Press Release: Big Easy Tobacco Co. Acquired by Michael Giordano

October 29, 2013 (Weston, Fla.) — Harbour Bay, Inc. the parent company of the Big Easy Tobacco Co. in Suffern, NY has been acquired by Michael Giordano, President of Quality Importers Trading Co., Inc. for an undisclosed amount.

Established in 1994, Harbour Bay, Inc. / The Big Easy wholesales and distributes a diverse selection of smoking accessories including cigar ashtrays, cutters, travel cases, humidors, humidification devices, lighters, pipes, flasks, hookahs and MYO cigarette products. Circulation of its 90-page catalog on a quarterly basis is sent to over 5000 retail tobacconists nationwide.

The Big Easy Tobacco Company will operate from Quality Importers’ distribution center in Weston, FL and shall continue to transact business as its own separate entity.

“I am happy to have Mike acquire Big Easy and am confident that my customers will receive excellent service and support,” says Rich Fleming, President of Harbour Bay/Big Easy.

“Rich has done a fantastic job with innovation and carving out his spot in the marketplace,” says Giordano. “We believe it is best to preserve and grow that space into a one-stop tobacconist provider, while staying true to the roots of what Rich has built over the years.”

“Through consolidation of our resources, we have the ability to incorporate many of the industry’s boutique cigars and pipe tobaccos into Big Easy’s distribution channel, while also having access to QI’s family of cigar and accessory brands. Ultimately, it enables us to deliver the most value to retailers worldwide.”

Additionally, in an effort to deliver the most flexibility and convenience for its retailers, the Big Easy is creating a new wholesale internet portal located at ShopBigEasy.com for a 24/7/365 online ordering experience.

For more information about Quality Importers Trading Co., Inc visit www.QualityImporters.com

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.