Going to new shops is a LOT of fun. You meet the owners, you meet the usual customers, you meet the random customers that no one knows. You walk in, completely intimidated at first because people know you're not a regular, or they know you're there to sell something. But you get through it and you get comfortable and one way or another, you're either going to walk out of there with an order or you're not. And that kind of takes the stress off of it, because what is the worst they say? No?
The first few shops I visited this week since the cigars arrived, I was pretty nervous. But I got over it after the third or fourth one. Some of them want to sit there and chat with you about life, business, the direction of the cigar industry and the different things the states and feds are doing to help or hinder it. Others just want you to drop the cigars off and basically get the Hell out and call back when they've had a chance to smoke them.
I have no doubt that there are going to be shops that welcome us with open arms. I also have no doubt, and have already experienced, a shop wanting absolutely NOTHING to do with you. But it's all a numbers game. So many shops out of so many shop calls and visits will take the cigar. And so many customers out of so many that try the cigar will like it. We're in this for the long haul, so I have no reason to doubt that I will grow a following and be in this business for many years to come.
Mike
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