Across the Counter Fortnightly Articles "Conversations with Customers"

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No 1 - November 16, 2000
Increase your smoking enjoyment - Variety.

Whenever you visit a bricks and mortar Wesley's you have a chance to discuss your needs in person, but a regular weekly update visit may not be practical, so we've come to you.
Through this website you can keep up-to-date with all the latest products, the best values, and the fortnightly special offers at each shop. You can browse through the library, enter the free two-monthly Sweepstakes, find your nearest Wesley's or ask us questions.

A question I'm often asked is why Wesley's shops carry so much stock. It's quite simple. Our customers have a wide range of needs and tastes, especially the desire for variety - which really is the spice of life. Being a specialist tobacconist store means being able to cater to this desire.

For example, a cigar smoker needs to be able to choose different cigars for different occasions, so we keep a variety of sizes - a half corona for a 30 minute break, a 2-hour Churchill, a Corona Extra for the after dinner hour; and a variety of flavours - rich Cuban, mellow Dominican, light blended Dutch. We even offer variety you may not have thought of yet - for example, a matured "Maduro" cigar, or a good quality old-fashioned dusted Dutch cigar like the Agio Gouden Oogst we have on special right now. Since most pipesmokers enjoy collecting pipes, we offer a wide selection from a R50.00 Beechwood to a R1950.00 Savinelli Jubilee d'Oro - in many sizes, finishes and shapes (such as Danish, Italian and classic English). The Lorenzo Angera range, on special from November 23, consists of 7 conservative Italian style pipes from this master designer. Watch out for them.
For more variety include a meerschaum or a corncob in your collection, try a "10 minute" pipe for a short smoke, experiment with new tobaccos.
Use our range of 21 Houseblends to vary your normal blend or create a new one.
Naturally, you'll find a wide variety of pipe and cigar accessories at all Wesley's shops - everything a smoker needs.
Each Wesley's also carries a variety of gifts personally chosen for its area.

We always look forward to welcoming you in our shops, but in the mean time don't miss out! Keep in touch. Visit us regularly at www.wesleys.co.za

Colin Wesley

You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.

Across the Counter Fortnightly Articles "Conversations with Customers"

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No 2 - November 30, 2000
What makes a good cigar?

Just last Saturday I was again asked how to assess a cigar: "What makes a good cigar?"
The answer is of course that apart from the technical side it is pretty much subjective, and to find out what is "good" for you, you need to experiment.
Try different cigars - different sizes, different tastes, different methods of construction.
Keep the bands, make a list and start your own personal evaluation notes.
Start a cigar discussion group with friends.

The most commonly used criteria are:
Aesthetics - How does it look? How does it feel? How does it smell? Does it make your mouth water?
Now you've lit the cigar, and savoured the first few puffs:
Flavour - Do you like the taste? Is it right for this occasion? Too light? Too rich?
Aroma - Part of the sensation of taste.
Construction - Does it burn evenly? Is the draw right for you - neither too tight nor too easy? Have you chosen the correct form of packing for the occasion - indoors/outdoors?
Aftertaste - When you've finished the cigar, does the good taste continue?
Value for money - On this occasion was the total experience worth the price of the cigar.

How do you begin?
Well, you could of course just go and buy 5 cigars. But you may not choose a balanced assortment, so we've put together 4 selections, each with its own focus:

The Introductory Selection - when you're starting out;
The Corona Selection - the classic parallel-sided cigar;
The Robusto Selection - short and thick;
The CG Selection - smooth, light, flavourful cigars.

Available in wooden travel cases, with pamphlets describing the cigars in each particular selection and about cigar smoking in general.
The Corona and the Robusto Selections are also available in cardboard boxes.

There are so many cigars on the market at present that experimenting, besides being fun, can help you to avoid choosing the wrong cigar.

PS - A "Special" on our Selections is coming up soon, AND you could enter the free Sweepstake Draw right now and maybe win a Travel Case containing 5 CG cigars and a cutter.

Colin Wesley

You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.

Across the Counter Fortnightly Articles "Conversations with Customers"

Back to: Aspects of Pipe Smoking Aspects of Cigar Smoking Commentary Articles Complete Archives Index

No 3 - December 14, 2000
Is a pleasure shared a pleasure doubled?

I find it fascinating how often total strangers, with a taste for pipes or cigars, will strike up a conversation in my shop.

Experiences and anecdotes are exchanged well before names; each learns from the other; opinions are respected. It is as if sharing these moments enhances their enjoyment, even if the actual moment was in the past. That pipe or cigar under the stars in the bush - could it really have been that good?
And you don't necessarily need a friend or a fellow pipe or cigar lover to broaden your enjoyment of smoking. Reading can do it.

We offer leaflets which outline the practical details you need to know to start to enjoy your cigar or pipe, and to help you in you search for the perfect tobacco blend. But for fuller enjoyment, dip into a book or magazine.

A comprehensive, well-written book will tell you why briar is used to make pipes, how it grows, and what happens to it during all the processes necessary to ensure that it ends up as that warm, comfortable object in your hand.
You can read the history of cigars, the agriculture, the difference the soil makes and the manufacture - long and short filler.
You can travel the tobacco world learning about the different countries that provide the wherewithal for your enjoyment; meet the people who make the products; read about famous personalities who share your love of tobacco.

Most books and magazines on the pleasures of pipes and cigars don't really date. Tobacco products are not quite like wines, where vintages can be important to the quality of enjoyment. Back issues of magazines can offer a wealth of information, as you'll see from the Cigar Aficionado magazines on special this fortnight.
Current magazines however may keep you up to date on what is new, what is available, and where you may enjoy a smoke outside your own home.
In the light of imminent legislation this could be important.

Colin Wesley

You can read previous articles from "Across the Counter" in The Library.

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