"Women Help Ignite a Cigar Boom"

Friday, December 14, 2007

WHEN Eric Shore of Manhasset makes his Saturday cigar runs, a weekly ritual for more than 10 years, he notices that things have changed.

"Many more people are buying cigars," he said, "and a growing number of them are women."

The Times' article published today was originally published by Susan Konig on January 7, 1996.

My excitement with this editorial was a result of a confirmation that a "resurgence of the resurgence" of the Cigar truly exists, as evidenced by the recirculation of this morning's article in The New York Times!

Now we all know that what is spoken by The New York Times is gold, so when the email publication hit my inbox this morning, I squealed with delight.....

Cigar Women of the World Unite -
We hit The New York Times Again!

As far back as 1996 when this article's first publication hit the stands, cigar sales were on a steady incline as quoted by Cigar Association of America President Norman Sharpe...

"Cigar sales rose 28 percent in the United States in 1994, according to the Cigar Association of America. More than 2 billion were sold to 10 million smokers, the trade group said.

"If you asked me two years ago how many people smoked cigars, I would have said only six or eight million," the association's president, Norman Sharp, said."

Also on a dramatic increase, according to 1996, was the cigar bar and cigar clubs. I found this acknowledgment to be even more encouraging. With the advent and the subsequent rise of social networking on the internet, cigar Kingpins and Queenpins have taken to the web waves to meet other enthusianados and aficionados to discuss, share and broaden their cigar experiences.

I would never in a million years steer way from the "Mom and Pop" Cigar Shop on Main Street USA, but the ability and convenience of the online cigar retailer has opened the playing field to a much wider audience. The Cigar culture is now open to flourish in ways that may not have been available in the past. Its online presence strengthens its position and assists the brick and mortar cigar shops by branding their names and introducing them to a global cigar community.

Online Cigar socials and networking are a "thing to do" now, such as Social Cigar.com , eherf.com, the CigarReview.com, Stogie Guys.com , and yours truly along with the CigarBar360.com.How to's, Cigar U's and CigarEncyclopedia.com are all resources available at a click of the mouse to the beginner enthusiast.

This is an exciting time for our culture and this Cigar Woman!  When it comes to camaraderie and companionship, a great cigar paves the way! Recognition of women cigar smokers is on the rise and is more readily acceptable today. Our likes, dislikes, and reviews are now being termed in the norm rather than as a behavior swept under the rug and resisted. Women cigar smoking spending habits are taken seriously, and cigar sales by women account for a large part of the steady increase in premium cigar revenue.

I've said this once, twice and I will say it again

"The cigar woman is the true Cigar Aficionada. She smokes for the relaxation and pleasure cigar smoking brings. She does not smoke cigars to be part of a "trend." The cigar woman is a strong, passionate, confident, ultra-successful woman. Unique and independent, with discriminating tastes, she lives life to the fullest."

amen...