5,741
edits
Dunhill: Difference between revisions
→About Family Business
| Line 283: | Line 283: | ||
<!--T:32--> | <!--T:32--> | ||
Highly innovative, Alfred starts his new journey in 1907, exploring his other interests by opening a cigar and tobacco shop in London on Duke Street-31A. It would take three years for Dunhill to start his pipe manufacturing, in the meantime, commercialized third-party pipes (French and, lastly, Charatan). | |||
At first Alfred did not know much about the tobacco business, but was learning as he dealt with his clients. Of keen sensitivity, he soon realized that most of the pipes available in the market were of low quality and that he could commercialize better quality products at twice the price. In the early days Alfred faced some financial problems, like most traders at the beginning of their ventures. Your tobacco shop wasn't the only one in the area. There was strong competition, but short of the average quality expected by the public. Alfred explored this market deficiency and established a new standard of quality and service. | |||
At first, the focus was on the tobaccos. As he himself defined in his first catalog, published in 1910, called "About Smoke ", he was an expert in making blends, which he exhibited prominently in his entry window: "Tobacco specialist". Alfred Dunhill was a born merchant and when he opened his first tobacco shop, he knew exactly where he wanted to go. | |||
In the following images, we have Alfred and his two assistants, with whom he shared the tasks. He used to go to the store every day in the afternoon. The second colour image (the third in order), is part of Dunhill's Centennial commemoration set in 2007. | |||
In 1907, the first pipes and tobacco shop opened on Duke St. The shop soon came to be known for its customized blends. Each customer could come and create his own recipe, noted in a little book entitled “my mixture.” This is a prime example of Dunhill’s ability to tailor itself to the customer’s needs. Alfred Dunhill however, was unsatisfied with the current quality of available pipes. The pipes coming in from France were highly varnished and consequently clogged the pores of the briar. They were simply not doing justice to his creative blending. | In 1907, the first pipes and tobacco shop opened on Duke St. The shop soon came to be known for its customized blends. Each customer could come and create his own recipe, noted in a little book entitled “my mixture.” This is a prime example of Dunhill’s ability to tailor itself to the customer’s needs. Alfred Dunhill however, was unsatisfied with the current quality of available pipes. The pipes coming in from France were highly varnished and consequently clogged the pores of the briar. They were simply not doing justice to his creative blending. | ||