Rocky Patel partnership with EO brands

[LiLo]

Hey guys, just registered when I saw this post. Even though I just registered and haven't posted before, this is one of the boards I check often to keep tabs on what you guys are chatting about..

This is definetely a communication error, you can tell the rep who started the rumor, Eddie says he is seriously mistaken.

All EOBrands currently in the market, will continue to be manufactured by Pepin and his family at their Nicaraguan factory in Esteli. The only 2 major changes, will be;

1. The repackaging of the 601 lines, the changes are mainly attributed to requests by retailers in order to better accomodate shelf space. Even though the packaging will change, all blends will remain intact....repeat, the blends will not change.

2. The greatest change will occur at the retail level. We have signifacantly reduced all the prices on the EOBrands (601,Cubao and Murcielago) by a substantial amount of $2 to $3 dollars per stick.

That's it for now, but now that I've registered will try and keep you guys up to date on anything else going on.

-Eddie Ortega / EOBrands

wow, huge thanks for clearing that up. Thats wonderful news! made my day!

 

[WMGF]

Hey guys, just registered when I saw this post. Even though I just registered and haven't posted before, this is one of the boards I check often to keep tabs on what you guys are chatting about..

This is definetely a communication error, you can tell the rep who started the rumor, Eddie says he is seriously mistaken.

All EOBrands currently in the market, will continue to be manufactured by Pepin and his family at their Nicaraguan factory in Esteli. The only 2 major changes, will be;

1. The repackaging of the 601 lines, the changes are mainly attributed to requests by retailers in order to better accomodate shelf space. Even though the packaging will change, all blends will remain intact....repeat, the blends will not change.

2. The greatest change will occur at the retail level. We have signifacantly reduced all the prices on the EOBrands (601,Cubao and Murcielago) by a substantial amount of $2 to $3 dollars per stick.

That's it for now, but now that I've registered will try and keep you guys up to date on anything else going on.

-Eddie Ortega / EOBrands

Oh good news! I was worried that Rocky might take that whole 601 Green/Red/Blue thing literally and start the dye machines. As long as it's just the prices lowering this is good news.

Thanks for clearing that up, welcome to BOTL!

 

[indyrob]

That's really cool of you to clear that up Eddie.

 

[eddieortega]

Are you kidding?....when I saw this post I was petrofied..... Just wanted to make sure I corrected the mistake.

BTW Thank you guys for the support, great to know people enjoy our products. My word, not changes in manufacturing or blends.

-Eddie

 

[indyrob]

Sweet. I was just going through old threads of mine looking for something else and here's my 2007 thread about the 601's.

[ame="http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=11398"]http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=11398[/ame]

We've been fans for a while Eddie, I'm sure we're not going to drop the 601's out of rotation.

 

[duwan]

I love the 601 green and the Cubaos. I will continue to smoke them unless their quality drops down to Rocky Patels level, then I just won't buy any more. Its as simple as that.

 

[weskimad]

Thanks Eddie, and welcome aboard. I'm a big fan of 601 Red, and the 601 Greens are my absolute Favorite sticks.

Best of luck.

 

[njstone]

RP did EO's stuff pre-Pepin (REO and Vibe).

If Pepin is still making the stuff he made for EO before, there shouldn't be problems. I certainly HOPE this is true ... since the EO Brand is probably in my Top 5 cigar manufacturers!

As far as "packaging," I think you'll see most manufacturers changing to the Tatuaje/Illusione "cube" style to save retailers shelf space.

 

[Soundwave13]

Thank you for clearing that up Eddie!

 

[tandblov]

I'll wait and see. When will Placencia take over manufacture of 601? I can't imagine Pepin staying in any business relationship with RP after existing contractual obligations are met. Brand consolidation has never resulted in a product that didn't change.

I am also interested in what packaging changes will take place to benefit retailers.

 

[tmoney2007]

I'll wait and see. When will Placencia take over manufacture of 601? I can't imagine Pepin staying in any business relationship with RP after existing contractual obligations are met. Brand consolidation has never resulted in a product that didn't change.

I am also interested in what packaging changes will take place to benefit retailers.

