What's the best-selling vitola?
- Thread starter heavyd
- Start date
gibbleguts
BoM april 09
I think a lot of it depends on your market. I know up until a few years ago at least the best selling cigar in the world was the Monte 4. Not sure that is still the case but think a lot of that came from the European market vs anywhere in north America.
thegoldenmackid
Why Can't I be a Lancero?
Believe it is still the Robusto that outsells any others.
Ive been pondering this same question as well.
This wouldn't surprise me, this is and always has been my go to size in cigars. The perfect smoking time for me. Not too short where you desire more and the cigar can't have enough time for a nice story of complexity; and not too long where your pallet starts losing effectiveness and or you get nic sick.
From a 2010 post on Cigar Geeks (referencing a link from CigarCyclopedia that is no longer available):
Cigar sales information:
Almost every store reported stocking handmade cigars (97%), but only 47% carried a private-labeled brand for their store.
Not surprisingly, 84% of stores had walk-in humidors, which averaged 407 sq.ft. Almost half of these were between 100-400 sq.ft. while 5% had walk-ins of more than 1,000 sq.ft.
The most popular taste profile? Medium-bodied cigars were the favorite of 57% of stores reporting, with 24% preferring full-bodied cigars and just 16% identifying mild-bodied cigars as most popular.
The best-selling size was a surprise: Toros (typically six inches by 50 ring) at 38%, followed closely by Robustos (5 x 50 or thereabouts) at 32% . . . thats 70% between the two. The next highest preference was for Churchills at 14% with no other size in double digits.
What do customers look for most? Flavor was the overwhelming choice at 43%, with price second at 26% . . . thats 69% in total. Brand image was third at 13% with no other choice higher than 9% (size).
Who is buying cigars? The largest group of buyers are aged 35-54, covering 84% of the total. Thats important, as 18-24-year-olds comprised just 2% of the total according to stores surveyed. Next time someone talks about kids and cigars . . . the truth is theyre barely involved in buying premium cigars.
The best-selling price ranges for cigars were $6-8 (46%), with $4-6 comprising 23% and $8-10 at $18%. Total sales percentage for cigars of $8 and up was about 25%.
Most tobacconists reported that in addition to cigars, they also carried pipes (36%), pipe tobacco (56%), cigar accessories, lighters, humidors and the like. Outside of tobacco-related products, soft drinks were the item most often carried (25%).
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And then from Wikipedia (Cigar):
Tuscan/Toscano - The typical Italian cigar, created in the early 19th century when Kentucky tobacco was hybridized with local varieties and used to create a long, tough, slim cigar thicker in the middle and tapered at the ends, with a very strong aroma. It is also known as a cheroot*, which is the largest selling cigar shape in the United States.
*The cheroot or stogie is a cylindrical cigar with both ends clipped during manufacture. Since cheroots do not taper, they are inexpensive to roll mechanically, and their low cost makes them particularly popular. Typically, stogies have a length of 3.5 to 6.5 inches, and a ring gauge of 34 to 37. (Ring gauge is a measure of diameter, scaled in 64ths of an inch. A stogie is slightly over 1/2" in diameter.)
Cigar sales information:
Almost every store reported stocking handmade cigars (97%), but only 47% carried a private-labeled brand for their store.
Not surprisingly, 84% of stores had walk-in humidors, which averaged 407 sq.ft. Almost half of these were between 100-400 sq.ft. while 5% had walk-ins of more than 1,000 sq.ft.
The most popular taste profile? Medium-bodied cigars were the favorite of 57% of stores reporting, with 24% preferring full-bodied cigars and just 16% identifying mild-bodied cigars as most popular.
The best-selling size was a surprise: Toros (typically six inches by 50 ring) at 38%, followed closely by Robustos (5 x 50 or thereabouts) at 32% . . . thats 70% between the two. The next highest preference was for Churchills at 14% with no other size in double digits.
What do customers look for most? Flavor was the overwhelming choice at 43%, with price second at 26% . . . thats 69% in total. Brand image was third at 13% with no other choice higher than 9% (size).
Who is buying cigars? The largest group of buyers are aged 35-54, covering 84% of the total. Thats important, as 18-24-year-olds comprised just 2% of the total according to stores surveyed. Next time someone talks about kids and cigars . . . the truth is theyre barely involved in buying premium cigars.
The best-selling price ranges for cigars were $6-8 (46%), with $4-6 comprising 23% and $8-10 at $18%. Total sales percentage for cigars of $8 and up was about 25%.
Most tobacconists reported that in addition to cigars, they also carried pipes (36%), pipe tobacco (56%), cigar accessories, lighters, humidors and the like. Outside of tobacco-related products, soft drinks were the item most often carried (25%).
------------------------------------------------------------------
And then from Wikipedia (Cigar):
Tuscan/Toscano - The typical Italian cigar, created in the early 19th century when Kentucky tobacco was hybridized with local varieties and used to create a long, tough, slim cigar thicker in the middle and tapered at the ends, with a very strong aroma. It is also known as a cheroot*, which is the largest selling cigar shape in the United States.
*The cheroot or stogie is a cylindrical cigar with both ends clipped during manufacture. Since cheroots do not taper, they are inexpensive to roll mechanically, and their low cost makes them particularly popular. Typically, stogies have a length of 3.5 to 6.5 inches, and a ring gauge of 34 to 37. (Ring gauge is a measure of diameter, scaled in 64ths of an inch. A stogie is slightly over 1/2" in diameter.)
I'm actually really surprised by the Toro being the most popular. But, I will admit, if I'm sitting down with a good amount of time to smoke, my favorite size is a Toro. Although, I stock my humi with Robustos.
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I prefer Toro, but been smoking more Robustos and CGs lately. I think those are the most popular until the weather gets nicer....
Me I prefer Corona or CG size. Doesn't suprize me that larger sizes sell better I think those sizes fit into what average people think a cigar is supposed to be. Think about it, everytime you see someone smoking cigar in historical photos, in the media it's always been the larger sizes.
Iconic pictures of Churchill and Fidel, The 80's action movies where the hero/villian seen enjoying big cigars. then Price figures into it as well. there usually isn't that big of a price difference from a corona to robusto so people naturally will go for more bang for thier buck. that's my .02
Iconic pictures of Churchill and Fidel, The 80's action movies where the hero/villian seen enjoying big cigars. then Price figures into it as well. there usually isn't that big of a price difference from a corona to robusto so people naturally will go for more bang for thier buck. that's my .02
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With this data it's not surprising that many manufactures are going to the robusto extra size (5.5 x 50-56). It's like a toro but appeals to robust fans too. It's becoming my favorite size, and one I always chose for box buys if it is offered.
