El Cedro Cigars

Many great companies began with a simple idea, or concept. Sometimes it starts because you were introduced into the business or lifestyle. Anwar Elboustani a sailor station abroad traveling the world has smoked all kinds of cigars in many countries. After years serving his country in the U.S. Navy, and falling in love with the cigar and its culture, he told his fellow brothers at arms that he will one day start a cigar company. His number one reason for starting El Cedro Cigars is to give back to the men and women serving our country. Time passed and he came home to work on his dream.

In 2003 Anwar decided to pursue a career in the cigar culture, while maintaining a 9 to 5. In 2010 Anwar took another leap of good faith and decided to go after his dream full time in 2010. After several master rollers turned him down, not wanting to work with a new company, due to all kinds of reasons he continued to push forward. As fate would have it, he continued to knock on doors until he met Hendrik Kelner (Henke) from Davidoff. He too turned Anwar down but, Hendrik seen the passion Anwar has for the culture. So he referred Anwar to his son Hendrik Kelner Jr. Owner of Kelner Boutique Factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

 

As all of us embark on a new journey in this new year, we really don't know what the next twelve months has installed for us. With continuous hard work and believing in yourself, your idea, product, and or service, that vision will come to exist. Don't be afraid to hear ideas or positive constructive criticism from others because they envisioned your idea somewhere that you haven't seen yet. That's always a good thing. As you invest time and energy into whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish, your idea will go through many changes and accept the ones that will enhance your goal and objective. Don't be afraid to push forward, if you believe then others will believe as well. Anwar Elboustani President of El Cedro Cigars is prime a example. www.elcedrocigars.com

by:

Victor Hernandez
Founder
CITY CIGAR LIFE



 

Tug-A-War

Cigar lounges, and Cigar brands what new marketing strategies have you set in place to change the look of your "Bodega". As business owners what have you done to   maintain and gain new customers. Team CITY CIGAR LIFE has mentioned before that the business is not the cigar you sell, but the experience that you create with the cigar, the customer, and building relationships. In today's society its important that you build with your competitors. Businesses can no longer afford to play Tug-A-War.

 

Remember that game two groups or two individuals pulling a single rope to try and throw the other into water, mud, or in this case lost of your business and revenue. If you break it down both are exhausting all their strength and power to over throw the other to win. In business there is no time to waste or strength and power to lose. Team CITY CIGAR LIFE understands that business is competition, but playing this game of Tug-A-War you can lose your business. You didn't go into this business to lose, right.

 

Fostering relationships is key to any business. What I mean for example, If you are a new cigar lounge and you want to carry a certain cigar brand, but the rep doesn't really want his brand cigar in a new lounge. There is a possibility that cigar lounge across town can assist in that negotiation. Now, how you develop that relationship, with competitors is hard and tricky. But real business men and women understands that business dealings is not always the exchange of money, its key nevertheless. Business is the human interaction that comes in a form of a handshake, the smile, effective communication - communicating an idea. Lets not forget your store front, the place where your customers will go and spend their hard earn cash.

 

Regardless if you are a cigar lounge, cigar brand, or cigar factory, you must think of your business as the local "Bodega". Bodega is Spanish for store and "Bodegero" is the person running the day to day operations. The local Bodega is in the heart of their customer base. Selling only what the customer needs. The Bodegeros are masters of marketing rule 101. Which states: find what the customer wants and give that to them. In short, don't just think of yourself as a cigar lounge but the local Bodega and become that Bodegero.

Affectionately

CITY CIGAR LIFE
LIFE IS GOOD, LIFE IS GREAT

CITY CIGAR LIFE Introduces The Habano² by the XIKAR FAMILY

CIGAR LOVERS & ENTHUSIAST We at Team CITY CIGAR LIFE are constantly informing through Twitter, about excellent cigars, and where to find them. In 2013 the motto is "LIFE IS GOOD, LIFE IS GREAT", the mission for Team CITY CIGAR LIFE is to go out and find great cigars and build relationships that will catapult both parties into a win win business situation. Team CITY CIGAR LIFE can't stress enough that all cigar brands, lounges, factories must work together and work with industries outside the circumference of the cigar culture. I light my cigar with an XIKAR lighter, oblivious to the fact that they produced a brand cigar called The Habano².

