The Blacklisted Dominican Sales Funnel Abandoned
And it’s a beautiful thing, even when you are aware that you are in the middle of it. How can we replicate it online?
Cigars. Anyone that knows me, knows that I love cigars. And I’m not talking about the everyday run-of-the-mill White Owl or black and mild machine rolled cigars, I mean quality, hand-rolled puros. Cigars such as Montecristo, Cohiba, and H. Upman might come to your mind right off the bat.
On a recent trip to the Dominican Republic, I knew I was going to search and find some quality Dominican Republic cigars.
My google search lead me to Cigar Bavaro Tours, and I was happy to know it was a quick 8 km away or an 11-minute ride with my Uber driver.
Upon my arrival at the store, I was greeted with a friendly smile, a firm handshake, and an introduction from a gentleman named Big Mike. I was also introduced to some of the other owners/workers in the store and they too had warm friendly smiles, firm handshakes, or fist bumps and I knew a good time was to be had.
Big Mike motioned me towards their walk-in humidor I felt like the proverbial kid in the penny candy store! Opening the door, the rich aromas of all the tobacco aging filled my senses. Racks and rows of rolled and bundled cigars greeted my eyes.
Big Mike asked me what kind of cigars I like to smoke, the sizes, and the strengths of the cigars. Such a very personable man, I felt like I had known him for ages! Upon sitting down he also asked me if I would be interested in a cup of coffee or espresso. Nodding my head yes, I knew the coffee (another one of my favorites) was going an experience for my taste buds. (It was!)
I explain to him that I enjoy a morning or breakfast cigar on the front nine when I play golf, he immediately went to the shelf and found a Connecticut wrap cigar that he said I would enjoy. Deftly cutting it and putting the torch to it, with my first draw I knew he was not wrong.
As I took my first few draws on the cigar, the tobacco transformed from a dull grey to a beautiful, true ashen color. As I continued to savor the moment, the ash continued to stay intact and did not fall apart, like some of the lesser grade quality cigars that I have experienced in the past. To me, that was the first tip that I knew these were going to be good.
As we smoked and chatted during the first cigar he continue to ask me questions about what other cigars I liked. Big Mike proceeded to bring three more different cigars off the shelf.
The second one was reminiscent of a Montecristo. The third was very similar and as smooth as Arturo Fuente's Opus X. The fourth one was fermented with a hint of cognac. The flavors, the quality, and the smoothness of these cigars need to be experienced to fully appreciate the quality and care that this company puts into its cigars.
After finishing our cigars, our coffee, and a little bit of cognac, we haggled prices, (because that’s what you do in a cigar shop in the Dominican Republic.) We decided on quantity and the particular cigars that I wanted.
The whole experience from getting out of the Uber, being greeted by Big Mike, and saying goodbye after I happily purchased my cigars can’t be overstated.
As I was in the middle of all this, I realized the sales funnel that I was in and I didn’t mind it. This is a man that in a short amount of time got to know me, offered me a few samples, and was very gracious with his time, knowledge, and expertise.
The pricing on the quality of these cigars actually stunned me! You’re not going to find cigars like this around. One of his favorite quotes was “you’re smoking the cigar not the label.” I couldn’t agree more!
Cigars from Bavaro are exceptional and I look forward to purchasing more from him, he even said they can ship to the states. (Who else is wants to “Go In” with me on a few hundred sticks?) I’m looking forward to visiting their plantation on my next journey here.
Next, how do we re-create or replicate a similar experience through sales funnels online? How do we make visitors to our site feel welcomed? How can we make them at ease and get to know them? I also know this process must be very easy to do.
I believe it is through a welcoming video that doesn’t just talk about ourselves & our product. We must connect with their emotions and what they have been through and perhaps they are still going through. Emotions sell, and we must enter their reality and where they are currently at.
So there it is. If we can follow this same, simple process, that I believe many people have abandoned, we can revive this simple Dominican sales funnel and be successful.
“Who else wants to enjoy a virtual coffee break and talk cigars?” Let’s schedule a chat! https://calendly.com/tcsherwood/coffeebreak “Smoke em if you got em!” I look forward to hearing from you!
