Interviews

Don Fernando · 09-07-2010, 11:05 AM

as some of you know, I run a Dutch cigar website (with SmokeyNL, Misha and JHinc, all inmates too) and I'm going to Miami soon. I made some contact here and there and found a few cigar makers willing to do an interview with me for the Dutch site. Rocky Patel cigars (unfortunately Rocky himself won't be in town), Ernesto Padilla and the Garcia family already told me they would love to do an interview, and I will also do an interview with José Oliva when he's in The Netherlands in 3 weeks.

Now I have lots of questions, but you might have good questions too that I can ask, so if you have suggestions, please post them here and if I like the questions I will answer them.

thanks in advance.

darkleeroy · 09-07-2010, 11:09 AM

Well, I work within 5 minutes driving distance of the last two factories you mentioned. I might have to drop by and say hi when you visit the Padilla factory. The cigar girl there is cute.

markem · 09-07-2010, 11:14 AM

The one that I am sure everyone wants answered:

Bacon is all the rage. When will you join in?

mosesbotbol · 09-07-2010, 11:30 AM

Why not make more thin ring gauge cigars or private comissioned cigars? How about customer specific bundles?

Subvet642 · 09-07-2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Why not make more thin ring gauge cigars or private comissioned cigars? How about customer specific bundles?

I've been getting into thinner rings, too.

CigarNut · 09-07-2010, 11:36 AM

- What impact do you expect (on your business) when the embargo on Cuban cigars has been lifted?

- What kinds of things are you planning to do when the embargo is lifted?

darkleeroy · 09-07-2010, 11:38 AM

The reason why they don't make thinner ringed cigars; the majority of Americans don't like thin ring cigars. It's supply and demand, but mostly demand.

EDIT: I second Mike's questions regarding the embargo.

Emjaysmash · 09-07-2010, 11:38 AM

my questions:
what is your favorite cigar of your own lines?
what would be your dream cigar?

Don Fernando · 09-07-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkleeroy

Well, I work within 5 minutes driving distance of the last two factories you mentioned. I might have to drop by and say hi when you visit the Padilla factory. The cigar girl there is cute.

I 'know' that girl, been to the factory last year too.

I'll be in Miami for 9 days, plenty of time to herf

longknocker · 09-07-2010, 11:48 AM

Ferdie: I Would Like To Know Their Plans For New Releases, A "Sneak Preview", So To Speak!

MajorCaptSilly · 09-07-2010, 12:00 PM

1. Do you like me? (Me being me, not you) This is better: Do you like MCS?
2. How about a cigar called "Sklee"?
3. Where do all those cigars come from?
4. Got a light?
5. Cigar cake?
6. Cake cigar?

MCS

Dunkel · 09-07-2010, 03:41 PM

Please ask Ernesto why he can't slap whoever rolls his Obsidians for him? Most draw like a broomstick! LOL

09-07-2010, 05:39 PM

Did you try and contact anyone at Padron? They have a factory store in Miami.

09-07-2010, 05:46 PM

What sets your company apart from the rest of the cigar brands?

mosesbotbol · 09-07-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkleeroy

The reason why they don't make thinner ringed cigars; the majority of Americans don't like thin ring cigars. It's supply and demand, but mostly demand.

In the grand sense it is, but that is not what I am going at...

That gets back to my question on why they do not make customer specific bundles or smaller production runs for companies that think they market a bunch of specific cigars.

They do not run their business to capture the consumer and win their hearts. You want to be the Cubans, make a product and experience that most will never get from a Cuban cigar.

CigarNut · 09-07-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrell

What sets your company apart from the rest of the cigar brands?

+1

G G · 09-07-2010, 07:35 PM

What size pink wooden shoes do you wear?

Beagleone · 09-07-2010, 07:45 PM

Have you talked to Willie Herrera over at El Titan de Bronze? Met with him a few years again, but he was very entertaining and made some good smokes.

replicant_argent · 09-07-2010, 08:30 PM

Can you make a chicken wing flavored cigar?

maverickdrinker · 09-07-2010, 09:35 PM

Some questions to consider:

What are your long term plans for your organization?

Do you have a certain production number in mind before you become concerned about quality?

What are the 3 things that you want consumers to know that isn't known by the public right now?

Tell me about what are your succession plans for your cigar company?

What changes do you forsee occuring in the cigar industry over the next 3 years?

Tell us your perspective on limited production cigars. Are they worth the premium that are charged?

What cigars do you smoke on a daily basis and why?

How do you stay in touch with consumers?

