Cigarmakers: Your Brand Is a Story—Are You Telling It Right?

Branding isn’t just about selling a product. It’s about creating meaning.

Your Brand’s Story Is Already Being Told—But Are You Controlling It?

Branding isn’t just about selling a product. It’s about creating meaning.

A brand’s story isn’t just its history or a catchy tagline. It’s the emotional imprint you leave on your customers. It’s the narrative they tell themselves when they engage with your cigars, hear your name, or make a purchase.

If that narrative is weak, unclear, or inconsistent, your brand stands for nothing.

And if you’re not intentionally shaping your story, someone else is.

The cigar industry is flooded with brands claiming to have top-quality tobacco, expert blenders, and decades of tradition.

But let’s be honest—that’s the bare minimum.

If your message is just another version of:"We make great cigars with aged tobacco and master craftsmanship."

Congratulations.

You’ve already disappeared into the noise.

Because customers don’t buy cigars based on quality alone.

They buy based on feeling.

What does your brand make your customers feel?

If you don’t know, they don’t know.

And if they don’t know, they won’t care.

A Commodity or a Brand? The Choice Is Yours

A cigar isn’t just a product. It’s a statement. It represents a lifestyle, a philosophy, a moment of indulgence.

If your brand isn’t offering more than just a cigar—if it isn’t offering a story that resonates—then it’s just another nameless stick in a crowded humidor.

And here’s the real danger:

If your brand story isn’t strong enough to create loyalty, you’re competing only on price.

And that’s a race to the bottom—a game you’ll never win.

Because in a price war, there’s always someone willing to go lower.

But there’s a way out.

You can take back control of your brand story.

A Strong Brand Story Wins Battles Before They Begin

A well-crafted story doesn’t just help with marketing—it makes price wars irrelevant.

It positions you as a leader instead of just another option. It builds customer loyalty that no discount can replace.

Because people don’t just buy cigars—they buy into what those cigars represent.

So the real question is—

Are You Telling Your Story Right?

First Reality Check: Your Brand Story Already Exists—Are You in Control of It?

Whether you’ve crafted one or not, your brand story already exists.

The real question is—who’s telling it?

Because if you’re not actively shaping your brand’s narrative, someone else is.

And you won’t like their version.

Your customers, competitors, retailers, and even the industry itself are constantly filling in the blanks about your brand.

They’re deciding:

• What your brand means

• Whether you’re a leader or just another cigar maker

• Whether your name commands respect or gets ignored

And once people form their own version of your brand story, changing it is damn near impossible.

That’s why you can’t afford to be passive. If you’re not defining your brand, someone else is—and not in your favor.

If You Don’t Define Your Brand, Others Will

Think about the most iconic cigar brands.

You hear their names, and immediately, you associate them with something specific.

That’s not by accident. That’s intentional branding.

Now, think about the countless cigar brands that come and go without making a lasting impression.

It’s not because they didn’t have great cigars.

It’s because they failed to establish a story that sticks.

Without that emotional connection, they became invisible.

And here’s the problem:

If you’re not actively telling your story, your brand already has a narrative—just not the one you want.

And you probably won’t like it.

This Is What Happens When You Aren’t in Control of Your Story:

• If customers don’t know what you stand for, they assume you’re just another “Don No- One” selling another stick.

• If your branding is inconsistent, they see you as unreliable.

• If your messaging is unclear, they assume you don’t know what you’re doing.

Customers don’t wait around to figure out who you are.

They make snap judgments based on what little information they have.

And if you’re not controlling that information, those judgments will be out of your hands.

Your Competition Isn’t Just Other Cigar Brands—It’s Attention Itself

You’re not just competing against other cigar makers.

You’re competing against everything fighting for your customer’s attention.

Today’s cigar smoker isn’t just walking into a lounge and blindly choosing from a humidor.

They’re seeing brand stories unfold on social media, in online communities, at cigar events, and through influencers.

If your brand isn’t actively participating in these conversations, guess what?

Someone else is doing it for you—and they’re shaping your story in a way you can’t control.

That’s a losing game.

Your brand must be present, active, and intentional about shaping the way customers perceive you.

Because if you’re not controlling the message, someone else is writing your story for you.

And the brands that fail to control their narrative? They end up forgotten.

What Happens When You Don’t Control Your Brand’s Story?

1. Customers Forget You – Without a compelling story, you don’t stand out. People remember brands that make them feel something—and forget the ones that don’t.

2. Competitors Define You – If you fail to position yourself, your competition does it for you. And they won’t do it in your favor.

3. Your Brand Becomes Reactive, Not Proactive – Instead of shaping the market, you’re constantly reacting—fixing misperceptions instead of owning your identity.

