For the fifth consecutive year, Davidoff Cigars will be hosting the Golden Band Award Show. The event will be held July 26th at the Davidoff’s annual retailer event being held at the IPCPR Trade Show in Las Vegas. 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”. Today, Davidoff announced the 2016 Golden Band Award nominees .
This year a new category to recognize Canadian retailers is being added to the program.
There were six retailers that received multiple nominations. Scottsdale’s Ambassador Fine Cigars and Palo Alto’s Hemingway’s each led the pack with 3 nominations. Also receiving multiple nominations include: Franklin Cigar, Maxamar Ultimate Cigars, DW International Distributors LLC, and Doc James Cigars & Golf.
Here is a list of the nominees for 2016 followed by the award recipients over the past four years:
Best New Appointed Merchant
As the name indicates, this is awarded to the best new appointed merchant for 2015. Last year. The award was added last year and Havana Phil’s Cigar Company in Greensboro, North Carolina took home the trophy.
Fogue & Bates (Tulsa, Oklahoma.)
Franklin Cigar (Franklin, Tennessee)
Smoker’s Haven (Columbus, Ohio)
Tobacco Grove (Maple Grove, Minnesota)
ZT Cigars (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Best Merchandising
This honors the Appointed Merchant who best meets the Davidoff Brand merchandising expectations.
Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Club Humidor (San Antonio, Texas)
Franklin Cigar (Franklin, Tennessee)
Just For Him (Springfield, Missouri
Tobacco Locker (Port Charlotte, Florida)
Canadian Depositaire of the Year
This is the new award for Canadian retailers.
Cigar Connoisseurs (Vancouver, British Columbia)
The Humidor Cigar Co Ltd. (Vaughan, Ontario)
Nottingham Cigars & Pipes (Edmonton, Alberta)
Vasco (Montreal, Quebec)
Zigareen – A Simple Pleasure (Calgary, Alberta)
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 has won this award the first three years.
Blend Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Hemingway’s (Palo Alto, California)
Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, California)
Regency Cigar Emporium (East Greenwich, Rhode Island)
Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, Connecticut)
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 while Ambassador Fine Cigars won this award in 2013.
Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Casa de Montecristo (Countryside, Illinois)
DW International Distributors LLC (Santa Monica, California)
Humidor of Westmont (Westmont, Illinois)
Serious Cigars (Houston, Texas)
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. Cigars on the Avenue (who was not nominated) won this award the past two years.
Buckhead Cigar Club (Atlanta, Georgia)
Doc James Cigars & Golf (Westchester County, New York)
Hemingway’s (Palo Alto, California)
Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, California)
Mission Wine & Tobacco Co. (Pasadena, California)
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 (Scottsdale, Arizona)
DW International Distributors LLC (Santa Monica, California)
Puff N Stuff (Decatur, Georgia)
Smoke Inn (Palm Beach, Florida)
Tinder Box Cigars (Charlotte, North Carolina)
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 2016.
Blend Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Doc James Cigars & Golf (Westchester County, New York)
Hemingway’s (Palo Alto, California)
The Humidor Cigars and Lounge (Wichita, Kansas)
Prime Cigar & Wine Bar (Boca Raton, Florida)
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. The recipient will be announced the evening of the Golden Band Awards.
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. The winner will be announced the night of the event.
For reference, here were the previous winners. These winners were given the opportunity to carry the ultra-limited Davidoff Golden Band cigar.
Best New Appointed Merchant
2015 Havana Phil’s Cigar Company (Greensboro, NC)
Best Merchandising
2012 Island Smoke Shop (Key Largo, FL)
2013 Prime Cigar & Wine Bar (Boca Raton, FL)
2014 Cup O’ Joes (Queensbury, NY)
2015 Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood (Ridgewood, NJ)
Best Davidoff Performance (Single Location)
2012 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2013 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2014 The Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
2015 Blend Cigar Bar (Indianapolis, IN)
Best Davidoff Performance (Multiple Locations)
2012 Humidor Of Westmont (Westmont, IL)
2013 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2014 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
2015 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
Davidoff Growth Award (Single Location)
2012 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2013 Angry Moon Cigars (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
2014 Cigarz on the Avenue (Winter Park, FL)
2015 Cigarz on the Avenue (Winter Park, FL)
Davidoff Growth Award (Multiple Locations)
2012 Cigars by Chivas (Pasadena, CA)
2013 Corona Cigar Company (Orlando, FL)
2014 Humidor of Westmont (Westmont, IL)
2015 Casa de Montecristo (Countryside, IL)
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)
2014:
David Garafolo, Two Guys Smoke Shop (New Hampshire)
Gary Kolesaire, Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood (Ridgewood, NJ)
2015:
Jim Clark Straus Tobacconist (Cincinnati,Ohio)
Harris Saunders, Cigars and More (Birmingham, Alabama)
Appointed Merchant of the Year
2012 Tinder Box Waldorf (Waldorf, MD)
2013 Maxamar Cigar (Orange, CA)
2014 Tinder Box of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
2015 Tobacconist of Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
Zino Davidoff Legacy Award
2012 Diana Silvius, UpDown Cigars (Chicago, IL)
2013 David Berkebile, Georgetown Tobacco
2014 Curt Diebel, Diebel’s Sportsmens Gallery (Kansas City, MO)
2015 Keith Rumbo, Club Humidor (San Antonio, Texas)
