The nominees for the seventh annual 2018 Golden Band Awards have been announced by Davidoff. These awards are for Appointed Merchants of Davidoff who best represent the Davidoff Standard of Excellence.
The awards will be presented at Davidoff’s signature “White Party” which will be held July 15th at the Davidoff Las Vegas Cigar Bar – coinciding with the 2018 IPCPR Trade Show and Convention. The White Party will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Davidoff White Label brand.
“The Davidoff Golden Band Awards provide us with an opportunity to recognize our Appointed Merchant network and, in particular, those Appointed Merchants who have really taken their business with Davidoff to the next level. The success of Davidoff has been made possible through decades of close and longstanding partnerships with trusted merchants. Davidoff has a strong track record of cooperation with its family of retailers to help them grow their businesses, align on best practices and contribute towards the increased growth of the Davidoff brand,” says Jim Young, Chief Commercial Officer, Oettinger Davidoff AG in a press release.
“The Golden Band Awards provides us the opportunity to say thank you to our Davidoff Appointed Merchants not only for their partnership, but also their support, enthusiasm and commitment to high standards,” added Richard Krutick, Vice President of Marketing and Retail, Davidoff of Geneva USA.
2018 Nominees
Multiple award nominees include Ambassador Fine Cigars, Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, Blend Cigar Bar, Corona Cigar Company, Franklin Cigar, Hemingway Cigars, and Tobacco Grove.
Best Merchandising
This honors the Appointed Merchant who best meets the Davidoff Brand merchandising expectations. The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood (2015) and Franklin Cigar (2016) are previous winners in this category.
Ambassador Fine Cigars, Phoenix, AZ
Club Humidor, San Antonio, TX
Franklin Cigar, Franklin, TN
Hemingway Cigars, Palo Alto, CA
The Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood, Ridgewood, NJ
Best 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 three consecutive years (2012-2014). Maxamar won this award in 2016 and 2017.
Hemingway Cigars, Palo Alto, CA
Maxamar Ultimate Cigars, Orange, CA
Owl Shop, New Haven, CT
Regency Cigar Emporium, East Greenwich, RI
Tobacconist of Greenwich, Greenwich, CT
Best Performance (Multiple Location)
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with two or more locations that has the highest level of Davidoff brand purchases. Corona Cigar Company is a three-time winner of this category (2014, 2015, 2017). Ambassador Fine Cigars is a two-time winner (2013, 2016).
Ambassador Fine Cigars, Phoenix, AZ
Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, Tucson, AZ
Blend Bar Cigar, Indianapolis, IN
Corona Cigar Company, Orlando, FL
W. Curtis Draper Fine Tobacconist, Washington, DC
Davidoff Growth (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.
Cigar Room, Fort Lee, NJ
Franklin Cigar, Franklin, TN
Tobacco Grove, Maple Grove, MN
Up Down Cigar, Chicago, IL
Smoky’s Fine Cigars, Broomfield Hills, MI
Davidoff Growth (Multiple Locations)
This is awarded to the Appointed Merchant with two or more locations that has the largest percentage and dollar increase of Davidoff brand sales. Humidor of Westmont won this award in 2014.
Anthony’s Cigar Emporium, Tucson, AZ
Club Cubano Cigars, Countryside, IL
Diebel’s Sportmens Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Humidor of Westmont, Westmont, IL
Smoke Inn, Boynton Beach, F
Davidoff 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. Blend Cigar Bar won the award in 2016.
Blend Bar Cigar, Indianapolis, IN
Cigar Room, Fort Lee, NJ
Cigar Time, Cerritos, CA
Corona Cigar Company, Orlando, FL
Tobacco Grove, Maple Grove, MN
Past Winners
For reference, here were the previous winners.
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)
2016 Franklin Cigar (Franklin, Tennessee)
2017 The Cigar Shop of Biloxi (Biloxi, MS)
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 Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, Indiana)
2016 Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
2017 Maxamar Ultimate Cigars (Orange, CA)
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)
2016 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
2017 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)
2016 Hemingway’s (Palo Alto CA)
2017 Cigars by Chivas (Pasadena, CA)
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 (Chicago, IL)
2016 Tinder Box Cigars (Charlotte, North Carolina)
2017 Davidus Cigars (Frederick, Maryland)
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)
2016 Blend Bar Cigar (Indianapolis, IN)
2017 Ambassador Fine Cigars (Scottsdale, AZ)
Other Category Winners
Canadian Depositaire of the Year
2016 Zigareen – A Simple Pleasure (Calgary , AB)
2017 Burlington on Whyte (Edmonton, Alberta)
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, Strauss Tobacconist (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Harris Saunders, Cigars and More (Birmingham, Alabama)
2016:
Ron Michelson, Briar Patch (Sacramento, California)
Terry Gallagher, Smoker Friendly (Boulder, Colorado)
Mike Copperman, Cigar Rights of America
2017:
No Award
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, TX)
2016 Gary Kolesaire, Tobacco Shop of Ridgewood (Ridgewood, NJ)
2017 No Award
Best New Appointed Merchant
2015 Havana Phil’s Cigar Company (Greensboro, NC)
2016 Fogue & Bates (Tulsa, OK)
2017 No Award
