intertabac.
cigar culture summit.

Stream 3:
Specialty retail perspectives – strengthening the future of the cigar & pipe trade. In the “Bergen” room
The entire stream program is available at
German.

13:00 – 13:05
Opening speech
Sabine Loos, Managing Director, Messe Dortmund GmbH

13:05 – 13:50
From spark to flame: How to keep your passion burning in stormy times

Mike Assmann supports entrepreneurs and managers of medium-sized companies in making their company even more attractive to employees and the market. In times of constant change, this is precisely the key to success: not just keeping pace, but winning the competition for the best talent.

Speaker: Mike Assmann (smokerspress columnist / SmokersBusinessAcademy partner Foodhunter / publisher)

The most important findings:

• How personal motivation and management style influence market perception
• The role of specialist retailers as cultural leaders in the changing world of work
• Strategies to inspire specialist stores, teams and customers emotionally

14:00 – 14:45
Genuss im Wandel

Gain insights into the behavior, product preferences, and experience-driven shopping habits of emerging consumer groups shaping the future of cigar culture.

Speaker: Johann Gallée (Dios Tabaco)

14:45 – 15:00 Coffee break

15:00 – 15:30
Increasing sales through events, tastings and personalization

Experience sells – hardly anyone knows this better than Thomas Geißler, owner of the Zigarrenkombinat with its own lounge and cigar sommelier since 2006. In his keynote speech, the two-time German champion in cigar service (2000, 2003) shows how tastings, training and personal advice create unforgettable customer experiences – and measurably increase sales in the process.

Speaker: Thomas Geissler (CigarPorn/Zigarrenkombinat)

The most important findings:

• Why experience formats such as tastings & training courses create sustainable customer loyalty
• How to achieve measurable sales impulses through individualization at the POS
• The role that emotion and atmosphere play in stationary success

15:35 – 16:20
In the web of cigars: community building in the premium tobacco world

The cigar market is undergoing radical change: new target groups are discovering the world of tobacco enjoyment – with their own values, expectations and preferences. The presentation “Pleasure in transition” sheds light on how cigar culture is changing and what influence new consumers have on product preferences, brand perception and the shopping experience.

It offers exclusive insights into current developments, consumer behavior and the growing importance of emotional shopping experiences – an exciting perspective for retailers, brands and all those involved in modern worlds of indulgence.

Moderator: Reinhard Pohorec (Light’em Up) Participants: Martin Zurek (Etwas Genuss), Nicolas Kröger (Wagemut), Johann Gallée (Dios Tabaco), Sebastian Gollas (Starke Zigarren)

The most important findings:

• How new target groups are changing the image of cigar culture
• What values, preferences and expectations new consumers bring with them
• Why emotional shopping and product staging are becoming increasingly important

16:25 – 17:10
Cigars and cigarillos in the focus of regulation

In its keynote speech, the BDZ – Federal Association of the Cigar Industry will shed light on the regulatory challenges facing the cigar industry. The focus is on current and upcoming legislative initiatives at national and European level and their impact on manufacturers, retailers and consumers. The keynote will show ways in which the industry can work together to develop solutions and preserve its cultural diversity.

Speaker: Bodo Mehrlein (BdZ)

The most important findings:

• Possible effects for specialist retailers, industry and consumers
• Opportunities for joint industry solutions for culture and product range preservation
• Overview of current legislative initiatives at EU and federal level

17:15 – 18:00
The role of the specialist retailer – trust through competence at the POS

What makes a true cigar professional at the POS? This presentation is about what cannot be outsourced or digitized: personal expertise, authentic appearance and the relationship of trust between retailer and connoisseur.

Find out why personality, knowledge and genuine advice are the most important
unique selling points in the stationary cigar trade – and how to increase customer satisfaction and sales in the long term.

Speaker: Martin Josuks
(Dr. Eckert GmbH Group)

The most important findings:

• How trust at the POS creates long-term customer loyalty
• Why real expertise cannot be replaced digitally in the future.
• Specialist knowledge, personality and advice as key success factors