The Art of Persuasion
Newsletter Introduction for Thursday, July 26, 2012If you've been keeping up with our Newsletter and blog lately, you may have noticed that a conversation seems to have developed, broadly speaking, about what it means to be a pipe smoker amongst the greater non-pipe smoking public. A common thread here, and in a few comments on this blog and our Facebook page by you guys, is that we are often a lonely bunch in this hobby. Sure, we can congregate and conspire on the various internet forums, but I know many of you out there are forced to puff alone - a practice not without contemplative merit, but also one that foregoes much of the shared interaction one gets when sitting with another smoker, such as the casual sharing of tobaccos (be they an old favorite, or a new discovery), or discussions of a pipe's grain, shape, finish, and heft, or even the inevitable meandering conversation unrelated to our mutually shared interest.
So my thinking is this: What if we were to become more proactive in pulling others into our hobby? In my experience, even the most ardent anti-smokers become curious when they see me with a pipe. Of course, these are not the people we would focus on trying to win over, though you can at least delight in their expressions when telling him/her that, at least in some studies, pipe smokers have been shown to live longer. Pick a person or persons, preferably already a smoker of some other sort, whose company you enjoy and bring them into our relatively arcane little corner of the greater tobacco world. We have a wonderfully rich and complex pastime that most no one knows about; send 'em down the rabbit hole. And don't limit this persuasive exercise to men-- the world could use more female pipe smokers.
The most obvious place to start is with the pipe itself. Show off your collection, and talk about what makes each special, be it grain, shape, finish, or heft and balance. Bring 'em to our site, and "ooh" and "ahh" over the wonderfully creative interpretations of "pipe" from Larrysson and the fine craftsmanship of Tonni Nielsen, both of whom, by the way, have pipes set to go up with today's update (and try not to give over to suspicions that I, as the SPC Marketing Guy, am slyly enlisting you pro bono to help us sell some pipes). Give 'em a history lesson in our Estate section, where today we've just added to our selection seventy-two more proudly restored pieces from all over the map. Also browse our smoking-hot new selection of pieces from Ashton, L'Anatra, Randy Wiley, and Cavicchi. Are they in the mood to buy? Perhaps your prospective partner in briar may wish to start with one of the quality wallet-friendly pipes we're offering from Nording, Savinelli, Peterson, and Stanwell.
John Sutherland: Marketing Mngr and Sr. Photographer
Between my blog, discussion forums, and YouTube channel (over half a million views of my pipe smoking videos) I get a lot of questions from people on the fence. They are curious, exploring, investigating. I try to stick to educating and describing the way pipe smoking enhances my life. I try never to "talk someone into it." And I don't think that's what you are suggesting either.
And when they want to know where a good place to buy pipes and tobacco is, this site is one of my first suggestions!
Keep up the good work!
I am active duty military (US Navy), and when I was deployed to Afghanistan I of course brought some pipes with me. Especially, I carried along the very first pipe I ever purchased, an excellent Dunhill amber root bent billiard group size 4. Every evening, I would sit in front of our barracks and smoke a bowl. Soon the smell of the pipe smoke wafting through the air would inevitably bring the curious to talk with me. First it was just me with my pipe. Then one more came in and purchased a pipe and we smoked together. Then in no time our group grew to eight of us. All but me had never smoked a pipe before. We had a club now. Some of the fun traditions that we developed was that one of us always had a little bag of chocolates that we passed around. We also gave each other nick names - you couldn't pick your own nick name. Once you were in the group long enough (2-3 wks), the others in the group picked a name for you based on what we felt most fit. Names like "Sherlock", "Blackjack", "Wild Bill" and "Vader". It was great fun sharing tobacco, eating a bit of chocolate, and sharing pipe tobacco and a smoke. We formed a club just by sitting in the same place and enjoying our pipes at a regular time every evening. It still is one of my most memorable experiences.
By the way, Smoking Pipes very own Mr. Mark Pluta may remember that I ordered a few more pipes and tobacco from your company while I was deployed!
Respectfully,
John W
I can relate to John. Bieng Navy myself, I was in the same situation. I was only able to procure a few others while in the service though.
@eric:
Is this your blog? http://smokingpipetobacco.com/
Only had a second to browse over the topics but looks like there is some good stuff here.
@John:
Great story! I'll tell Mark you said "Hello" next time I see him.
@Jonah:
There are always folks in our Low Country Pipe and Cigar retail store smoking cigars or pipes and chatting with each other and the staff. It's just a walk downstairs, but unfortunately I never have time to get down there; this is something I should rectify.
You guys rock!!! No commision required!
