So, we’re one giant step closer to the introduction of a tobacco display ban following a government vote in its favour yesterday and the publication of a consultation on how to introduce it in-store.
Obviously, this causes all sorts of issues for retailers about how to comply, how much it will cost, and what potential long-term effects it could have on their business. These issues are understandably huge to the livelihoods of retailers. But what if we take the draft consultation as read, and assume it’s definitely coming in: what will this do to the tobacco market in this country? How will new products sell if they can’t be advertised and nobody can see them properly?
This week saw the launch of a new menthol variant of the Pall Mall 19s range, which followed hot on the heels of the London-only launch of Winston, and recent activity in the roll-your-own sector with the launch of Benson & Hedges rolling tobacco, among other things.
But when the display ban comes in, what will happen? The government’s draft consultation requires retailers to fit doors or flaps that only allow an area slightly larger than a sheet of A3 paper to be seen by customers when they are being served tobacco. I can’t see it being worth anyone’s while to introduce a new product that they won’t be able to tell anyone about – and asking retailers to try and promote every new tobacco variant on their own would be a step too far.
Remember, you’re not only promoting new products for the benefit of the manufacturers: selling these products is a vital part of your business. You need to ensure that your regular tobacco customers know what you sell now, and that they can rely on you to have this in stock. You need to promote these new products to the maximum now, because the width of your range and your reliability as a well-stocked retailer could be vital when customers can no longer see what you have on sale.
These new launches are vital, not only in the short term to offer consumers a great range now, but also when the shutters come down in a couple of years – the effort you put in now to sell your range to your customers could be the difference between them taking the time to pop into your shop or go up the road to someone who they’re sure will have the full range.
Angus Stewart
22/10/2009
My first impression – well, I’m impressed! Easy to navigate and if kept updated it should be well used.
Just one comment on the tobacco display ban; please do try to remember that you will have readers operating outside the scope of Westminster on some issues. How we display tobaccco goods after the introduction of a display ban may have been settled in England but not so in Scotland so unless this is highlighted it can lead to confusion.
Otherwise, this is a good site and I wish you well.
Neville Rhodes
24/10/2009
Good point, Angus – and I bet you Scots are hoping that the absurdities in some of the draft regulations for England will not be copied by the Scottish Parliament.
Abdul Qadar
14/11/2009
All the indications are the tobacco display ban will be the most draconian in Scotland.On the 11th November 2009 Shona Robison the health minister indicated to the Health & Sports comittee ,the size of allowed display will be the size of a packet of cigrettes at the moment of serving.There will be no chance of the customer getting a sight of any other brand let alone another packet.
I also feel she mislead the comittee by saying the gantaries could be converted to comply with the display ban for as little as £20.00. She has no idea of the real world, you can’t even get a joiner to turn up for less than £60.00. There was an amendment for compensation witch looked out of place if the alterations could be done for £20.00 and was put on hold pending further studies.It reminded me of Priminster Tony Blair’s 45 minute warning to win the vote in favour of the Iraq war in the House of commons.