Second Life Forums Archive - A cigar shop, A potential niche success?

Har Fairweather

Registered User

Join date: 24 Jan 2007

Posts: 2,320

08-20-2007 14:34

Don't forget a discreet teleport in a corner of your store to a nice, conspiratorial-looking enclosed skybox where people can get the cannabis-related stuff from you too...

Avacea Fasching

Certified

Join date: 23 Dec 2005

Posts: 481

08-20-2007 23:40

From: Simon Au

I've always wanted to open a cigar shop on SL. I'm a big cigar aficionado IRL and want to spread it to SL.

I've made a couple of PROPER cigars on SLEX, not the usual generic ones you find in clubs etc.

I was thinking of a quaint little , old fashioned style store with a humidor (storage space for cigars) with cigars of all different brands.

Thing is, opening a shop is a reasonably large thing and I was wondering if I could draw in enough business, seeing as the cigars couldn't be sold for too much because they're small things. I wouldn't want to go belly up!

Would this be a good move, business wise?

I would be a customer.
I love to smoke smoke smoke....

And i love it when people complain about my smoke in SL, sheesh, loosen up.

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Tegg Bode

FrootLoop Roo Overlord

Join date: 12 Jan 2007

Posts: 5,707

08-20-2007 23:45

From: AWM Mars

It cannot be anymore annoying than the 'Fart Hat' accessories, that apart from making rib tickling sounds, fill the sim up with large clouds of green haze.

I assume you will make animated matches to keep the cigars etc alight?

BTW, it is not only CA that has smoking bans in public places.. the UK also has those laws and judging by the powers to be, it will become widespread. Perhaps, to hedge your bets, you could sell NO SMOKING signs as well?

Do what some do and sell the patches & nicotne gum as well

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AWM Mars

Scarey Dude :¬)

Join date: 10 Apr 2004

Posts: 3,398

08-21-2007 02:06

lol.. I was visualising making a avatar that would befit the use of a Clay Pipe..

As a RL smoker (Cigars), perhaps I could ween myself off them, if I could perhaps see 'myself' smoking in game? (we can all dream)

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Professor Maertens

Registered User

Join date: 20 Jun 2007

Posts: 15

08-21-2007 02:42

Great idea. I too am a RL cigar smoker. The existing cigars and cigar animations leave much to be desired.

I have had great fun offering friends free cigars from the ones that are available. My wish list if you had a shop like this would be:

Cigars with bands that look like major Cuban marcas, e.g. Cohiba, Partagas
Elaborate ash trays and humidors
Ability to offer friends a cigar from a box
Ability to put a box of cigars out in my home and for friends to help themselves
A cigar lighting animation
Weekly cigar Sit Down and discussion

I hope that you will pursue this.

Jesseaitui Petion

king of polynesia :P

Join date: 2 Jan 2006

Posts: 2,175

08-21-2007 03:35

Also, I suggest checking out this cigarette just to get an idea of something GOOD that is out there. It is very animated and realistic.

*Signs on SL to get info*

Creator name: Johnny Mann

Product name: JM Cigarettes

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Angelique LaFollette

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Join date: 17 Jun 2004

Posts: 1,595

08-21-2007 21:31

From: Porky Gorky

If Foxy's Smoke Shop is the market leader then Your best bet is to visit them and then do things diferently, offer an alternative. Allot of smoking parafanalia i've seen in SL has been related to cannabis, so you 'olde worlde' approach may be original, you need to check out your competition.

That would be Hard, i host one of foxy's shops on my property (Witht the proviso that i did NOT want any of the Cannabis Parafernalia sold there) and her shop features a Huge number of smoking materials, and related objects.

There is definately a Niche, But it is occupied at the moment by a very talented lady, with a Diverse Menu of sales items. You will have to be REALLY Good, or REALLY Different to Carve out your own Part of the market. It's Not Impossible to do, but be aware, you are a late starter, and the front Runner is Good.

Angel.

Jesseaitui Petion

king of polynesia :P

Join date: 2 Jan 2006

Posts: 2,175

08-21-2007 21:47

Balogna. I say go for it to the OP, look how many people are making things every other person is making already and they all have their own little following, theres always going to be a crowd who is going to refuse to shop at so and sos shop for whatever reason and opt to shop at your store even if the "runner up" is supposedly better than you.