4. Marketing Feels Aimless – Without a clear brand story, your messaging lacks direction. Every campaign is a gamble instead of a strategy.

If you don’t actively tell your story, someone else will tell it for you.

And it won’t be the story you want.

Your Brand Story Should Be Crystal Clear

The strongest brands have a simple, repeatable story that connects instantly.

Their messaging isn’t cluttered with generic claims about quality, tradition, or passion—because every cigar brand says that.

Your story needs to be:

✅ Clear – No one should have to guess what your brand stands for.

✅ Distinct – It must be different from every other brand’s story.

✅ Memorable – If customers can’t recall your brand’s essence, it’s useless.

If your brand story doesn’t immediately answer these three questions, you have work to do:

• Who are you?

• What do you stand for?

• Why should customers care?

If customers struggle to answer these questions about your brand, they’ll default to brands they understand more easily.

And when that happens, you lose them.

Bottom Line:

Your brand already has a story—but are you the one telling it, or is it being written without your control?

If your messaging feels unclear, scattered, or weak, it’s time to take ownership.

Because in the cigar business, perception is reality.

And if you’re not shaping that perception, someone else is.

Second Reality Check: If Your Brand Story Isn’t Clear, You’re Forgettable

Cigar smokers don’t buy on impulse.

They don’t grab a cigar like they grab a pack of gum. They don’t pick based on price alone. They don’t walk into a shop and blindly choose whatever’s available.

They make deliberate choices—and those choices are driven by identity, emotion, and loyalty.

And if your brand doesn’t stand for something, they’ll forget you before the ash even drops.

You’re Not Just Selling a Cigar—You’re Selling Identity

When a customer buys a cigar, they’re not just buying tobacco—they’re buying a reflection of themselves.

They want a brand that makes them feel part of something bigger. A brand that says, "This is who I am."

Think about the cigars people buy again and again.

It’s not just the flavor profile or the wrapper. It’s the feeling that brand gives them.

For some, it’s luxury. The feeling of exclusivity and sophistication.For others, it’s tradition. A connection to heritage and craftsmanship.For some, it’s rebellion. A brand that challenges the norm, that stands out.

If your brand doesn’t stand for anything, it’s just another box on the shelf.

A Weak Brand Story Makes You Invisible

Here’s the mistake most businesses make:

They focus on what they sell instead of why it matters.

They talk about:

✔️ Premium tobacco

✔️ Expert blending

✔️ Aging

And they think that sets them apart.

It doesn’t.

Because every cigar brand says that.

You’re not competing on the technical details of your product.

You’re competing on meaning.

Customers don’t just want a good cigar.

They want a brand that makes them feel something.

And if your story isn’t clear, unique, and emotional, your cigars become just another option in a sea of choices.

And once you’re forgettable, you’re finished.

If Customers Can’t Repeat Your Story, You Don’t Have One

Here’s a test:

Ask someone outside your company to explain your brand in one sentence.

If they:

• Hesitate → Your brand story isn’t clear.

• Stumble → Your messaging is weak.

• Get it wrong → You’ve lost control of your narrative.

A strong brand story should be:

✅ Easy to repeat – If customers can’t sum it up quickly, it’s too complicated.

✅ Emotionally resonant – If it doesn’t make them feel something, they won’t remember it.

✅ Unique – If it sounds like every other brand, it’s forgettable.

Customers don’t make decisions based on logic alone—they buy cigars that reinforce who they are.

If your brand doesn’t give them an identity to connect with, they’ll move on to one that does.

When Your Brand Lacks Clarity, Customers Default to Price

Here’s the hard truth:

A strong brand commands a premium.

A weak brand is forced to discount.

The brands that tell powerful stories don’t have to compete on price—they create a sense of loyalty and exclusivity that justifies their value.

Meanwhile, brands that fail to establish a clear story struggle to differentiate themselves.

And when you fail to stand out, you’re left with only one strategy—cutting prices just to move inventory.

And once you start competing on price alone, you’ve lost the game.

Because in a price war, there are no winners.

The moment a competitor drops their price lower, your customers leave—because they were never loyal to your brand.

They were only loyal to the price.

Bottom Line:

If your brand story isn’t clear, your customers will forget you.

If they forget you, they won’t seek you out.

And if they don’t seek you out, they’ll buy from someone else.

The brands that thrive in this industry are the ones that stand for something.

They make it easy for customers to repeat their story and feel a connection.

So ask yourself:

Is your brand’s story clear enough to be remembered?

Because if it isn’t, your customers won’t remember it at all.