I feel the same way. Hacking $3 off of a smoke is a big deal. Gotta wonder if the same quality tobacco and rollers will be used when you take away a chunk of the profits.

Knowing that Rocky doesn't pay more than $0.50/stick usually and Pepin has been known to use wrappers that are $0.30+ a piece, they seem like opposing theologies.

I'll reserve judgment until there is actual evidence, but Pepin and Rocky don't seem to mix...

 

[eddieortega]

You guys have to take something into consideration.

Although Rocky is now part of our company and will be distributing our brands, and Pepin is the manufacturer, they are our brands.

They are the brands everyone has come to know as Eddie's and Erik's not anyone else's. We will continue to market; promote and sell these brands.

The minute we compromise in any way, shape or form the quality of these brands which, we have worked so hard to develop, we are screwed.

We've been in the business long enough and have developed very close relationships with just about anyone you can imagine in the cigar business.

We are approached on a regular basis by smaller manufacturers who can make cigars for us a lot cheaper, the EO21 bundle is a good example, is inexpensive and a decent cigar. Most of the time, the EO21 is on back order because the wrapper is sometimes hard to get, we don't care, we wait for the wrapper or we don't make it.

You might not know it, but there is an abundance of inexpensive cigars out there, but we're not a branding machine, we'd rather continue making great premium cigars at affordable prices, cigars we can put our EOBrand name on.

PS. sorry for the pep-talk, and good night to all..

-Eddie

 

[Clay RP]

Dear friends: Just to follow up on what both Eddie and Erik stated... EO brands (601, Murcielago, Cubao) will continue to be produced by Pepin. The quality of EO Brands (leaf) will not be compromised in any way.

What this new partnership allows for is signifigantly reduced prices for the consumer, ease of ordering for the retailer, and overall greater market presence of the EO Brands line. Rocky, Eddie and Erik are all longtime friends. We are all family. The RP family looks forward to supporting the marketing growth of EO Brands, while maintaining its integrity, as well as uniqueness. With kind regards - C. Roberts - VP Marketing and Media - Rocky Patel Premium Cigars & EO Brands - Bonita Springs, Florida.

 

[Clay RP]

Just to add: With the ebb and flow of the current cigar industry, RP's extensive distribution channels will allow EO Brands to be introduced to new markets in North American and beyond. In turn, this will allow EO Brands to flourish, rather than flounder, in a sluggish economy. Furthermore, Eddie and Erik have a dedicated in-house team to support them all the way to the top. Personally, I am very excited about this partnership, with nothing but respect for what EO Brands have accomplished to date. -The best to all of you -C. Roberts.

 

[strife]

Thanks to both of you for clearing this up. The 601 Oscuro is in my "must have on hand" list.

 

[Padron_26_64_4_Me]

I am confused. My initial response it go out and buy up all of the Box Press 601's I can afford. Then Eddie comes on and says nothing is changing. Then, not having fallen off the pumpkin truck my spidey senses are telling me that there is no way under the sun that RP can drop the prices not to mention partner with Pepin.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

We'll have to see how this one plays out.

 

[benday]

I am also confused by this merge...things don't get cheaper in this economy without losing something...glad to see the market opening up for eo brands though...love the sticks.

 

[strife]

The savings in marketing and distribution is passed on to the consumer. It's really simple especially in this economy where a few bucks saved by the consumer is more valuable to the future of a company than raising quarterly earnings.

 

[benday]

The savings in marketing and distribution is passed on to the consumer. It's really simple especially in this economy where a few bucks saved by the consumer is more valuable to the future of a company than raising quarterly earnings.

i understand marketing as that is what i do...but a change in marketing and distribution rarely drops the price of a product 30-50%

don't get me wrong, i love eo brand products...hunted night and day for a box of murcielago's. i know eo is doing what it needs to better serve it's market and stay afloat. i just get commonly concerned with mergers...

rocky patel isn't the devil either, i would be just as concerned if the beloved tatuaje made the merge with eo.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Eddie, thanks for clearing things up. It was a pleasure meeting you at the SC Sitdown this year. I'm a huge fan of the 601 Red.