Finding a Retailer

1st July, 2009: Posted by glpease in Site News

Over the next few days, I’ll be putting together a page listing all the stockists of G.L. Pease blends. I had one once, but it got horribly out of date as new shops came on-board with the blends, and others disappeared from the face of the planet (always a sad thing). Since I couldn’t seem to to get things synchronized, I turned off the page. Then, I forgot about it. Time to fix that.

There is a useful resource on-line for finding tobacconists in your area, sponsored by the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailer’s Association (IPCPR). From this page, click on a state, and all member tobacconists are listed by city. Of course, not all of them carry our blends.
If your favorite local retailer does not stock what you want, you can always ask them to order for you, and we strongly encourage the patronage of the local shops. The Brick and Mortar tobacconist is still the life-blood of our hobby, and we all need to do everything we can to help keep them in business, especially in these times of increasing pressures against tobacco of all forms. Of course, these days a lot of cities don’t have the luxury of a local tobacconist’s, as many have already been forced to close their doors, and many customers have no choice but to order on-line. Fortunately, there are many excellent shops with Internet presence that can fill that void, but let’s do what we can to keep that void from widening.

Whenever possible, please support your local. When the stockist list is ready, I’ll post an item here.
-glp

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First ScHIP Victims Sunk

24th June, 2009: Posted by glpease in Pipe & Tobacco News

So, Waxman’s Titanic ScHIP idiocy seems to have taken its first victims. I wonder how many of the nearly 500 employees of this company will be left using the children’s health-care that comes at the expense of their jobs.

From an article in the Miami Herald:

Hav-A-Tampa cigar plant closing; 500 lose jobs

The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. — A cigar factory in Tampa is closing its doors and laying off nearly 500 workers.

Altadis USA announced Tuesday that it is shutting down its Hav-A-Tampa plant in light of decreasing demand and higher cigar taxes. In a letter to the state, Altadis USA said it plans to terminate 492 positions by Aug. 24.

Rick McKenzie, the company’s vice president of human resources, says business has been hurt by rising taxes. A new federal tobacco tax went into effect in April and will help pay for a health insurance program for low-income children.

The company’s Web site says Hav-A-Tampa cigars were originally trademarked in 1902.

McKenzie says the cigars will continue to be produced at a plant in Puerto Rico.

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Release: Union Square 8oz

19th June, 2009: Posted by glpease in Product News

Today is the day. Union Square will begin finding its way out of the warehouse and onto your retailers’ shelves today. Expect to begin seeing it next week.

-glp

1 Comment »

Review of the Day

18th June, 2009: Posted by glpease in Amusements

It’s no secret - I watch the reviews on tobaccoreviews.com. If you were in this business, wouldn’t you? They’re often entertaining, sometimes enlightening, and occasionally, even well thought out. There are guys out there who have that rare combination of an understanding of what they’re smoking, a gift for articulating their impressions, and the willingness to open their minds to what might be a new experience for them.

Usually, I even enjoy the less than glowing reviews that are sometimes penned about one of my blends. Sure, I’d rather have positive ones, but a well considered criticism often brings with it new understanding of the way others experience things. We’ve all got different tastes, and it’s a source of constant interest for me to get a glimpse of just how different they can be.

Once in a while, though, it just gets silly. Today’s Platinum Pen Award for thoughtful eloquence goes to this one, reproduced in its entirety.

Nothing special here. Just the Trademark taste of crap! I cant believe I fell for the GL Pease line. Have not found one variety I would buy twice!

I’ve always wondered what crap really tastes like when smoked in a pipe, having never actually tried it, though I’ve never considered whether or not it could actually be trademarked. I’ll file the registration papers at once! Thenceforth, anyone producing anything that someone thinks tastes like “crap” will owe me a percentage of their profits. With all the “crap” on the shelves of grocery stores, not to mention produced by the fast food industry, I’ll be rich beyond my wildest dreams!

I’m heading over to the Bugatti dealer to order my Veyron.  By the time it’s built, I should have just enough pennies in my piggie.

-glp

3 Comments »

Quality Briar On-line

13th June, 2009: Posted by glpease in Pipe & Tobacco News

It’s not often in our little world of pipes and tobaccos, where brick and mortar shops seem to be closing monthly, that a new shop opens its doors, even if they are virtual ones. In a bold move, Nick Miller has done just that with his new website, Quality Briar.

Those who are familiar with Nick know that he’s got pretty good taste in pipes. He’s also a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to selling stuff, and that’s not a bad thing; he wants to actually talk to his customers. There’s certainly room on the planet for another pipe-shop, even a virtual one, and I’m glad Nick has opened his doors. Stop by for a look around, and join me in wishing him success with his new venture.

-glp

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Union Square 8oz Tins

13th June, 2009: Posted by glpease in New Blends

The response to Union Square has been unprecedented, and I couldn’t be happier. People have been asking for a straight virginia from G.L. Pease for years, but I had no idea it would be so well received. I’m truly grateful for all of you who have given it a try, and written such lovely things about the blend on various forums and in the wonderful tobaccoreviews.com database. I do feel it’s a special blend, as evidenced by the fact that it’s even turned me, a dedicated Latakiaphile, into a real virginia lover. Who knew?

It’s not that I didn’t like virginias before, but only that I rarely smoked them, and when I did, I often either nearly passed out from their strength, or found that I’d reach the end of a bowl, and was left wanting something else. Latakia. Always Latakia. Not so with this one. It’s satisfying, without being overpowering, and there’s enough depth of flavour and character to keep even my Latakia loving palate happy. I’m really thrilled with the way it’s turning out. (I’m puffing on a bowl as I type these words, in fact; a lovely accompaniment to a nice cup of tea.)