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Alliez Mysterio

Registered User

Join date: 22 Apr 2004

Posts: 230

08-21-2007 21:57

Don't forget It's a Boy, It's a Girl cigars...Great for new Dad's to pass out. Wedding cigars, the ideas are endless.
Wish you the very best in your new venture~

Tod69 Talamasca

The Human Tripod ;)

Join date: 20 Sep 2005

Posts: 4,107

08-21-2007 22:04

Mmmmmmm..... Partagas, CIO, Romeo Y Julieta....... This discussion is making me drool!!

I miss cigars. Dont smoke 'em like I used to, but I indulge every so often.

There was a local cigar shop around here that has famous cigar makers come in & show how they do it. Quite interesting to watch. Hard to master. And hand-rolled cigars beat machine made anyday!!

Just dont sell any White Owls. BLECH!!!

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Angelique LaFollette

Registered User

Join date: 17 Jun 2004

Posts: 1,595

08-21-2007 22:30

Can you legally Sell Cuban Cigars in SL, or will Big brother step in on that like Gambling?

Angel.

Avacea Fasching

Certified

Join date: 23 Dec 2005

Posts: 481

08-21-2007 22:40

I want to smoke, send me a landmark

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Maklin Deckard

Disillusioned

Join date: 9 Apr 2005

Posts: 459

08-22-2007 08:54

From: Angelique LaFollette

There is definately a Niche, But it is occupied at the moment by a very talented lady, with a Diverse Menu of sales items. You will have to be REALLY Good, or REALLY Different to Carve out your own Part of the market. It's Not Impossible to do, but be aware, you are a late starter, and the front Runner is Good.

Angel.

Don't discourage the guy too much. I've been in the game 2+ yrs and never heard of this person or their store(s). If I were searching through the list, I would visit more than one place before buying (I don't go by traffic or number of outlets at all), so he'd have as good a shot of my cash as Foxy, as long as his items were good quality. PLUS if she sells ANY drug-related merchandise, I WON'T patronize her shop, period. There's room, even in 'niche' markets....

Its more a matter of quality of the items and building a following than being the first / a frontrunner. I make steampunk / victorian items....I'm not the biggest by any benchmark (definitely not in the same class as Ordinal and others), but I have repeat customers and I pay my entire tier (stores, home, vanity build) and have money left over to buy basically what I wish ingame. Do I make enough to cash-out...no, but fun money ingame...yep!

As someone else suggested earlier in the thread, a tobacconist's shop would be great in one of the Caledon sims (I know a few people make pipes, humidors and such, including myself, but there is no centrallized one-stop location)....design it along the victorian era lines, do some period pipes, tobacco jars, humidors and such. You'd find a ready community for such items, and if it didn't pan out financially, a friendly and welcoming community in which to live!

Maklin

Johnny Mann

Registered User

Join date: 1 Oct 2005

Posts: 202

03-09-2009 09:26

From: Jesseaitui Petion

Also, I suggest checking out this cigarette just to get an idea of something GOOD that is out there. It is very animated and realistic.

*Signs on SL to get info*

Creator name: Johnny Mann

Product name: JM Cigarettes

Thanks for the comment

I make great Cigars too! (along with bongs, pipes, etc)

I will be revamping everything soon, right now i'm working on some skybox builds for fun.

Marianne McCann

Feted Inner Child

Join date: 23 Feb 2006

Posts: 7,145

03-09-2009 09:43

Year and a half, ya?

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Pie Serendipity

Registered User

Join date: 9 Feb 2009

Posts: 217

03-09-2009 09:52

From: Marianne McCann

Year and a half, ya?

And you are *still* not old enough to smoke, young lady!

Pie (Stay out of this thread - danger of passive smoking

)

Blot Brickworks

The end of days

Join date: 28 Oct 2006

Posts: 1,076

03-09-2009 10:12

I,ve been selling cuban cigars in a box for a few months, from my main place and a store in caladon.Get a few sales a week and more on Xstreet.So some people like cigars,I always have one on the go.LOL

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Amaranthim Talon

Voyager, Seeker, Curious

Join date: 14 Nov 2006

Posts: 12,032

03-09-2009 11:12

It almost catches me - never seen the original post before..
Well I guess this means it did catch me- since here i am posting...

Oh and whaddayaknow? I have relevant comment too! Regards the thing about making it a smoke it once then need a new one- I "bought" a free coconut drink the other day that wd only work once and for x amount of mintues- long enough to take a pic next to a tiki or something.

