For the third consecutive year, Davidoff Cigar will be hosting the Golden Band Award Show at the IPCPR Trade Show. The awards program is meant to honor and the company’s best Appointed Merchants that according to Davidoff “truly embody the Davidoff Standard of Excellence”. The Awards Ceremony will be held on the evening of July 21st as a part of Davidoff’s annual retailer event. Today, Davidoff announced the 2014 Golden Band Award nominees. Details about the nominees were issued in a press release and on the Golden Band Awards web-site.

Tinder Box Cigars of Charlotte and Tobacconist of Greenwich led all retailers will three nominations for 2014.

“The Golden Band Awards has proven to be a very powerful way for us to honor our Appointed Merchants for their continued partnership,” said Richard Krutick, Director of Marketing for Davidoff. “The excitement continues to grow year over year and helps fuel the passion and commitment to the brand for all involved.”

Here is a list of the nominees for 2014 followed by the award recipients for 2012 and 2013:

Best Merchandising

This honors the Appointed Merchant who best meets the Davidoff Brand merchandising expectations.

The Briar Shoppe (Houston, Texas)
Burns Tobacconist (Chattanooga, TN)
Cup O’ Joes (Queensbury, NY)
The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
Briaf Patch (Sacramento, CA)

Best Davidoff Performance (Single Location)

This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with a single location that has the highest level of Davidoff brand purchases.  The Tobacconist of Greenwich won this award in 2012 and 2013.

Blend Cigar Bar (Indianapolis, IN)
Georgetown Tobacco and Pipe Store (Washington, DC)
Jack Schwartz Importer (Chicago, IL)
Regency Cigar Emporium (East Greenwich, RI)
The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)

Best Davidoff Performance (Multiple Locations)

This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with two or more locations that has the highest level of Davidoff brand purchases. Humidor of Westmont won the award in 2012 Ambassador Fine Cigars won’t he award last year.

Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
Humidor Of Westmont  (Westmont, IL)
Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
Tinder Box Cigars (Charlotte, NC)
Barclay Rex (New York NY)

Davidoff Growth Award (Single Location)

This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with a single location that has the largest percentage and dollar increase of Davidoff brand sales. Hemingway’s was a nominee last year.

Cigarz on the Avenue (Winter Park, FL)
Smoky’s Fine Cigars (Bloomfield, MI)
Hemingway’s (Palo Alto, CA)
8 to 8 Cigars (Chicago, IL)
The Smoke Shop of Naples (Naples, FL)

Davidoff Growth Award (Multiple Locations)

This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with a two or more location that has the largest percentage and dollar increase of Davidoff brand sales.  Ambassador Fine Cigars was nominated for this award in 2013.

Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
Humidor Of Westmont  (Westmont, IL)
Serious Cigars (Houston, TX)
Tinder Box Cigars (Charlotte, NC)
Anthony’s Cigar Emporium (Tucson, AZ)

Industry Service Award

Bestowed upon an individual from our Appointed Merchants who has done the most to sustain the premium cigar industry and to advance the industry’s agenda in legislation, regulation and the community.  In a change from previous years, the recipient will be announced the evening of the Golden Band Awards.

Appointed Merchant of the Year

This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with the largest percentage and dollar increase of the complete Davidoff of Geneva Distribution portfolio.  These are five new nominees for 2014.

Blend Cigar Bar (Indianapolis, IN)
The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
Hemingway’s (Palo Alto, CA)
Tinder Box Cigars (Charlotte, NC)
Cigar Box (Miami, FL)

Zino Davidoff Legacy Award

This is awarded to an individual in our industry, from amongst out Appointed Merchants, who has stood out over the yers as a true champion of what premuim cigars and premium cigar retailing is all about.

For reference, here were the previous winners. These winners were given the opportunity to carry the ultra-limited Davidoff Golden Band cigar for 2012 or 2013 depending on the year won.

Best Merchandising
2012 Island Smoke Shop (Key Largo, FL)
2013 Prime Cigar & Wine Bar (Boca Raton, FL)

Best Davidoff Performance (Single Location)
2012 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2013 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)

Best Davidoff Performance (Multiple Locations)
2012 Humidor Of Westmont  (Westmont, IL)
2013 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)

Davidoff Growth Award (Single Location)
2012 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2013 Angry Moon Cigars (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

Davidoff Growth Award (Multiple Locations)
2012 Cigars by Chivas (Pasadena, CA)
2013 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)

Industry Service Award

2012:
John Andersson, W. Curtis Draper (Washington, DC)
Craig Cass, Tinder Box of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
Jeff Borysiewicz, Corona Cigar (Orlando, FL)
Christian Hutson, Just for Him Cigars (Springfield, MO)

2013:
Finnie Helmuth, The Humidour Cigar Shoppe (Cockeysville, MD)
Curt Diebel, Diebel’s Sportsmens Gallery  (Kansas City, MO)
Gary Pech, Old Virginia Tobacco (Woodbridge, VA)

Appointed Merchant of the Year
2012 Tinder Box Waldorf (Waldorf, MD)
2013 Maxamar Cigar (Orange, CA)

Zino Davidoff Legacy Award
2012 Diana Silvius, UpDown Cigars (Chicago, IL)
2013 David Berkebile, Georgetown Tobacco