Hope that these questions help

09-07-2010, 11:05 AM	#1
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,068 Trading: (29)	Interviews as some of you know, I run a Dutch cigar website (with SmokeyNL, Misha and JHinc, all inmates too) and I'm going to Miami soon. I made some contact here and there and found a few cigar makers willing to do an interview with me for the Dutch site. Rocky Patel cigars (unfortunately Rocky himself won't be in town), Ernesto Padilla and the Garcia family already told me they would love to do an interview, and I will also do an interview with José Oliva when he's in The Netherlands in 3 weeks. Now I have lots of questions, but you might have good questions too that I can ask, so if you have suggestions, please post them here and if I like the questions I will answer them. thanks in advance. __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

09-07-2010, 11:09 AM	#2
darkleeroy Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Josh Location: Miami, FL Posts: 318 Trading: (0)	Re: Interviews Well, I work within 5 minutes driving distance of the last two factories you mentioned. I might have to drop by and say hi when you visit the Padilla factory. The cigar girl there is cute. __________________

09-07-2010, 11:14 AM	#3
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,621 Trading: (47)	Re: Interviews The one that I am sure everyone wants answered: Bacon is all the rage. When will you join in? __________________ I refuse to belong to any organization that would have me as a member. ~ Groucho Marx

09-07-2010, 11:30 AM	#4
mosesbotbol That's a Corgi Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Moses Location: Boston Posts: 6,171 Trading: (6)	Re: Interviews Why not make more thin ring gauge cigars or private comissioned cigars? How about customer specific bundles? __________________ Port Wine & Claret \| British Cars \| Welsh Corgi's

09-07-2010, 11:36 AM	#6
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: Interviews - What impact do you expect (on your business) when the embargo on Cuban cigars has been lifted? - What kinds of things are you planning to do when the embargo is lifted? __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

09-07-2010, 11:38 AM	#7
darkleeroy Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Josh Location: Miami, FL Posts: 318 Trading: (0)	Re: Interviews The reason why they don't make thinner ringed cigars; the majority of Americans don't like thin ring cigars. It's supply and demand, but mostly demand. EDIT: I second Mike's questions regarding the embargo. __________________

09-07-2010, 11:38 AM	#8
Emjaysmash The Hebrew Hammer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: M.J. Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 7,025 Trading: (76)	Re: Interviews my questions: what is your favorite cigar of your own lines? what would be your dream cigar? __________________

09-07-2010, 11:48 AM	#10
longknocker Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 11,162 Trading: (82)	Re: Interviews Ferdie: I Would Like To Know Their Plans For New Releases, A "Sneak Preview", So To Speak!

09-07-2010, 12:00 PM	#11
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Re: Interviews 1. Do you like me? (Me being me, not you) This is better: Do you like MCS? 2. How about a cigar called "Sklee"? 3. Where do all those cigars come from? 4. Got a light? 5. Cigar cake? 6. Cake cigar? MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?

09-07-2010, 03:41 PM	#12
Dunkel Maduro & Oscuro Whore-O Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Doug Location: West by God Virginia Posts: 2,232 Trading: (75)	Re: Interviews Please ask Ernesto why he can't slap whoever rolls his Obsidians for him? Most draw like a broomstick! LOL __________________ Blue Label,Any Filipe Gregorio,Acid,Don Elias,El Mejor Espresso,Tierra del Sol

09-07-2010, 05:39 PM	#13
Brad Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interviews Did you try and contact anyone at Padron? They have a factory store in Miami.

09-07-2010, 05:46 PM	#14
Darrell Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Interviews What sets your company apart from the rest of the cigar brands?

09-07-2010, 07:35 PM	#17
G G BR549 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Taylor, FL. Posts: 12,723 Trading: (10)	Re: Interviews What size pink wooden shoes do you wear?

09-07-2010, 07:45 PM	#18
Beagleone Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Between here and there Posts: 830 Trading: (18)	Re: Interviews Have you talked to Willie Herrera over at El Titan de Bronze? Met with him a few years again, but he was very entertaining and made some good smokes. __________________ Whoever said "laughter is the best medicine" didn't have gonorrhea.

09-07-2010, 08:30 PM	#19
replicant_argent Gravy Boat Winnah. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: my attorney has advised against giving this information to insane people Posts: 5,326 Trading: (22)	Re: Interviews Can you make a chicken wing flavored cigar? __________________ www.stogietorch.com Some days call for a stiff Pomade.

09-07-2010, 09:35 PM	#20
maverickdrinker I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: art Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 2,590 Trading: (15)	Re: Interviews Some questions to consider: What are your long term plans for your organization? Do you have a certain production number in mind before you become concerned about quality? What are the 3 things that you want consumers to know that isn't known by the public right now? Tell me about what are your succession plans for your cigar company? What changes do you forsee occuring in the cigar industry over the next 3 years? Tell us your perspective on limited production cigars. Are they worth the premium that are charged? What cigars do you smoke on a daily basis and why? How do you stay in touch with consumers? Hope that these questions help