bring lucky strike to the US!

[deebocools]

It's strange that the lucky strike tin says "an american original" and plays on american lore, yet It is not sold in the U.S. What is B.A.T. thinking? I think the sexy lucky strike tins would raise eyebrows and take off in the U.S. in no time.

The only thing I can think of is that they don't want confusion with cigarettes, but it's not like lucky strike is a huge seller anymore anyhow. marketing lucky strike, unadulterated, in the U.S. would be a great competitor to camel, if they marketed it on the same scale.

Smokers would latch onto the "toasted" flavor as similar to smoking without having to, and as a refreshing alternative to dip or the sugar-with-a-touch-of-tobacco camel line. The tin and history also appeals to a utilitarian, blue collar ideal that camel seems to be miles away from.

thoughts?

[OPKIS]

I can see the commercials already: R&B music, classic cars, a tin of LS whites rolled up in a t-shirt sleeve... :wink:

I also think it would be a big hit, but if so, I would worry that production would shift to the US and leave its present purity behind. You did specify 'unadulterated' but with success that might be the first thing lost.

[snusjus]

It's only Swedes and Norwegians that can appreciate real snus (all of us too). If authentic Lucky Strike were marked in America, consumers would complain there were not enough artificial sweeteners in the formula. It's sad really.

[ShaulWolf]

Sad to say I think snusjus is right... A few of the hardcore dippers I know couldn't keep an Ettan portion in for more than 30 minutes because it was too much of a strait tobacco flavor for them. Stuff like Grizzly and Skoal kinda ruined it for 'em. I did manage to get one guy really interested after he took my advice and tried it a couple more times. The only reason he isn't ordering right away is because it's easier to just go to the gift shop on campus and buy a few tins of dip instead of ordering online. I'm almost tempted to just order a roll and sell it on campus myself...

[snusjus]

One time I gave a dipper of Grizzly Wintergreen a Skruf Stark portion. Surprisingly, he enjoyed it. He said that it tasted like tea. However, people get used to their habits and usually like to stick with one brand (of dip). Another time, I gave a cigarette smoker the same snus and he liked it, but took it out after 20 minutes because it burned his gums too much (pussy cigarette smokers!).

[deebocools]

I honestly don't think that's the total truth.

It's easy(and fun) to say "americans suck and don't know what's what". But all the americans on this board, plus all the americans who mailorder snus who don't go on message boards, and the fact that camel snus has gained users(yeah, I know it's shit, but at least they tried something else), it all begs to differ.

I also don't think there's any real truth to the idea that americans have way sweeter tastebuds than other people(except, of course, you american snusers, who are so individual?). Camel snus just took a horrible approach to selling snus, it doesn't mean a company couldn't succeed with the traditional product.

Honestly, the United states, canada, and the swedes stuck with using smokeless tobacco while the rest of the world got high and mighty. The products obviously went in different directions, but there's crossover appeal and more similarities than differences.