 

 

Along with new accessories, XIKAR also introduced a new blend to the HC Series line of cigars in 2012. The Habano² is a medium to full body cigar made utilizing Sumatran, Nicaraguan and Honduran tobacco, all pulled together with a rich Habano2000 wrapper. It’s a rich, thick, deep, cigar with the flavor of roasted almonds, hints of spices, wood and nutmeg. Additionally, this cigar is box-pressed which provides a fresh look and comfortable feel for a more enjoyable smoke. This new blend is offered in Robusto, Toro, Belicoso and Grande sizes.

 

The XIKAR INC family can be followed on Twitter at @XIKARINC. There website www.xikar.com.

 

Affectionately,

 

CITY CIGAR LIFE

LIFE IS GOOD, LIFE IS GREAT

 

 

 



CITY CIGAR LIFE on FREE BOY GEORGE MOVEMENT

In the 1980s a man name George Rivera aka Boy George, was convicted of Tax Evasion and Heroin distribution. During the times of the Rockefeller Drug Laws. Which basically gave-out harsh jail sentences. Requiring judges to impose a sentence of 15-years to life for anyone convicted of selling two (2) ounces, or possessing four ounces of "narcotic drug" (typically cocaine or heroin). You can argue the fact, yes let them rot in jail for violating the law. The George Rivera story can be googled or by reading the book RANDOM FAMILY by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, or by http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/971/876/71834/ . But lets take a look at the Bronx.



FALSAS PROMESAS - BROKEN PROMISES

 

 

 

The Bronx during the 1980s was a war zone. Just from the three images you can see the abandon buildings, and the messages on the wall that say FALSAS PROMESAS - BROKEN PROMISES. I clearly remember the Bronx nickname was, THE BURNT DOWN BRONX. On every street/block was either an abandon or burnt down building. So what is a young man to do when he is faced with so much suffrage. Team CITY CIGAR LIFE is not here to justify the actions that Mr. Rivera took. But, don't we say; we are a product of over environment, or that only refers to when an individual (s) that are successful that comes out from the hood. This was a time where there was no or little social programs available in the communities. There was nothing to look forward to during these days. Try waking up everyday to go to school and all you see is dirt yards, drug dealers in your park where it supposed to be a safe haven.

George Rivera was convicted and served 22 years out of a 25 to life sentence. And was sent to a maxium security federal prison. But the real story is that Mr. Rivera is serving his time in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. Meaning that he is locked in his cell for 23 hours a day, and is given 1 hour for recreation - that 1 hour is spent in another cell, and its been like this for the entire 22 years. The federal justice system maintains that Mr. Rivera is a danger to society. Which society, because the one he knew is long gone and lots of advances have taken place since his incarceration. For example, social, technological, environmental, economical, all have advanced since 1980s. Mr. Rivera don't know how to use a cell phone, Twitter, Facebook, email, even the MTA has improved since the 1980s. The Rockefeller Drug Laws was enacted to fight the drug wars targeted at a specific group of people.

 

According to the Partnership for Responsible Drug Information (PRDI), the Rockefeller Drug Laws was supposed to deter anyone from using or selling drugs. By invoking such a law that anyone convicted would face severe punishment. As stated earlier in this blog, judges were required to impose a 15year to life sentence if convicted of selling 2 ounces or possessing 4 ounces cocaine/heroin. In 1979 legislature increased the amount of drugs needed to trigger the 15year to life sentence. Then came 1988 a Major concern for Crack, they lowered the amount of weight to arrest and prosecute people.

• Between 1980 and 1992, New York's prison population has tripled from about 20,000 to almost 62,000 (in 1973 the state's prison population was approximately 10,000).

• The State Assembly's Ways and Means Committee projects that the State prison population will grow to 71,300 by the end of the 1998-99 fiscal year, and to 73,100 by the end of 2001-02.
• As a consequence, the NYS prison population has changed from one in which 9% were serving time for drug felonies (1980) to 32.2% (1997).
• As of December 31, 1997, there were 8,880 drug offenders in NYS prisons under the Rockefeller Drug Laws. According the Correctional Association of New York, it costs an estimated $265 million dollars to pay for these prisoners to be incarcerated.
• In 1997, whites constituted 5.3 percent of the total population of drug felons currently in prison in New York; blacks and Latinos constituted 94.2 percent.
• Among whites committed to prison in 1994, 16% were convicted of a drug offense, among blacks 45% were committed for a drug offense, and among Latinos 59% were committed for a drug offense.
• As of 1996, Blacks and Latinos made up 23% of the state's general population, but constituted over 85% of the people indicted for drug felonies, and 85% of its overall prison population.

