Green Movement closes Humidors

[TonyG]

My wife was at the local Loblaws (large grocery chain here in Ontario Canada) and called with a question or two. After dealing with that, I asked if she would mind dropping by the smoke shop at Loblaws and pick up a couple of sticks for me. I gave her my list of preferences. She called a few minutes later to let me know that the shop was going out of business and no, there were no sales to take advantage of.

Given the new anti-smoking laws in Ontario and the ban on displaying any tobacco product for sale in stores I thought that perhaps this closing was related in some way. It turns out that the owner of Loblaws, Gaylon Weston has become smitten with the "green" bug and decided to be a good corporate citizen with regards to our environment. And so, he has chosen to close all his cigarette and cigar humidors.

My lord, I fear the day will be soon upon us where cigar smoking will be politically incorrect and legislated as anti environment.

In many ways, Mr. Weston's decision will not affect me personally that much as I order online from the USA due to the huge savings. However, once in a while, I enjoy dropping by and grabbing a few items that are not available online. Just some daily smokes.

I got to win the lottery and move to the US.

 

[ironpeddler]

If you sat in on their Corporate meetings, I would venture a guess that "Going Green" had little to do with them removing tobacco products from their stores. That was the 'feel good' answer to a business decision.

There probably was very little profit in that area for them, coupled with the constant liability of selling cigarettes to minors (fines)...cigars got caught up in that paranoia stream. Mr. Weston is trying to maximize his profits per-square-foot and traditionally tobacco doesn't compare to other food, dry goods, and drug items. Keep an eye out for what they put in that area, that will tell you more about this story than speculation will.

Have your wife go in there and suggest they continue with this decision and install a booth where they can hand out leaflets to their shoppers with suggestions on how to "Go Green"....as apposed to installing an area where they will peddle today's baked goods specials, bouquets of flowers, or an expansion to their drug store!

Now, the real problem with Loblaws decision is that some Politician or Tree Hugger group will read that, think it's another good idea to cleanse the Earth (and get votes) and cram it down every citizens throat by telling the populous they know what's better for us than we do!...and they will use that food chain's decision as a shining example for others to follow.

That's the scary part!

If you repeat the lie enough, the lie becomes reality....

 

[Marco-Polo]

I'd tend to agree with ironpeddler. I doubt that he can charge a penny of shelvage for humidor space, it costs money to operate, and cigars are neither a big cash generator nor a driver bringing feet through the door. Spinning it as a health decision just gets some free press, and Galen Weston is the last person in the world that you'd accuse of being opposed to free press. Loblaws uses some fairly sophisticated market research (I know the company that does analytical work for them, in downtown T.O.) and it was likely part of their regular line review process.

I miss my old Loblaws at Centerpoint (Yonge & Steeles). And I used to walk the the one at Billings Bridge in Ottawa with my grandparents, when I was very very young. It's part of being an expat, I guess.

 

[TonyG]

Good points to consider Ironpeddler. I would never have thought of those things on my own. Not surprising given my line of work.

I failed to mention that I had a conversation with one of the humidor employee's on the day of the closing. I asked if sales were a problem given the new anti smoking laws. She responded that their sales were strong as ever (for cigars anyway). The entire inventory was to be shipped to another grocery retailer in the region.

Oh well, so now I will scout out other humidors. Not necessarily a bad thing. The convenience will be the biggest issue as this place used to be just a few minutes away from my home.