A tobacconist is a merchant who sells tobacco products and accessories, according to dictionaries. However, the term, which originated in the United Kingdom, has come to mean a little more than this basic definition. A tobacconist is more than just a tobacco seller in everyday English. He or she is a tobacco-products merchant who is knowledgeable about tobacco sales, manufacturing, and marketing, as well as the accessories and products associated with tobacco and its use.
Many tobacconists run their own businesses, a tradition that dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries in Great Britain, when tobacco was first introduced to Europeans. Tobacco shops have always been, and continue to be, a niche business, which means that a typical tobacconist must be skilled in the skills required of any small retailer, such as inventory and accounts management, as well as other fundamentals of day-to-day operations. An organization called Tobacconist’s University, which is sponsored by a major cigar manufacturer, offers certification as a professional tobacconist.
A tobacconist’s true expertise is their comprehensive knowledge of all brands and types of tobacco products, which distinguishes them from a shop that simply sells cigarettes. A skilled tobacconist will have a command of tobacco knowledge comparable to a master sommelier’s or wine steward’s command of wine. Tobacco products, particularly fine cigars and pipe tobaccos, come in a wide variety of flavors, and many people enjoy and consume them in addition to those who smoke cigarettes for the nicotine.
Cigars, for example, are a crucial component of any tobacconist’s stock. When smoked, cigars exhibit a wide range of behaviors and come in a variety of flavors and aromas. Fine cigars can cost hundreds of dollars each, so customers can benefit from the advice and knowledge of a skilled tobacconist who can assess and recall the relative merits of various tobacco products.
A typical tobacconist shop, in addition to cigars, sells a wide range of tobacco products and accessories. Most, of course, sell cigarettes, but some prefer to focus on finer products such as cigars, pipe tobaccos, and snuff rather than mass market cigarette brands or even cigarettes at all. Personal humidors for cigars, pipes, high-quality lighters, cigar cutters, and other accessories are sold by many. Tobacco pipes, particularly those carved from meerschaum, a type of hardened clay, are often considered collectible.
A walk-in humidor is another feature of a typical tobacconist’s shop that distinguishes it from a regular tobacco retailer. This is a room-sized, sealed enclosure with temperature and humidity controls to keep cigars and tobacco products in the best possible condition.