For more information on the FREE BOY GEORGE MOVEMENT, follow @Boy007George on Twitter. The Rockefeller Drug Laws are unjust and so is SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

Affectionately
CITY CIGAR LIFE
Life Is Good, Life Is Great.



CITY CIGAR LIFE Brings you the XIKAR FAMILY

We at CITY CIGAR LIFE want to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and a prosperous one filled with good health, and lots of good fortune.

 

Cigar brands and lovers of the cigar culture, as we embark in a new year, new journey, take a few minutes and think about how was Business in 2012. Many of you may think of sales, but aside from sales. What connections did you make in 2012 that the outcome was a win - win situation. We all righteously believe that our brand (s) is better than the next, and rightfully so to believe that. But there is a human interaction that we must respect and follow. We are in a culture that the phrase "six degrees of separation" is very true. The idea that everyone is approximately six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction is powerful, and with that power this lucrative cigar culture too can WIN.

 

Team CITY CIGAR LIFE reached out to XIKAR INC. and explained what this blog was about and what we are trying to accomplish. XIKAR gladly said "we love it, we on board". You might say, you are promoting their product (s). The answer is YES. THIS IS A WIN - WIN SITUATION.

 

XIKAR INC. can be followed on Twitter: @XIKARinc, there website: www.xikar.com. You can also follow on Twitter: Mike @XikarMike; Kurt Van keppel @XIKARVK; Chris Geisert @XikarChris; Alan Gold @XikarAlan.

 

 

Affectionately,

CITY CIGAR LIFE

Life Is Good, Life Is Great.

 

 

 

 

TECH FAMILY

 

Following the success of the single flame Tech lighter, featuring a clear body, large fuel tank and over sized adjustment wheel, XIKAR expanded this collection and now offers this lighter in double and triple jet flame styles.  Now cigar aficionados can get the same dependable performance in multiple flames.

The Tech Lighter is know for its large, transparent fuel tank in blue, black or clear. This makes it extremely easy to see when you need to refill your lighter, which will be a lot less often due to its size.

VITARA & PULSAR

 XIKAR has also expanded its lighter collection with the sleek double flame Vitara and the powerful Pulsar triple flame lighter. The Vitara is a solid double jet flame with a slide action trigger and built-in 7mm punch.  The Pulsar is a sophisticated triple jet flame lighter with a side squeeze ignition and a built-in 7mm punch. Both new lighters are available in a wide array of finishes including the new G2. G2 is XIKAR’s new finish that is dark, sleek and completely gunmetal.

 

 

CITY CIGAR LIFE Support Small Businesses

As cigar lovers it's important that we not only support major cigar brands, but that we support the small mom & pop shops as well like ROSARIO CIGARS. We as consumers of the cigar industry, we tend to go where its "happening", or buy a certain cigar because of the brand name, rightfully so. Today, we are going to change that by introducing you to ROSARIO CIGARS.

ROSARIO CIGARS located at 323 East Gun Hill Road, Bronx NY (718) 798-6769. They have no marketing machine behind them. They don't have reps all over the country. They may not have prominent individuals purchasing cigars. What they have is HEART, and DETERMINATION. What they also have is key to all businesses, and that is marketing rule 101; Find what the customer wants and give that to them; QUALITY CIGARS!

Affectionately,
CITY CIGAR LIFE
Life is Good, Life is Great.

CITY CIGAR LIFE Brings Holiday Spirits

Its December 20, 2012, 5 days before Christmas, the day we exchange love, smiles, and good spirits. Last night at CIGARINN, they hosted their annual Holiday Party. The CIGARINN brothers Billy, Bass, and Gus genuinely showing their guests love and appreciation. Today, the CIGARINN brothers must be soaking in the tub with all the moving and shaking they was doing. It was a packed house. Everyone in good spirits and feeling great that a new year is quickly approaching.

CITY CIGAR LIFE has attended many holiday parties, but nothing can compare to last nights CIGARINN's party. Last night you can feel the love flowing like the cigar smoke, in the air. The DJ rocking excellent 80's R&B and Hip Hop, with a little of todays Top 40.

It was great to see Mike from CIGAR EVENTS. Should you need to know any cigar events in America, follow @cigarevents (twitter). Another great individual is Kevin Bristow a gentleman with style and finess.

CIGARINN should be a studied project for any college students studying Business Marketing. They have built and continue to build, what marketers call; LIFE TIME CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP. CITY CIGAR LIFE highly encourages new business marketers, and new cigar enthusiast to get to know CIGARINN.

Happy Holidays
CITY CIGAR LIFE
LIFE IS GOOD, LIFE IS GREAT