General Principles

[Darwin]

I applaud SM's push to get product into stores nationwide but wonder why they are limiting this push to the General brand. I've no idea what internal rivalries exist among SM brands, if any, but it seems that along with General a few other brands from the SM stable could be included in that effort without raising the promotional ante very much . Ettan for example, along with GR and Roda would allow a much wider selection without needing that much more stock. White portion, GWG, Mint, Gen. Sterk, Ettan OP, RL, GR, and General/Ettan Los would be a dandy starter package that wouldn't need an outsized fridge. That's a total of six different flavors across a fairly broad taste spectrum.

If such a selection parachuted into place near me I doubt I'd be bugging the retailer very much to expand. I think it would be a go even in this lamentable cultural backwater.

[PipenSnus]

I suspect they're only pushing the General brand just to keep things simple while getting their foot in the door with many retailers. Worth of mouth ought to do the rest. People familiar with SM's entire line will ask the retailer the same question you just did. Better for the customers to demand the brands than to have the distributor be pressuring a reluctant retailer into stocking them.

[danielan]

I agree - keep it simple to start.

I wonder if they are having problems with distribution in the US.

My local shop is sold out of pretty much everything.

The only things left are the ones I haven't been buying. i.e., los and white.

I asked the manager/owner and he mentioned that he sells a bunch of mini whites but they are back-ordered.

Which seems weird.

[Darwin]

Heck I'd be happy if there was a single lonely can of General White for sale anywhere within 50 miles of here.

[PipenSnus]

My local tobacconist has a General mini-fridge, and a Camel mini-fridge. The only SM brand they carry is General, but they've got more demand for it than they can handle. Apparently they're one of the few stores in the state that carries it, and their doing more mail-order than walk-in business. And I'm in a major tobacco state.

With so few brick and mortar tobacconists left, a main distribution channel is weakened. It can't be easy to go into cigarette discount outlets, mom & pop groceries and the like, and convince the proprietors to carry snus. Now if they can get a major retail chain to stock and market Swedish snus properly, maybe one of the big liquor chains like Liquor Outlet, sales might take off big time. But I don't see that happening, at least not any time soon. I heard my local Liquor Outlet carries General, but haven't verified it firsthand.

[timholian]

Spec's is a Liquor/Specialty store here in Houston (and elsewhere Im sure) that is listed on the Generals website as stocking their product but so far I have only seen them carry samples of General mint white portion. They sell cigars and other tobacco products so I assume they will be carrying General at least in the future. I am guessing that Spec's is our version of Liquor Outlet, so it is already happening here or at least starting to happen. I haven't really asked them many questions but when I mention it they get a dumb look on their face and shrug. I really hope they start to carry General at least because I am sure it would sell.

[shikitohno]

It could just be General is there best selling brand in Sweden, so they're hoping to replicate that success here. I realise it's probably hard for them to get places to start carrying it over here, but I think the current strategy could backfire. In the US, damn near all our tobacco tastes the same. Especially in cigarettes. You've got menthol, and non-menthol, with only minor taste differences across brands. Dippers would probably be more likely to try a different line if they didn't like General, but the big market here is smokers that could be turned into snusers, not dippers to be converted. If General doesn't g over so well here in the US, and they later bring over Röda Lacket or Ettans, I think many people will think it probably tastes exactly the same, and dismiss it without trying it. I think the variety is a big part of the draw for Americans, at the very least initially. If this one brand strategy continues, I can see SM missing out on a lot of potential customers. Also, they should get it out in the suburbs and rural areas. I realise cities are a larger market, but for smokeless I think the suburbs/country is where they need to be focusing.

[AllanH]

I'm intrigued by General being marketed on its own in USA, I mean it has very distinctive taste and can be quite harsh on gums. Ettan and especially Grov'd be as good or even better option for American market or any market in my mind.

[shikitohno]

I think a General Mint or some other more sweet brand would probably appeal more to typical American tastes. General and the other brands with a solid tobacco taste aren't bad for those who already like tobacco, but I've seen a lot f things that say in the US, people tend to start with a sweet or fruity flavoured dip/chew, and over time switch over to a more natural taste.

[lxskllr]

It could just be General is there best selling brand in Sweden, so they're hoping to replicate that success here. I realise it's probably hard for them to get places to start carrying it over here, but I think the current strategy could backfire. In the US, damn near all our tobacco tastes the same. Especially in cigarettes. You've got menthol, and non-menthol, with only minor taste differences across brands. Dippers would probably be more likely to try a different line if they didn't like General, but the big market here is smokers that could be turned into snusers, not dippers to be converted. If General doesn't g over so well here in the US, and they later bring over Röda Lacket or Ettans, I think many people will think it probably tastes exactly the same, and dismiss it without trying it. I think the variety is a big part of the draw for Americans, at the very least initially. If this one brand strategy continues, I can see SM missing out on a lot of potential customers. Also, they should get it out in the suburbs and rural areas. I realise cities are a larger market, but for smokeless I think the suburbs/country is where they need to be focusing.

That's a pretty good point. One way to counteract that would be to continue with the big General push, but release the other flavors in small boxes as a specialty set. That would work well at tobacco shops. Put the snus in a nice metal box to show it off, and I bet that would get people interested. Let word of mouth spread the news to everyone else.

[shikitohno]

As many others have said before, I also think SM needs to focus less on getting it into tobacco shops and more on getting at least one or two big chain stores to sell it if they want snus to be someone's go-to tobacco product rather than something they try once for novelty. Tobacconists are hit or miss, and not many cigarette smokers go in them unless they also smoke cigars or pipes. If I'm on the fence about switching to snus, and say I have a long commute and am unsure where to get it near work or can't get it near work, I'm not going to do it. I know perfectly well I can buy Camels or Marlboro wherever I go in the US. General, on the other hand, if I go to the next state over there may not even be a retailer in the whole state that stocks it. If SM could get Delhaize or Shop Rite or Price Chopper on board to stock it in their stores, I think it would see more sales, and that sort of move would make it much more practical for someone who doesn't want to order off the internet or have a stockpile at home to switch to snus.

[AllanH]

You have Delhaize in US? My favourite Belgian store. I used to live there years back.

[timoteo]

id like to see it at 7-11 and my local liqour stores..

dont forget GES &N&J!!!

[midnight]

I'm sure they're only introducing General because of its wide product range and name recognition. Every snuser has tried some type of general, and having one brand available in los, whites, regular portions, minis, mint, wintergreen, etc allows for new snusers to experiment around and learn what they really like in that family. SM will probably look at these sales trends and introduce non-general products in varieties that seem to be selling the best in the US. Space must be an issue, too---if tobacco shops are selling out of snus frequently, then I'm sure they'd be happy to invest in a larger fridge, but for those that don't sell much they probably will keep their current mini fridge as it is. I am upset that GS, GES, and GES los aren't available in the US though. I feel like they'd help a lot of smokers / dippers feel like they could use it to quit and transfer over.

[shikitohno]

You have Delhaize in US? My favourite Belgian store. I used to live there years back.

We don't have Delhaize specifically, but the Delhaize group owns a number of chain grocers.