| Archive for Dr. Grabow Pipes "America's One and Only" |
| Irishlefty |
A new generation of Pipe SmokersI have among my e-bay customers, a Chief Petty Officer aboard a US Navy ship at sea who has brought two of his crewmen (one is a female) to me as new pipe smokers. I also have half a dozen customers among the US Army forces currently in the Iraq/Kuwait area and at least 3 College students. I know its bucking the trend but I really like the fact that there are some young people out there who will carry on the Pipe smoking traditions. I try to steer them toward the inexpensive yet good smoking pipes and the Dr. Grabow's are my top example of exactly that. I also try to steer them towards the 'samples' offered by some of the online tobacco shops and sometimes throw in an extra pipe or give them free shipping. In reading some of 'Ted's' posts about the distribution/marketing of Dr. Grabow to the troops in WWII, it make me wish we had some sort of organization to promote pipes and pipe tobacco to the young men and women serving today as well as the University students. I guess if anyone tried it, we would be boiled in oil in this day and age but it really would be a shame if pipes became a thing of the past and I guess thats why I prize my young customers so much. |
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| drbridges |
Frenchy has recently organized pipe shipments to our overseas troops. Mostly Missouri Meerschaums due to budget limitations, I think. You will find some posts about this campaign here and probably on Frenchy's web site.
http://www.frenchyspipes.com/ |
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| Terry292 |
Congratulations, IL, on your success. I've managed to convert my daughter's boy-friend to at least part-time pipe smoking. He was smoking cheap cigars and dipping Skoal when they started going out. I saw him eyeing one particular pipe on my rack, so we cleaned it up and gave it to him for Christmas last year. The wife and I just bought him an Israeli Alpha and three tins of Squadron Leader for Christmas this year. All in all, counting the pipes I've given him, he probably has about a dozen now, including some Dr G's. If we want pipe smoking to continue into the next century, we need to encourage young smokers to take it up. After all, look at the success cigar smoking had back in the 90's.
Terry |
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| steverino |
Re: A new generation of Pipe Smokers
I think forums like this may be the best if not the only way to do this now. |
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| Texhealer |
We have 3 universities here locally, and our shop is a regular hangout for students. we sell a lot of pipes to them and in the 2 years I've been there I cannot count the "first pipe" sales I've made...not to mention the other employees.
I have got about a 15 minute routine down that I give all newbies on packing, lighting, tobaccos, etc. I'm sure not all of them stick with it but just figuring the sheer numbers, I would think that odds are, some of them are becoming pipe smokers. The "routine" is helping, a little education and we're seeing many more repeat customers. Of course a huge percentage of them are from out of town, so there's no way to tell how many stick with it. While I'm not sure that pipe smoking is making a comeback, it IS getting some new blood. 
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| steverino |
Hey Tex, since you work in a retail establishment, could you give a brief overview of what restrictions you face in terms of tobacco advertising? I have never seen this in written form anywhere and I've always wondered just how much a pipe store could advertise and get away with it. | ||