Still no response to my email re where one can buy CA hats and shirts - -Dec 13th I received an email from Shautay Dunbar saying merchandise is packed away and only for sale at Big Smoke events. Seems odd given CA's internet presence.
I didn't respond because you got the response from our events department. We are not set up here in New York to fulfill requests for merchandise. You assume it is all very simple. but it requires credit card transactions, packing and mailing, and already, you see from the other request, that if you do it once, then it becomes a job.
We decided a long time ago that we are not an Internet retail company, not for clothes or cigars for that matter. We only sell our merchandise at Big Smoke events.
Sorry, but that's our official policy.
Gordon
P.S. If you would like a fuller explanation, please write me a letter.
Posts: 56 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: April 26, 2002
With all due respect, CA takes CC info via the internet every day for subscription orders. I just renewed my Cigar Insider the other day via internet. Policies are policies but I think Marvin is missing out from a marketing point of view.
On one hand, I understand Gordon's positon. It's one thing to accept credit cards for magazine and online subscriptions, it's another to set up an entire shipping and receiving program for merchandise.
On the other hand, I wish I had people asking me for logo merchandise; I can't get customers to wear the Land's End golf shirts I give out for freaking free. So, if customers were actually willing to pay me to become my advertising whore, I'd figure out a way to do it.
I am totally with E-cord here. I too understand the logistics needed to sell some merchandise online but I can't believe a business that has people asking to take their money does not oblige. Maybe CA would let some entrepreneurial board members sell the merch for them.
Posts: 1178 | Location: Canada | Registered: November 15, 2006
Let me see if I understand this correctly. You already have the credit card system in place since you take renewal payments and payments for Big Smoke tickets. You have the merchandise sitting on a shelf somewhere between Big Smoke events, not moving out the door to increase revenue. Yet you choose not to do something with it because "if you do it once, it becomes a job"? I don't know who is in charge of your marketing and merchandising, but they're missing a golden opportunity.
It is not that hard to set up an ecommerce section...trust me, I've done it. You already have the website and you have the ability to charge credit cards already in place. Sounds like all you need is someone to design the actual e-commerce section and a link to it from the front page. Start out small...hire 1 person to oversee the process of creating the site, getting it linked and growing the e-commerce part. Use interns for packing and shipping or pay 2 part-timers to come in and pack the day's orders. If it grows, it was a great idea and you now have an additional source of revenue. As far as the packing and shipping materials goes....open a Click-n-Ship account with the USPS and they'll give you shipping boxes for free...they'll even deliver it to you free of charge! It's cost effective and give you more revenue.
Mr. Mott, that has to be the first time I've ever heard an executive say, "if you do it once, it becomes a job". No disrespect intended, but I'd expect an excuse like that to come from a clerk or an assistant, but from an executive? Isn't an executive supposed to think outside their corporate box and come up with new ways to increase revenues??? Aren't executives supposed to lead the way into growth, not sidestep the opportunity??? Aren't executives supposed to motivate their people into seeing their vision???
You're missing a golden opportunity here. What about the people that would like merchandise, but for whatever reason (location, cost, ticket price, etc...) can't make it a Big Smoke event to buy a shirt or a hat? Mr. Mott, I'm a subscriber to CA and to Cigar Insider. I'm a member here on the forums. I'd love the option to buy a hat or a shirt without having to drop $200 for a Big Smoke ticket and wait for months for it to come to NY. But I guess that's just not going to happen, is it?
---------- Back by request:
Mom: "Twenty dollars for a cigar?!?! Why don't you just set fire to a $20 bill?"
Response: "Get a $20 bill to taste like a Davidoff and I'll light my entire paycheck on fire!"
Posts: 1368 | Location: Medford, NY | Registered: July 18, 2007
Without getting into an argument with you, we once had an apparel business that was dedicated to selling our merchandise under license, and fulfilling all orders on it. They went out of business because there wasn't enough business there.
Executives make sure they don't cost their company money by being sure they don't waste money on endeavours that don't produce PROFIT. It's not just about additional sources of revenue. We've been there. It didn't work. The system now in place works with a limited inventory commitment and no additional overhead costs to manage it.
Is that clear enough?
Posts: 56 | Location: New York, NY | Registered: April 26, 2002
Thank you Mr. Mott for your quick response. Please know that I was in no way trying to start an arguement, trying to be disrespectful in any way, or imply that you were not doing your job.
I have alot of respect for yourself as well as the other editors at CA and just found the comment about "if you do it once, it becomes a job" a bit odd. The only thing that was mentioned was, "We decided a long time ago that we are not an Internet retail company, not for clothes or cigars for that matter. We only sell our merchandise at Big Smoke events." I was unaware that the e-commerce venture was attempted in the past and was not profitable as it was never mentioned before.
Had it been made known that an attempt was made, found to be ineffective and dropped, I would have not had basis to question the decision not to impliment an e-commerce section. I will now happily await Big Smoke NY 2008 so that I can purchase my CA shirt (I hope you have big sizes available) and hat.
Please accept my apologies if my post came off as disrespectful or arguementative as that was not my intent.
---------- Back by request:
Mom: "Twenty dollars for a cigar?!?! Why don't you just set fire to a $20 bill?"
Response: "Get a $20 bill to taste like a Davidoff and I'll light my entire paycheck on fire!"
Posts: 1368 | Location: Medford, NY | Registered: July 18, 2007
Originally posted by Gordon Mott: Executives make sure they don't cost their company money by being sure they don't waste money on endeavours that don't produce PROFIT. It's not just about additional sources of revenue. We've been there. It didn't work. The system now in place works with a limited inventory commitment and no additional overhead costs to manage it.
I know that all too well and most times the best decisions are not popular
Posts: 181 | Location: Toms River NJ | Registered: January 02, 2008
