano. Charter Member, MCLC “Making others green with envy”™

08-01-2010, 10:52 AM	#9
macsauce13 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,194	And its really too bad. They have some fantastic smokes.

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