The following is a guest blog submitted by Mike A.

In 1987, I was assigned to read Megatrendsby John Naisbitt for a college class.  Originally published in 1982, the book explored and anticipated trends in business and society as we moved toward an information-based economy.  I’m sure there are many other excellent lessons to be learned from the book, but over the years the concept I’ve come back to again and again is the link between high tech and high touch.

The basic concept is that as high tech increasingly affects our lives, we seek out high touch experiences to provide balance.  High tech can be great.  Imagine all the devices and technology we use on a daily basis that didn’t exist 25 years ago.  Although I consider myself a relatively low tech guy (I still use my cell phone principally to make phone calls), I can’t imagine life without the internet, my cell phone, DVR, etc.  However, high tech can also depersonalize a lot of experiences.  E-commerce has removed personal contact from many retail transactions.  Most of us probably conduct the majority of our banking at a keyboard or in front of an ATM machine instead of with a human teller.  We send E-mail to co-workers who are in the same building.  I think the popularity of the social networking sites is probably the most obvious indicia of the desire to reach out and have a high touch experience to balance the loss of personal contact in our high tech society.

 I’m still a relative newbie to the cigar culture having only been a regular for a little over two years.  However, I’m convinced that the desire for a high touch experience to balance the high tech in our lives is a driving force behind the hobby and the culture.  I think that desire explains the hobby’s proportional prevalence of those with high tech occupations.  (I thought about doing some research on occupational demographics of cigar smokers, but didn’t want to risk messing up a good theory with facts.)

 Take, for example, a typical retail experience in the cigar hobby versus a typical retail experience in consumer electronics.  The typical cigar buying experience begins with a trip to the local cigar shop or tobacconist.  Sometimes the hobbyist will know what they want based on prior experiences or likely based on conversations with other hobbyists.  Maybe they’re undecided and seek the guidance of one of the sales associates, who are most likely hobbyists themselves.  After the purchase, the hobbyist is likely to consume their purchase on the spot in the shop’s lounge where they can unwind, maybe watch a sporting event and just generally enjoy the company of fellow enthusiasts.  On the other hand, electronics being generally high tech by nature, whatever pre-purchase research is done is likely to be via internet.  Should the purchaser choose to go E-commerce, they may well complete the entire transaction without having contact with another human being.  Otherwise, their human contact may be limited to a brief interaction with a clerk or stock person at a big box store who knows little or nothing about the product (and may care even less).  I understand that one can have essentially the same experience in buying cigars.  However, I’d suggest that if you want to buy cigars off the internet and sit on your back porch and smoke them by yourself you’re missing out on the point of the cigar culture.

 Finally, the accessability of those in the cigar industry has convinced me that this hobby of ours is the ultimate high touch experience.  Those of us who are fortunate to live in or near a city with quality brick and mortar cigar shops often have opportunities to attend events and meet those working in the cigar industry.  I know in the last two years I’ve had the opportunity to meet everyone from sales reps to company presidents to master blenders to “rock stars” of the industry to legends.  Few industries offer that kind of personal one-on-one interaction to the average consumer.

 Cigar enthusiasts refer to each other as brothers (and sisters) of the leaf.  While I’ve learned a lot about cigars from my brothers (and sisters), I’ve learned more about life.  That relationship can’t be purchased like an mp3 player.   

 See you at the shop.

 Mike A.

I have recently had the pleasure of partaking in some friendly poker games with friends.  I really enjoy these gatherings.  Some nights the cards fall my way, some nights they don’t.  Regardless, the camaraderie, food and cigars are good.

There is something very enjoyable about getting together with friends and smoking cigars. For me, I enjoy having five or six people get together and seeing what smokes they all bring.  It always runs the gamete.  Sometimes I see someone pull out a cigar that I have not tired before, or have not smoked in a while.  It always prompts me to want to try one. 

Even in the midst of our friendly card game, a good share of the conversation turns to cigars.  That is a good thing.  I encourage you to get together with friends.  Enjoy the company and enjoy a few good cigars.  It will do you good!

I will not use this blog for personal reasons very often, but this morning I felt it was necessary.  As many of you know, my father is very ill.  This past week, his condition worsened considerable.  I have been completely blown away by the support and words of encouragement I have received from my employees, UPtown’s customers and a lot of people in the cigar industry.  It really hit home with me a sales rep stopped in one day this past week and learned of what my father was going through.  Instead of giving his sales pitch to the guys who were working, he left the store.  A few minutes later he returned with a card for me and a vert heart-felt note to me.  That, coupled with all the well wishes I have received this week have made me aware that I have an extended family at UPtown’s.

My staff at UPtown’s is simply awesome.  While I was out most of this past week, business went on as usuall without a glitch.  THANK YOU GUYS!  Jeff, Jim, Marcus, Trey, Joe, Arron & Kevin…I could not ask for a better crew! 

Hope you all have a wonderfull weekend, and enjoy some fine cigars!