As vice president of Anaheim, Calif.-based Starbuzz Tobacco Inc., Las Vegas resident Jake Jacobson noted a demand for an office in his city.
In July, he opened Starbuzz Las Vegas, a branch dedicated to servicing local distributors and outlets.
“Vegas has a lot of tobacco enthusiasts,” Jacobson said. “I definitely saw a demand for a very, very serious wholesale distribution center for these types of products.”
At his office and warehouse on South Tenaya Way, Jacobson employs nine people. It’s also the place where every Starbuzz product in Las Vegas originates from, whether it be candles, electronic cigarettes or tobacco. Primarily a hookah tobacco manufacturer, Starbuzz got into the e-cig game last fall and since then, Jacobson said growth in that category has been exponential.
“The biggest problem we have now is just taking the orders,” he said.
How has your industry changed in recent years?
Starbuzz started in 2005, and the main focus is still the hookah tobacco. That’s what we’re famous for. As the years go by, things like the electronic cigarettes and vaporizers come out and we’re already established, so when we come out with candles, e-cigs or hookah pens, people associate the Starbuzz name with it. Thankfully we’ve been able to capture outside our target demographic with these new products.
How do you make yourself stand out in a sea of electronic cigarettes?
The e-cig is the hottest product right now. We had a very big advantage because they’re all blueberry at the end of the day. But when you see the Starbuzz blue mist, that’s something that’s recognized worldwide, so automatically they’re able to know that this is backed by the Starbuzz name.
Why is there such a popularity with the e-cigs?
It’s not something other generations were even exposed to. There are new issues that are arising. The demand is because with younger demographics, it’s not this smelly thing that my parents were smoking. It’s just something hip in their eyes. As there’s a demand for technology, everything else follows. Everyone needs to be really stimulated now. It can’t just be a straightforward product.
Do you foresee any trouble on the horizon with Marlboro getting into the e-cig game?
I try not to focus on competition more so than just continuing to improve my own product and my own brand. We’ve always innovated in the market and I think that’s led to our success. Healthy competition is always good.
In July, he opened Starbuzz Las Vegas, a branch dedicated to servicing local distributors and outlets.
“Vegas has a lot of tobacco enthusiasts,” Jacobson said. “I definitely saw a demand for a very, very serious wholesale distribution center for these types of products.”
At his office and warehouse on South Tenaya Way, Jacobson employs nine people. It’s also the place where every Starbuzz product in Las Vegas originates from, whether it be candles, electronic cigarettes or tobacco. Primarily a hookah tobacco manufacturer, Starbuzz got into the e-cig game last fall and since then, Jacobson said growth in that category has been exponential.
“The biggest problem we have now is just taking the orders,” he said.
How has your industry changed in recent years?
Starbuzz started in 2005, and the main focus is still the hookah tobacco. That’s what we’re famous for. As the years go by, things like the electronic cigarettes and vaporizers come out and we’re already established, so when we come out with candles, e-cigs or hookah pens, people associate the Starbuzz name with it. Thankfully we’ve been able to capture outside our target demographic with these new products.
How do you make yourself stand out in a sea of electronic cigarettes?
The e-cig is the hottest product right now. We had a very big advantage because they’re all blueberry at the end of the day. But when you see the Starbuzz blue mist, that’s something that’s recognized worldwide, so automatically they’re able to know that this is backed by the Starbuzz name.
Why is there such a popularity with the e-cigs?
It’s not something other generations were even exposed to. There are new issues that are arising. The demand is because with younger demographics, it’s not this smelly thing that my parents were smoking. It’s just something hip in their eyes. As there’s a demand for technology, everything else follows. Everyone needs to be really stimulated now. It can’t just be a straightforward product.
Do you foresee any trouble on the horizon with Marlboro getting into the e-cig game?
I try not to focus on competition more so than just continuing to improve my own product and my own brand. We’ve always innovated in the market and I think that’s led to our success. Healthy competition is always good.
Resource: http://www.reviewjournal.com/business/retail/qa-jake-jacobson-regional-vice-president-starbuzz-tobacco-inc
No comments:
Post a Comment