Third Reality Check: A Weak Brand Story Is a Sales Killer

If you think your brand story is just marketing fluff, think again.

Your brand story is your most powerful sales tool.

When it’s strong, it creates trust, loyalty, and a reason to buy—before the sales pitch even begins.

When it’s weak, your sales team is fighting an uphill battle, trying to sell a product with no soul behind it.

And if your product has no soul, no purpose, no emotional connection—then the only thing left to fight on is price.

That’s a losing game.

A Weak Brand Story Creates Doubt—And Doubt Kills Sales

Customers don’t want to be convinced to buy a cigar.

They want to feel like they’re making the right decision on their own.

A strong brand story makes buying effortless.

A weak story makes customers hesitate, overthink, and second-guess themselves.

And hesitation is the #1 killer of sales.

Here’s what happens when your brand story is weak:

• Customers hesitate. If they don’t fully understand your identity, they won’t commit.

• Price becomes the only deciding factor. When there’s no emotional connection, customers choose based on price alone. That’s a race to the bottom.

• Your brand blends in. If your story isn’t unique, customers won’t differentiate you from the next name on the shelf.

• Your marketing has no direction. Every ad, social media post, and sales pitch feels random instead of reinforcing a clear message.

Your customers don’t just buy a cigar—they buy into what that cigar represents.

And if they don’t understand what you stand for, they’ll buy from someone else.

Strong Brands Sell Before the Sales Pitch Even Begins

A weak brand forces salespeople to work harder.

A strong brand does the work for them.

Think about the brands that command loyalty in the cigar world.

When their cigars hit the market, they don’t have to convince retailers or customers to pay attention.

People are already excited.

Why?

Because the story was already working before the sale even started.

Strong brand stories pre-sell the customer.

A weak brand story leaves your sales team explaining everything from scratch—every single time.

And that’s the difference between effortless sales and constant struggles.

Customers Buy Based on Emotion, Not Logic

Here’s something most companies get wrong:

Customers don’t make rational buying decisions.

They make emotional ones—and then justify them with logic.

When someone buys a cigar, they aren’t just thinking about the blend or the aging process.

They’re thinking about:

• How it makes them feel when they light it up.

• The image it projects to others.

• The lifestyle it represents.

Cigar brands with strong stories tap into these emotions before the customer even takes the first puff.

A weak brand?

It forces the customer to figure it out themselves.

And if they have to work too hard to understand your brand, they’ll move on to one that’s easier to connect with.

Why Are Your Sales Stalling? Your Brand Story Is the Answer.

If your sales team is struggling to close, it’s probably not because of the product.

It’s because your brand story isn’t doing the heavy lifting.

A powerful story:

✅ Warms up the customer before they ever speak to sales.

✅ Justifies your pricing. If they connect emotionally, they won’t haggle.

✅ Turns buyers into advocates. If they identify with your story, they’ll share it.

A weak story does the opposite:

❌ Forces sales teams to explain everything from scratch.

❌ Makes customers question if your brand is worth it.

❌ Reduces brand loyalty—because the purchase felt transactional, not meaningful.

Sales Shouldn’t Be an Uphill Battle—Your Brand Story Should Do the Work

Think about the last time you saw a premium cigar launch that instantly sold out.

That didn’t happen because of blind luck.

It happened because the brand had already done the work before the first box even hit the shelf.

When a story is compelling enough, it creates:

• Excitement. Customers anticipate the product before it even arrives.

• Scarcity. People want what feels exclusive.

• Loyalty. Customers stay with a brand they emotionally connect with.

Now, think about a brand you’ve never heard of trying to sell a cigar.

If the story isn’t already in place, the cigar is just another box on the shelf—one that needs deep discounts and constant sales pushes just to move.

The Bottom Line:

If your brand story isn’t pulling customers in, your sales team is pushing against dead weight.

If customers don’t feel anything about your brand, they have no reason to choose you over someone else.

If price is your only leverage, you’re not selling a brand—you’re selling a commodity.

Strong brands sell before the pitch even happens.

Weak brands? They struggle to get past hello.

So, ask yourself:

Is your brand story making sales easier?

Or is it making them harder?

Anyone can produce a well-made cigar.

But your story?

That’s yours alone.

And when told correctly, it’s your greatest competitive advantage.

Because in a crowded market, the brands that survive aren’t the ones with the cheapest cigars—they’re the ones with the strongest connection to their customers.

If your brand story has been weak, this is your wake-up call.

Fix it now!

That’s why Cigar Profit exists.

We don’t just help cigar brands tell stories.

We help them tell stories that sell.

Schedule your Exploratory Call Today: https://www.cigarprofit.com/schedule-exploratory-call