Mikes Cigars loses Oliva.

Now, just for discussion sake....I would like to add a few "thoughts"

How would one presume the industry will be affected by:

1) Online forums such as this....where much of the "cigar socialization" is occuring

2) Smoking by-laws that prohibit the use of tobacco products in public places (including B&Ms)

3) Increasing taxation on physical B&M stock

4) the Economic Downturn and how it affects sales of luxery items

5) The frequent witness of poor conditions in B&Ms (now this is largely speculation....the last 3 B&Ms I was at [from a total of 5] had a majority of the product affected by mold.

I love the concept of market protectionism....I think everyone's livelihood should be protected. But, at some point, the "turning tide" should probably be addressed. Maybe the B&M will have to re-invent itself if it wants to survive. At some point, customers shouldn't be expected to bouy up a failing market paradigm in order to artificially resuscitate it....when a superior model, more in keeping with the new world reality, exists.

Just my 2 cents

(This post would work equally well in the current B&M vs Internet thread as well)

Cyanide