Nat Sherman Ships TAA Exclusive, Retailer Support Kits
Despite the current Coronavirus outbreak, Nat Sherman International remains busy with a new cigar exclusive for members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America and by implementing a program designed to help out cigar retailers working through the pandemic.
Shipping to retailers now, the Timeless 2020 TAA Limited Edition is a Nicaraguan puro measuring 6 inches by 50 ring gauge. Made in partnership with the Plasencia family at their factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, the new cigar’s filler and binder tobaccos all hail from the Jalapa region. The filler uses higher priming leaves while the wrapper leaf is a lower priming, sun-grown leaf from Estelí.
The Timeless logo looks the same as it has since Nat Sherman reorganized its cigar portfolio in 2018, but for the first time ever the cigar will be clad in a somber black band and secondary band with dark gray lettering. This cigar won’t be available in boxes, but instead will come in bundles of 10 wrapped in grey-smoked tissue paper. Quantities will be extremely limited as only 650 bundles will be produced and will retail for $120 each, or $12 per cigar.
Nat Sherman International also has implemented a program where they mail out free curbside pickup support kits to their retail partners still operating during the pandemic. These care packages are being sent now and include the following items: 25 shopping bags, 50 zipper bags, 25 cardboard carrying sleeves, a box of 25 matches and 25 cigar cutters. The items are meant to help keep cigar retailers stocked with items necessary to keep their businesses running.
“These are unprecedented times, and the spirit of community has never been more important,” Michael Herklots, Nat Sherman International’s vice president, told Cigar Aficionado. “We’re all in this together, and we need to help each other anyway we can. For those businesses who are still working hard to support their customers, we want to be there to support them.”
The curbside pickup program started on Monday and packages will ship out twice a week, as Nat Sherman International is carrying out the program with a significantly reduced staff.
Herklots also urges the public to do their part in helping to keep businesses afloat. “Reach out to your local retailer and see how you can support them. Buy a gift card, purchase cigars for pickup, have products delivered... We will get through this, together, stronger,” he said.