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Czari Zenovka

I've Had it With "PC"!

Join date: 3 May 2007

Posts: 3,688

03-09-2009 14:40

From: FD Spark

Not that we need more clubs but I am amazed no one has come up with Cigar smoking club or even very stylist Cigar smoking fetish escort service.
Not sure if there be demand for it. But its a idea. Think you might get more fun if it was happening club of people sipping brandy and smoking cigars, having interesting conversations and listening to good live music but not sure how you could make money at it. Maybe if you sold a long with it well made products relating to Cigar themes. It could help. But lot of people even virtually seem to be anti-smoking.

It wasn't an escort service, but the first job I had in SL was a "Cigar Girl" at a vintage 1940's dance club called The Paradise Ballroom. The build was so authentic - the club was in the "airplane hangar" because the "Officer's Club" had been bombed. What was left of the Officer's Club was a few steps away from the hangar, complete with a working Mah-Jong set and vintage photos from WWII.

The club played vintage 1940's jazz (as well as other themed events) and hired Cigar Girls reminiscent of the WWII cantinas. We (Cigar Girls) mingled with the patrons, offered cigars (obtained by the patron clicking on the tray); offered drinks, made small talk and were basically the "hostessess" but "in character." This club was extremely popular every night of the week and unfortunately closed due to a RL situation.

I think the idea of a cigar or tobacconist shop could work with perhaps a social element thrown in. I say go for it

And if you need a Cigar Girl on opening day....I still have my outfit *grins*

ETA: Gah! Didn't realize this was a necropost! Oh well...still like the idea and still have my Cig Girl outfit if anyone needs one for a gig.

