So I have long been thinking about monthly cigar clubs. There have been a few times that I had considered starting one. I think they are beneficial for both the online store (recurring monthly revenue is always a plus), but they are also beneficial for members (monthly cigars picked for you, usually at a discount, and it’s a fun surprise).
The issue lies in that there are SO many monthly cigar clubs out there. Unfortunately I think that most of them are subpar, however, there are certainly some of them that really nail it! The problem for me has been: how do you create a club that provides value and sets itself apart from the clubs that already do a great job? This is a harder task as a micro retailer (me) who doesn’t have a super extensive customer list or inventory (yet..).
I have an offer in mind that I think solves that problem, and provides a generous out for members that feel otherwise. However, I’d like some advice from you:
What do you, or would you, look for in a monthly cigar subscription?
I have some goals I would like to hit before diving more in depth to this, but I want to be prepared and continue to hone my proposed offer.
As for today’s smoke, I forgot to snap a picture, but I smoked a Tatuaje Black Petit Robusto from the Short Smokes Sampler. This is quite possibly my favorite Tatuaje.. The blend smokes wonderfully in this format. It isn’t overpowering, nor mellow. It isn’t overly complex, nor a “one note song”. Always a pleasure!
Take care,
-Trevor
14 comments
The obvious thing is value. I’d rather have something that has X equal value cigars as opposed to one great cigar and then filler. Of any place, I’d trust you the most to have a good subscription.
Other than value, “themed” months might be cool. Short smokes in the winter, maybe a month with undervalued sticks, that could be a pain to have to figure out every month though. Lol
I appreciate a club that sends new release cigars so that I can try one before I commit to a fiver or box.
Hey Trevor, I might not be the target audience here, but I think you’re right that there are too many monthly subscriptions. I would actually rather see an annual subscription, like 2-3 sends per year, based on some flavor profile. For example, once every 4 months I get a box that has 5 cigars of varying quality based on, say, CT wrappers. Then give them a few weeks to rest before exploring the profile. WOuld be neat to be able to compare notes with other smokers, but that could be a lot for the site. If SS is the main buyer right now, they could be a test audience.
Also, 2-3 times per year gives you time to curate a collection.
So it might be neat to explore profiles, or explore brands, etc.
Also 2-3 times per year would keep the cost down, and you could send out a quick offer just before sending so they could add on additional smokes in the package (that would keep shipping costs lower, too, b/c of sending fewer sends)
Again, I’m probably not the target market here, but just a thought.
Good luck
I have never subscribed to any subscriptions because I find they either center around “hard to find” cigars, or throwaways that are not selling.
That being said, I think a “new releases” sampler, offered at a good price/discount could be encouraging for trying new cigars hitting the market.
Obviously this is a smaller use case for the size of your operation, but you could still pull it off.
~ Jonathan Simon