Stogies boast a long and intriguing history. Cigars have long represented decadence, indulgence, and relaxation. While many revered cigar producers still use traditional production practices, there’s no denying that technology is changing the face of the industry.
The evolution of digital technology has not only injected innovation into cigar-making processes but has also changed the way smoking aficionados engage with their favorite brands and products.
The rise of online cigar sales
While most people traditionally bought their sticks from brick-and-mortar stores, there has been a recent rise in online cigar sales.
Offline cigar sales still dominate the market share, but online sales rose 2.8% from 2017 to 2022. Coupled with a projected cigar industry growth of 10.48% between 2024 and 2029, online sales will likely increase further in the coming years.
According to Forrester, global online retail sales are set to increase 8.9% per year and could reach $6.8 trillion by 2028. This upward trend also suggests more people will buy cigars online in the future. With a wealth of reliable information available across digital channels, smoking aficionados can connect with cigar-buying tips and purchase stogies wherever they are.
The growth of online cigar communities
Smoking cigars is now a social activity as much as it is a solo pursuit. For countless years, cigar lounges and events have brought like-minded smoking enthusiasts together. These gatherings enable people to enjoy their favorite stogies in good company and compare notes.
While lounges and events remain at the heart of cigar culture, online cigar communities allow stogie fans to connect free from geographical boundaries. Online cigar communities are popping up everywhere. Droves of stogie lovers now share recommendations, swap tips, host virtual gatherings, and even promote in-person events.
Popular cigar communities and forums include:
- Reddit’s r/cigar!: With over nine thousand members and counting, r/cigar! is an online forum where stogies lovers share information about their favorite sticks and swap smoking recommendations.
- StogieChat: This is an increasingly popular virtual space for cigar fans to read reviews, discuss stogie-related news, and swap stories about their shared passion. StogieChat is one of the best smoking-oriented forums right now.
- Friends of Habanos forum: This forum is one of the online meeting places for Cuban cigar aficionados. With activity-based leaderboards and virtual clubs you can join based on your specific passions or preferences, Friends of Habanos covers all bases.
- CigarSmokers forum: The CigarSmokers forum is split into chat rooms or ‘threads’ based on different stogie-related topics or themes. Its well-organized structure makes it easy to find information and connect with cigar lovers who share your specific tastes or interests.
Digital marketing of boutique cigar brands
We live in an age where stogie fans can research, discover, and buy cigars with the swipe of a screen or the click of a button. Many boutique brands are getting creative with their cigar marketing efforts to boost brand awareness and expand their commercial reach.
These brands connect with a wider pool of tech-savvy smoking enthusiasts through content that inspires and entertains. Digital channels, such as email newsletters and social media, can be used to share smoking guides, tips, reviews, and features exploring cigar culture. This connection increases engagement and strengthens relationships between brands and the customer.
Going mobile
57% of e-commerce sales come from mobile devices worldwide. Projections suggest the mobile ecommerce market share will reach 63% by 2028. As mobile consumption continues to rise, it’s not far-fetched to think that the most forward-thinking cigar manufacturers will create their own branded apps.
These mobile applications have the potential to act as virtual cigar lounges, allowing users to explore products and compare notes with like-minded smoking enthusiasts.
Getting Social
Boutique cigar brands are flocking to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to connect with stogie fans personally. These brands can showcase their products through these channels while creating a strong sense of community.
Crowned Heads, for example, maintains an active presence on social media and consistently creates eye-catching content that gives people a real feel for the brand. Its Instagram page alone currently has over 33,000 followers.
In recent years, we’ve also seen a rise in social media cigar influencers such as Dominic J Bergamin and The Cigar Guys. These influencers create engaging content driven by their passion for cigars.
Studies show that 74% of consumers have purchased a product based on an influencer recommendation. To capitalize on this trend, the most creative boutique cigar brands may seek opportunities to collaborate with stogie influencers to reach wider audiences shortly.
Partnering up
More boutique cigar companies are investing in mutually beneficial brand partnerships to grab attention and appeal to cigar smokers across digital platforms.
Luciano Cigars and Peter James Co.
Luciano Cigars has teamed up with luxury cigar accessories brand Peter James to launch an exclusive range of products for smoking enthusiasts with style.
Both brands promote the partnership by sharing teasers, imagery, and updates on their most engaged social media platforms (including Instagram).
Plasencia Cigars and October London
Plasencia Cigars recently partnered with celebrated R&B star and influencer October London.
Plasencia and October London worked together to deliver a ‘Sip and Smoke Series’. This exclusive string of cigar lounge experiences occurred after the musician’s fall 2024 tour dates.
Both parties marketed these experiential events with supporting online content, including cross-promotional social media updates and slick YouTube videos.
The partnership showcased Plascenia’s satisfying range of sticks to an engaged audience of youthful R&B fans, extending its brand reach.
Tech-enhanced humidors
From slick Bluetooth-enabled smoking accessories (such as humidors and lighters) to 3D printing innovations that empower cigar hardware brands to prototype new designs, technology is streamlining manufacturing processes and pushing innovation within the industry. The tech-enhanced humidor is one of the most striking consumer innovations sparked by the evolution of 3D printing and digital technology.
Humidors are essential for storing your cigars and preventing them from drying out. Thanks to the marvel of technology, consumers can invest in humidors that monitor humidity levels and have temperature-setting capabilities that keep sticks in perfect condition.
Some advanced humidors also sync to support mobile apps via Bluetooth and voice assistant integration. These tech-based iterations allow cigar lovers to activate features and set temperatures verbally.
A Smoking New World
As innovation within the cigar industry continues to evolve, smoking enthusiasts will reap the rewards through enhanced product discovery and consumer convenience.
It’s now easier than ever to connect with passionate cigar lovers from around the globe and buy your favorite sticks online. Innovations like tech-enhanced humidors and Bluetooth-enabled lighters also improve the smoking experience for many stogie fans.
Cigar brands should embrace technology to navigate the digital age confidently. They need to harness emerging innovations to reach new audiences online and improve manufacturing processes. It’s a smoking new world—are you ready for it?
For stogie-related news, behind-the-scenes updates, and the latest product reviews, check out JR Cigars on TikTok.
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