A cigar shop, A potential niche success?
Har Fairweather Registered User Join date: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 2,320	08-20-2007 14:34 Don't forget a discreet teleport in a corner of your store to a nice, conspiratorial-looking enclosed skybox where people can get the cannabis-related stuff from you too...
Avacea Fasching Certified Join date: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 481	08-20-2007 23:40 From: Simon Au I've always wanted to open a cigar shop on SL. I'm a big cigar aficionado IRL and want to spread it to SL. I've made a couple of PROPER cigars on SLEX, not the usual generic ones you find in clubs etc. I was thinking of a quaint little , old fashioned style store with a humidor (storage space for cigars) with cigars of all different brands. Thing is, opening a shop is a reasonably large thing and I was wondering if I could draw in enough business, seeing as the cigars couldn't be sold for too much because they're small things. I wouldn't want to go belly up! Would this be a good move, business wise? I would be a customer. I love to smoke smoke smoke.... And i love it when people complain about my smoke in SL, sheesh, loosen up. _____________________ post spelling was checked using - Speak & Spell
Tegg Bode FrootLoop Roo Overlord Join date: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 5,707	08-20-2007 23:45 From: AWM Mars It cannot be anymore annoying than the 'Fart Hat' accessories, that apart from making rib tickling sounds, fill the sim up with large clouds of green haze. I assume you will make animated matches to keep the cigars etc alight? BTW, it is not only CA that has smoking bans in public places.. the UK also has those laws and judging by the powers to be, it will become widespread. Perhaps, to hedge your bets, you could sell NO SMOKING signs as well? Do what some do and sell the patches & nicotne gum as well _____________________ Level 38 Builder [Roo Clan] Free Waterside & Roadside Vehicle Rez Platform, Desire (88, 17, 107) Avatars & Roadside Seaview shops and vendorspace for rent, $2.00/prim/week, Desire (175,48,107)
AWM Mars Scarey Dude :¬) Join date: 10 Apr 2004 Posts: 3,398	08-21-2007 02:06 lol.. I was visualising making a avatar that would befit the use of a Clay Pipe.. As a RL smoker (Cigars), perhaps I could ween myself off them, if I could perhaps see 'myself' smoking in game? (we can all dream) _____________________ * Politeness is priceless when received, cost nothing to own or give, yet many cannot afford - Why do you only see typo's AFTER you have clicked submit? http://www.wba-advertising.com http://www.nex-core-mm.com http://www.eml-entertainments.com http://www.v-innovate.com
Professor Maertens Registered User Join date: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 15	08-21-2007 02:42 Great idea. I too am a RL cigar smoker. The existing cigars and cigar animations leave much to be desired. I have had great fun offering friends free cigars from the ones that are available. My wish list if you had a shop like this would be: Cigars with bands that look like major Cuban marcas, e.g. Cohiba, Partagas Elaborate ash trays and humidors Ability to offer friends a cigar from a box Ability to put a box of cigars out in my home and for friends to help themselves A cigar lighting animation Weekly cigar Sit Down and discussion I hope that you will pursue this.
Jesseaitui Petion king of polynesia :P Join date: 2 Jan 2006 Posts: 2,175	08-21-2007 03:35 Also, I suggest checking out this cigarette just to get an idea of something GOOD that is out there. It is very animated and realistic. Signs on SL to get info Creator name: Johnny Mann Product name: JM Cigarettes _____________________ a i t u i // Tattoo & Fashion House http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aitui/127/128/41
Angelique LaFollette Registered User Join date: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1,595	08-21-2007 21:31 From: Porky Gorky If Foxy's Smoke Shop is the market leader then Your best bet is to visit them and then do things diferently, offer an alternative. Allot of smoking parafanalia i've seen in SL has been related to cannabis, so you 'olde worlde' approach may be original, you need to check out your competition. That would be Hard, i host one of foxy's shops on my property (Witht the proviso that i did NOT want any of the Cannabis Parafernalia sold there) and her shop features a Huge number of smoking materials, and related objects. There is definately a Niche, But it is occupied at the moment by a very talented lady, with a Diverse Menu of sales items. You will have to be REALLY Good, or REALLY Different to Carve out your own Part of the market. It's Not Impossible to do, but be aware, you are a late starter, and the front Runner is Good. Angel.
Jesseaitui Petion king of polynesia :P Join date: 2 Jan 2006 Posts: 2,175	08-21-2007 21:47 Balogna. I say go for it to the OP, look how many people are making things every other person is making already and they all have their own little following, theres always going to be a crowd who is going to refuse to shop at so and sos shop for whatever reason and opt to shop at your store even if the "runner up" is supposedly better than you. _____________________ a i t u i // Tattoo & Fashion House http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aitui/127/128/41
Alliez Mysterio Registered User Join date: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 230	08-21-2007 21:57 Don't forget It's a Boy, It's a Girl cigars...Great for new Dad's to pass out. Wedding cigars, the ideas are endless. Wish you the very best in your new venture~
Tod69 Talamasca The Human Tripod ;) Join date: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 4,107	08-21-2007 22:04 Mmmmmmm..... Partagas, CIO, Romeo Y Julieta....... This discussion is making me drool!! I miss cigars. Dont smoke 'em like I used to, but I indulge every so often. There was a local cigar shop around here that has famous cigar makers come in & show how they do it. Quite interesting to watch. Hard to master. And hand-rolled cigars beat machine made anyday!! Just dont sell any White Owls. BLECH!!! _____________________ really pissy & mean right now and NOT happy with Life.
Angelique LaFollette Registered User Join date: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1,595	08-21-2007 22:30 Can you legally Sell Cuban Cigars in SL, or will Big brother step in on that like Gambling? Angel.
