IPCPR 2017: Quality Importers

Much of the excitement in the Quality Importers booth was not about things you will be able to purchase and bring home later this year. Michael Giordano, the company’s owner, told me that the addition of Michael Cellucci, the former Drew Estate ceo, had a noticeable effect in the company’s trade show. He was quite blunt, saying there were retailers stopping by the booth that never would have before.

As for that booth, it’s pretty spread out with four distinct areas showing off the company’s wide array of products which range from cutters, lighters, humidors, cigar clips, cigars and just about everything between. It has a couple of core brands, notably Palió and Stinky Ashtrays, the former of which was the star of the booth.

Palió Warranty + Pricing

The biggest news from the trade show is inevitably something you cannot see: Palió’s warranty is back and its price is lower. The company says it will now offer consumers a no questions asked policy that can be honored at the retail level. Retailers will be able to trade out product for consumers and then have the product replaced by the company.

In addition, the price of the cutters has been lowered. The black Palió cutter will now start at $29.90, most other colors will retail for $33.90 and the burl wood, came and carbon fiber options will retail for $37.90.

Palió Table Top Cutter

This new cutter features four different cuts, two v- and two straight. It will retail for $150 and is expected to ship next year.

I spoke to two retailers who specifically mentioned this cutter as being one of the more impressive accessories they saw at the show, which is saying something given it won’t be shipping for some time.

Launch Date: 2018

Palió Lighter Case

There are brown and black cases available for your Palió. Both are priced at $30.

Classic Style Table Top Cutter

Priced at $89.90, this cutter is reminiscent of old school Italian cigar cutters. It features a single blade attached to a wooden base that cuts cigars in a chopping method. The big difference between this and the Italian cutters I’v seen is the price, with this version being almost a third of the price.

Get-A-Grip Cigar Clip Orange

It’s a new color for the Get-A-Grip Cigar Clip.

Carolina / Napa / Steel City Humidor Supreme

Quality Importers is probably the largest supplier of humidors within the cigar industry and it’s expanded one of the company’s popular desktop humidor options. Three new finishes for the Humidor Supreme Model.

All three are priced at $150.