How to builld the logic of the tobacco brands assortiment in the lounge? Your concept

Greetings to all owners and managers of shisha lounges!

One of the main, if not the most important component of a hookah establishment is tobacco and its availability. Nowadays, there are many tobacco blends with different prices, flavors and strengths. How do you choose the right ones? How should the tobacco matrix be filled? The topic of today’s discussion will be the logic of building a tobacco shelf and its assortment.

Next, I would like to review the aspects that I feel should be considered when creating a lounge tobacco matrix:

Target audience.

Tobacco selection should be based on an analysis of the target audience to ensure a balance between affordability and quality. The lounge can be visited by different audiences: from experienced smokers who are familiar with the subtleties of tobacco blends to beginners who are just starting to get acquainted with the world of hookah smoking.

Assortment and availability.

The matrix of flavors should be varied and able to satisfy any guest request. Many items should be made interchangeable and frequently used, so as not to freeze funds. When forming the matrix of the hookah shop, it is necessary to take into account the purchase of goods and maintenance of the assortment in stock.

Pricing.

Hookah pricing allows you to reduce or expand the matrix, depending on which groups of guests you want to reach. Some are willing to pay for premium tobacco, while others are looking for more affordable options. It is also necessary to take into account the cost of each tobacco, so that the institution to make a profit, and not go into the minus.

Hookah masters.

All communication and presentation of flavors to guests is done through the staff of the establishment, so it is desirable to form a matrix together with them for further promotion of tobaccos and work with them.There is even such a saying: “The guest smokes what the master offers”.Also, masters can inform you about the guests’ requests and the flavors that they do not have enough of in their work.

Novelties and limited editions.

I would like to emphasize one interesting practice. Many establishments take industry novelties and various limited offers at the moment of their appearance on the market and offer them to guests in order to understand whether they should be introduced into the matrix or not.

Bottom line.

Forming a tobacco shelf in a hookah lounge is a balance between the requests of guests and employees, the price of the product and current trends.

Paying attention to these points, you will be able to create a range that will contribute to the success of your institution.

Here is what I would like ask you to do in the comments section (business discussion):

•   Please write your option to create a tobacco matrix in your lounge and explain why?

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