A Day in the Life of a Retail Assistant #65 
Hi everyone! It has been another great week in sunny Norfolk, as it is now holiday season we are getting a lot more holiday makers coming in, however my favourite part of the week was seeing two customers who I hadn’t seen for a very long time.
On Monday, I was back in my usual role of shop assistant and online order picker and the orders were huge! But Josh and I worked our way through like we usually do. One of the orders was incredible, a box of the new E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Divinos and a box of the new E.P Carrillo Encore Edicion Unica Solidarios. Since getting these new ranges of E.P. Carrillo cigars, they have been flying off the shelf! I also served a customer, who was a regular online customer but only just realised we have a store too. He really enjoyed the experience as he felt looking online doesn’t give the cigar justice and having someone talk through the cigars with you helps much more. That is what the shops are all about, having that personal experience to help find the perfect cigar for you.
Tuesday was my marketing day and boy was I busy! I started by writing my article on the C.Gars cigar library. It’s about five cigars to enjoy in summer, which you can read here. I have chosen what I believe are five enjoyable cigars to sit outside in the sunshine, you’ll have to try them and let me know. Once I finished writing, I went to take my pictures and it seemed like I had loads to take. I took five pictures for the article as well as a banner, I then took the cigar of the month pictures for the monitors in our humidor – as always I can’t tell you what they are yet but I may have to try the New World selection. I then worked on all of the shops’ newsletters, they always send me pictures from their shops of their products and they do try their best, however sometimes they do ask for my help as they don’t have the marketing equipment that we have here. So I took more pictures to help out with their newsletters. Later on in the afternoon I started making the September New World Subscription box and this one is a must have! Again I can’t tell you what’s inside but there is a newer release from a highly respected brand.
On Wednesday, I was back in the shop with Josh. I was able to serve one of my favourite customers. The first time I met him was about two years ago, he brought in his wife and son. He wanted some cigars for himself and his son to try, however they liked different strengths. His son preferred lighter smokes as he was relatively new, however the father wanted the strongest cigars you could find. In the end the father decided to try a Davidoff Yamasa Piramides and has never looked back, his son tried the Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleur and has come back since to get more. Fast forward back to this visit and I haven’t seen any of the family for a long time. Finally the father came back and he is so happy with his new favourite cigar, the Davidoff Yamasa Piramides. It always feels me with joy when a suggestion of mine is someone’s new favourite cigar, anyway he came just looking for a couple of cigars for his son and his friend, and wanted something that wasn’t expensive and quite light. So I suggested the Mitchellero Peru Gordo – It is under £10 each and great smokes that won’t be too strong at all. He was happy with that selection and away he went, It’s always great when you get on with a customer so well. Later on that day, Josh was talking to a gentleman I have served plenty of times before. He then asked if I could serve him as I know what he tends to enjoy. In the end he walked away with five Charatan Churchills as well as four Mitchellero Peru Robusto Extra. He has tried the original robusto before and was going to try the same again but I wanted him to try the Peru as I felt they were better. He left with a smile on his face.
Later on in the day I had a general tidy up of the pipe room and started to change the displays around. Josh and I had a brainstorming session to see what we can do and we are happy with the results.
On Thursday, Billy and I were doing the New World stock count. It seemed to go on for ages and then we looked at the time and it wasn’t even 1pm and we were finished! It was unbelievable that we got it finished so quickly. So afterwards, Josh and I went back to the pipe room to continue working on the displays, you’ll have to come in and let us know what you think.
On Friday, I fully stocked up our humidors ready for another busy weekend! The Drew Estate Tabak Especial Toraja has been flying off the shelf ever since Josh bought himself a box. I’m sure he’s been enjoying them so much he has been telling everyone that comes through the door. In the afternoon Josh and I completed the weekly Cuban stock take, we do it so often it’s almost like clockwork.
I hope you have enjoyed this weeks activities and I hope to see you all in store very soon
So long for now
Oliver
