Can't seem to convert even Camel snus users...

[Ansel]

I've had people that are desperately trying to give up smoking. I offer them snus, telling them they'll have given up as easily as falling off a log. They refuse. The more I go through life the more depressed I become at how retarded people are.

*likes*

[resnor]

Oh, I know that there are many great flavors awaiting FDA approval. I'm just not holding out hope. LOL

[rickcharles606]

Rick

My thoughts on the above bold type might be more "clear" (regards marketing) after having watched countless YouTube videos with Dippers.

I'll let it go at that.

Dan

Okay, not sure what you're saying here...but sure your thoughts are more clear. You win :-)

[trebli]

Close, the last numbers I saw were Camel- 80%, SM-15% and the remaining points split between the rest. The total market was only around $200M at year end, but expected to have near flat growth next year due to the popularity of e-cigs right now. I'll be working on stealing marketshare from everyone else :-)

Thanks for the info Rick. Hang in there and I think you will be successful. It may sound farfetched to say this, but I can envision a time in the future when the Swedes will sell more snus in America than they sell in Sweden.

[DanF]

Dan...way ahead of you brother. The discreetness of Swedish snus is second to none and we continually tout this benefit. Also, we don't actively seek to "pull" dippers over to the snus side, because they are the toughest sell, so to speak. A dip user is accustomed to certain "mouthfeel" that snus cannot replicate, and there is the spitting aspect of dipping that snus of course cannot provide. Well, I guess it could, but isn't required. At any rate, thanks for the thoughts.

Resnor...we're working on getting many great flavors through the FDA now. Once that happens, we'll be able to offer the American public far more variety.

Rick

My thoughts on the above bold type might be more "clear" (regards marketing) after having watched countless YouTube videos with Dippers.

I'll let it go at that.

Dan

[rickcharles606]

Dan...way ahead of you brother. The discreetness of Swedish snus is second to none and we continually tout this benefit. Also, we don't actively seek to "pull" dippers over to the snus side, because they are the toughest sell, so to speak. A dip user is accustomed to certain "mouthfeel" that snus cannot replicate, and there is the spitting aspect of dipping that snus of course cannot provide. Well, I guess it could, but isn't required. At any rate, thanks for the thoughts.

Resnor...we're working on getting many great flavors through the FDA now. Once that happens, we'll be able to offer the American public far more variety.

[DanF]

I'm a former dipper. I snus almost exclusively now. I can use it anywhere, at anytime, and no one has to know. I love dipping, though, there's something about it, the spitting I guess, that snus doesn't fill. Anyway,I have been successful at converting about 5 people I work with to snus, but it was the Jakobsson's Melon that got them! That is a key, I believe, getting a flavor like melon into the U.S. People can acclimate to snus through a strong flavored snus, and will eventually branch out to other more traditional flavors.

+1

Dan

[resnor]

I'm a former dipper. I snus almost exclusively now. I can use it anywhere, at anytime, and no one has to know. I love dipping, though, there's something about it, the spitting I guess, that snus doesn't fill. Anyway,I have been successful at converting about 5 people I work with to snus, but it was the Jakobsson's Melon that got them! That is a key, I believe, getting a flavor like melon into the U.S. People can acclimate to snus through a strong flavored snus, and will eventually branch out to other more traditional flavors.

[Frosted]

Also when people ask what it is you're putting in your mouth and you say "snoose" it sounds pretty naff. If it had a cooler name it would have more of a chance to catch on. But even then the English always say I'm not putting those tea bags in my mouth.

[DanF]

Close, the last numbers I saw were Camel- 80%, SM-15% and the remaining points split between the rest. The total market was only around $200M at year end, but expected to have near flat growth next year due to the popularity of e-cigs right now. I'll be working on stealing marketshare from everyone else :-)

Rick

Something you might also want to think about when trying to further promote and broaden the Swedish Snus market:

E-Cigs and Vaping (whatever) have already cornered the "cool" aspect to the younger demographic consumer. If cool is the correct word regarding any of this. And cool is generally still a catch word in advertising.

However, if it were me trying to capture a bigger market for Swedish Snus: I would aim at the "secretive" aspect for satisfying a very personal craving.

E-Cigs etc. are a very much "in your face", use of nicotine consumption to the public.

The Politically Correct wave sweeping (and I use "sweeping" mildly) this country today is on a huge band wagon to have the rest of society also march to their every single GD step.

Snus beats them all to the "punch".

I'd push the "clean" aspect of using an enjoyable product designed to not only free people from smoking but also to enjoy (in privacy with no one scolding them) a product that is varied, and relativly safe.

Actually, I think you are on the cusp of finding a giant market in this country.

Some day we'll be reading stories about this Rick Charles guy who turned the US consumer into a market comparable to that of Sweden.

I plan on being around (if the bike allows) to see it all happen.

Dan

P.S.

I left out a rather important point re: Snus as compared to Dip.

The Dip consumer is generally a consumer you should not be going after. For many reasons which I won't go into but should be evident to you.

Don't beat the drums for the "Dipper".

Go to a much more "specific" consumer, Rick.

[rickcharles606]

Rick, I've heard that Camel currently holds about 70% of the US snus market. The other 30% is split between Skoal, Marlboro and the Swedish brands. Do these numbers seem about right to you?

Close, the last numbers I saw were Camel- 80%, SM-15% and the remaining points split between the rest. The total market was only around $200M at year end, but expected to have near flat growth next year due to the popularity of e-cigs right now. I'll be working on stealing marketshare from everyone else :-)

[trebli]

Rick, I've heard that Camel currently holds about 70% of the US snus market. The other 30% is split between Skoal, Marlboro and the Swedish brands. Do these numbers seem about right to you?

[rickcharles606]

When I smoked, I KNEW that cigarettes were killing me, and so does EVERY smoker. I just didn't need to hear from someone else, something that I already knew. It was a constant reminder of my failures at trying to give up smokes, and that I was RJR's bitch, lol. Once I was truly ready to quit, I tried Camel snus and it didn't curb my cravings, and it was very sweet. I researched Swedish snus and found SOOOO many brands, styles and strengths of snus. Shortly thereafter I ordered some and quit smoking in a week.

My point in all this is that people have to "BE" ready to hear what you're saying. We inherently want to talk about snus with those people we care about, but sometimes these people aren't ready. I'm on the frontlines of bringing Swedish snus to the US brick and mortar shops, and gaining acceptance from consumers is paramount. Early on, I talked to EVERYONE, and it was almost to the point of badgering sometimes. I finally realized that we lead by example, and only gently give a pull/push to people when they show interest. It's far more successful. Sometimes you can just offer a can of snus and tell them to go online and read all the clinical studies and forums for themselves. I've done this countless times, only to get emails months later asking why I hadn't mentioned it sooner, lol. People are weird....I am that's for sure.

Keep at it, and remember not to sound condescending. People never like to hear they've been doing it wrong or that they don't know what they are talking about. We were once that person :-)

[TheBlackVomit]

This is all true but my point was that these guys were already willing to accept snus somewhat even though it s just camel.
The main thing I've noticed its that nobody believes me about the safety factor, especially smokers...

[rickcharles606]

....and he's still rocking the Ducati....right on Dan!

This is exactly what I was thinking.