In response to those who have asked for the larger tins, we’re preparing to release the 8oz size as soon as we can get it out. The large tins should be finding their way to your favourite retailers within a couple weeks. Watch for it!

-glp

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New Blends? Yes. Yes, There Are.

31st March, 2009: Posted by glpease in New Blends

The Chicagoland Pipe Extravaganza is just round the bend. Sadly, I will not be able to attend this year, but I’ll certainly be there in spirit and in smoke. If all goes apace, and I am sure it will, a new entry in the Fog City Selection will be available there.

Union Square is the first 100% virginia in the range. It’s a blended sliced cake of straight high-grade flue cured VA leaf, from beautiful, sweet brights to deep, earthy reds, and it’s really lovely stuff. The tobaccos are not sugared, sauced, flavoured or topped like many of the European flakes. This is a pure virginia experience. So, for those who have been after me to do a straight VA, without any condiment leaf, the time has finally come. I’ve been puffing on bowl after bowl of the final prototype for several days, and think it’s great. I hope you’ll like it as much as I do.

For quite a few months, I’ve also been working on an interesting new series, which is beginning to come together, and will be released later in the year. I’m not quite ready to reveal any details, but I’m very excited about the prototypes thus far. The initial release will present three different blends, and R&D on a fourth is underway. Curiousity piqued? Wait for it…

In the meanwhile, if you’re in Chicago, check out Union Square at the C&D booth, and look for general availability a couple weeks after the show.

-glp

1 Comment »

Comment on SCHIP Tax Increase

30th March, 2009: Posted by glpease in Pipe & Tobacco News

Perhaps this is a little late, but it’s still important. There’s been a lot of talk about the tax increase that goes into effect on Wednesday, 1st April. (Who knew April Fool’s Day was named after a legion of pencil pushing legislators?) Many are suggesting that people stock up before the tax increase. Not sound advice.

I despise this new tax as much as anyone, but as rational pipe smokers, let’s light a bowl, and look at this realistically. The price of pipe tobacco is not facing a significant increase. With the new tax rate, the average price per bowl will increase by about 2¢. Does it really make sense  to panic about a couple pennies for the 45 minutes of pleasure we get out of a great smoke?

The Details: The Federal Excise Tax, which is and always has been passed through directly to the consumer, is rising from $1.10/pound to $2.83/pound. On a 2oz tin, that translates to a rise from 14¢ to 36¢; a difference of 22¢. There are typically about 12-13 average bowls in that 2oz. The arithmetic is simple.

I have not encouraged “stocking up” before Wednesday, nor do I encourage it now. The retailers will need your orders after the tax assessment more than ever. They’ll be faced with paying a floor tax on existing inventory that reflects the difference between the FET they’ve already paid and the new FET, and many of them will need all those extra pennies to do so. Some retailers have sold down their inventory to minimize their increased tax exposure, but most still have plenty they’ll need to pony up for. Retailers need consistent  and continued cash flow to keep their doors open. Customers “stocking up” now will actually hurt the retailers far more than it will help them.

If you really want to support your favourite retailer, want to help them stay in business AFTER this tax takes effect, continue ordering as you always have, or maybe a little more. Keep their cash flow going, or some of them will be forced to close their doors. It’s only going to cost each customer a small amount, but it will help the dealers stay alive as the year progresses. Stocking up to avoid the small increase in price will only hurt them in the months ahead.

Obviously, I’m not a disinterested party. The retailers are the life-blood of my business, and that of all tobacco producers and distributors. If the retailers begin to disappear, we won’t be far behind.

-glp

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The ScHIP Sets Sail…

6th February, 2009: Posted by glpease in Pipe & Tobacco News

…And we’re stuck aboard, like deck chairs on the Titanic.

This following mercilessly swiped table (source: ryorevolution.com*) indicates the new Federal excise tax on tobacco products, along with the current taxes we all know and despise, and the proposed taxes vetoed twice by ex-prez G.W. The new rates go into effect 1st April, 2009. Fortunately, for most of us, pipe tobacco isn’t hit as badly as it could have been, resulting in a price increase of only about 20¢ per ounce. Nor have cigars, taken a serious beating, but it may herald the death of many RYO tobaccos currently on the market. Is it any wonder that Big Tobacco supported this? Nothing like taxing your competition into oblivion in the spirit of free trade. Read more…»

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Resolutions

20th January, 2009: Posted by glpease in General News

I just finished an article for the Chronicles, and realized, in one of those hopelessy embarrassing moment, just how lazy I’ve been in not writing. I’ve got dozens of articles started, but before today, It’s been nearly seven months since I finished anything! I’ll be sure to flog myself mercilessly with the cat-o-nine-tails later today, but probably not until after supper; such things can ruin my appetite. I think I’ll have my evening pipe, first, as well. And, perhaps a scotch. Actually, I’m already feeling much better, thanks to my little act of confession, so I think I’ll just forgo the flogging. I will, however, promise to begin dusting off some of those half-finished articles, polish them up, and begin publishing them in the Chronicles. I’ll probably start some new ones, too.

I’ve been working on some interesting blend ideas, and am getting close to launching something that I think will be a lot of fun. I’ll share more about that a little later, maybe in the next News blurb. That is, if I don’t forget…

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