Page 2 - LPG May 2018 Newsletter

2 LPG News April 2018
Luxury Products Group
CIGARS AND SALES — IT’S NOT JUST SMALL TALK!
Ilike cigars And obviously showrooms showrooms are my passion So it’s pretty cool that some candid straight talk on sales strategy from a a a a a a a a a a a a well-known cigar maker
can can translate into our world of luxury showrooms!
I thought about making a a a a a a a a a a a a a bold witty claim in in in in this headline Something like “How Cigars Can Make Your Salespeople Better ” But that’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a very dif cult proposition to measure and and prove And then there’s all that that concern about second-hand smoke But I digress As As I I I was initially scanning LinkedIn posts to to get ideas for this this column I I I came across a a a a a a a a a a a a a a quote that hit me me me me like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a ton of of bricks — or or or in in in in in this this case cigars As As Alan Rubino of of Alex Bradley Cigars described “My biggest competitor isn’t strictly someone someone who who makes makes makes a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a better cigar cigar cigar cigar It’s someone someone who who makes makes makes a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a terrible cigar cigar cigar and either shrinks the the market or or makes makes makes people less willing to to try new cigars ” Two things happened when I I I initially read that My rst reaction was “Awesome! I I I can nally write about cigars!” And second I I I realized the parallels of this concept with luxury bath and kitchen showrooms For the the record I I I never minded when I I I saw a a a a a a a a a a competitor putting up
a a a a a a a a a a new beautiful showroom It gave me me an an an opportunity to to to learn from them change direction if if needed and sharpen my competitive tools What did frustrate me me were all all all the the “slat wall showrooms showrooms ” which is is what I I call outdated showrooms showrooms that have have dusty displays bad lighting and and poorly trained staff These operations can do great damage and and have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a negative impact on on on the future — not just on on on my showroom showroom but all showrooms So at at at rst glance reading Rubino’s quote I thought about all all the the showrooms that that aren’t really committed to to to the the business and and that that cause poor shopping experiences But this issue isn’t con ned to to to to slat wall showrooms showrooms Lousy customer service can happen at at at at swanky-looking sleek and and modern showrooms showrooms too I once visited a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cutting-edge showroom showroom showroom in in in in in in in Manhattan with two of my colleagues We spent 45 minutes strolling around taking photos and testing products before someone