Avacea Fasching Certified Join date: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 481	08-21-2007 22:40 I want to smoke, send me a landmark _____________________ post spelling was checked using - Speak & Spell
Maklin Deckard Disillusioned Join date: 9 Apr 2005 Posts: 459	08-22-2007 08:54 From: Angelique LaFollette There is definately a Niche, But it is occupied at the moment by a very talented lady, with a Diverse Menu of sales items. You will have to be REALLY Good, or REALLY Different to Carve out your own Part of the market. It's Not Impossible to do, but be aware, you are a late starter, and the front Runner is Good. Angel. Don't discourage the guy too much. I've been in the game 2+ yrs and never heard of this person or their store(s). If I were searching through the list, I would visit more than one place before buying (I don't go by traffic or number of outlets at all), so he'd have as good a shot of my cash as Foxy, as long as his items were good quality. PLUS if she sells ANY drug-related merchandise, I WON'T patronize her shop, period. There's room, even in 'niche' markets.... Its more a matter of quality of the items and building a following than being the first / a frontrunner. I make steampunk / victorian items....I'm not the biggest by any benchmark (definitely not in the same class as Ordinal and others), but I have repeat customers and I pay my entire tier (stores, home, vanity build) and have money left over to buy basically what I wish ingame. Do I make enough to cash-out...no, but fun money ingame...yep! As someone else suggested earlier in the thread, a tobacconist's shop would be great in one of the Caledon sims (I know a few people make pipes, humidors and such, including myself, but there is no centrallized one-stop location)....design it along the victorian era lines, do some period pipes, tobacco jars, humidors and such. You'd find a ready community for such items, and if it didn't pan out financially, a friendly and welcoming community in which to live! Maklin
Johnny Mann Registered User Join date: 1 Oct 2005 Posts: 202	03-09-2009 09:26 From: Jesseaitui Petion Also, I suggest checking out this cigarette just to get an idea of something GOOD that is out there. It is very animated and realistic. Signs on SL to get info Creator name: Johnny Mann Product name: JM Cigarettes Thanks for the comment I make great Cigars too! (along with bongs, pipes, etc) I will be revamping everything soon, right now i'm working on some skybox builds for fun.
Marianne McCann Feted Inner Child Join date: 23 Feb 2006 Posts: 7,145	03-09-2009 09:43 Year and a half, ya? _____________________ "There's nothing objectionable nor illegal in having a child-like avatar in itself and we must assume innocence until proof of the contrary." - Lewis PR Linden "If you find children offensive, you're gonna have trouble in this world " - Prospero Linden
Pie Serendipity Registered User Join date: 9 Feb 2009 Posts: 217	03-09-2009 09:52 From: Marianne McCann Year and a half, ya? And you are still not old enough to smoke, young lady! Pie (Stay out of this thread - danger of passive smoking )
Blot Brickworks The end of days Join date: 28 Oct 2006 Posts: 1,076	03-09-2009 10:12 I,ve been selling cuban cigars in a box for a few months, from my main place and a store in caladon.Get a few sales a week and more on Xstreet.So some people like cigars,I always have one on the go.LOL _____________________ Blots Plot @ THE OLD MERMAID INN http://slurl.com/secondlife/Dunbeath /206/85/26 http://phillplasma.com/2009/05/01/blots-plot-the-old-mermaid-inn/
Amaranthim Talon Voyager, Seeker, Curious Join date: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 12,032	03-09-2009 11:12 It almost catches me - never seen the original post before.. Well I guess this means it did catch me- since here i am posting... Oh and whaddayaknow? I have relevant comment too! Regards the thing about making it a smoke it once then need a new one- I "bought" a free coconut drink the other day that wd only work once and for x amount of mintues- long enough to take a pic next to a tiki or something. _____________________ "Yield to temptation. It may not pass your way again. " Robert A. Heinlein http://talonfaire.blogspot.com/ Visit Talon Faire Main: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Misto%20Presto/216/21/155- Main Store XStreets: http://tinyurl.com/6r7ayn
Czari Zenovka I've Had it With "PC"! Join date: 3 May 2007 Posts: 3,688	03-09-2009 14:40 From: FD Spark Not that we need more clubs but I am amazed no one has come up with Cigar smoking club or even very stylist Cigar smoking fetish escort service. Not sure if there be demand for it. But its a idea. Think you might get more fun if it was happening club of people sipping brandy and smoking cigars, having interesting conversations and listening to good live music but not sure how you could make money at it. Maybe if you sold a long with it well made products relating to Cigar themes. It could help. But lot of people even virtually seem to be anti-smoking. It wasn't an escort service, but the first job I had in SL was a "Cigar Girl" at a vintage 1940's dance club called The Paradise Ballroom. The build was so authentic - the club was in the "airplane hangar" because the "Officer's Club" had been bombed. What was left of the Officer's Club was a few steps away from the hangar, complete with a working Mah-Jong set and vintage photos from WWII. The club played vintage 1940's jazz (as well as other themed events) and hired Cigar Girls reminiscent of the WWII cantinas. We (Cigar Girls) mingled with the patrons, offered cigars (obtained by the patron clicking on the tray); offered drinks, made small talk and were basically the "hostessess" but "in character." This club was extremely popular every night of the week and unfortunately closed due to a RL situation. I think the idea of a cigar or tobacconist shop could work with perhaps a social element thrown in. I say go for it And if you need a Cigar Girl on opening day....I still have my outfit grins ETA: Gah! Didn't realize this was a necropost! Oh well...still like the idea and still have my Cig Girl outfit if anyone needs one for a gig.

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A cigar shop, A potential niche success?