Xikar - A Cut Above the Rest Owned and operated by Scott Almsberger and Kurt Van Keppel , as a team they have revolutionized an industry which most would think is just a simple tool. Is there really such a thing as a simple tool? In the cigar industry nothing is simple; in fact you hear the word complex all the time. And there is nothing simple about a cigar smoker when it comes down to cigar enjoyment and accessories such as Xikar cigar cutters, punches, lighters, and pouches. Our staff has a few of their products such as the Xi3 and we wouldn't think of cutting a cigar with anything less. We thank Scott, Kurt and Andy for the opportunity to learn about the Xikar Company, so let us see what kind of news they have for us. CC: How are you doing guys, we have Scott Almsberger, Kurt Van Keppel, and Andy Dower with us from Xikar and we have a few questions. We have some interest in what makes you guys tick and what makes Xikar the leader in the industry when it comes to cigar cutters. (KURT) First and foremost I'd like to say thank you for inviting us - we really appreciate what a great online magazine you are creating for cigar lovers. More and more people are going the web route for quick & informative cigar information. We couldn't be happier to help out! CC: Thanks Kurt, we just want to revolutionize the cigar information highway a little we have other plans also in the future that we are keeping under our hat for now, but we really want to make an effect both on the cigar community and the way people get information, and maybe save some treesin the process. (KURT) What makes us tick? We love the cigar business and we love challenging ourselves. Whether that means spending a few weeks designing a new cool cigar accessory (ok, sometimes toy!) or visiting our customers in stores around the country, the community of friends, the simple pleasureof a good smoke with friends combined with a business challenge is what keeps us energized day after day. CC: We have to say that Xikar products are amazing with the intriguing designs and perfect functionality of all it's cutters and lighters, what brought up the idea of a elegant cigar cutter for Xikar? (SCOTT) Over ten years ago, Kurt was looking for a good cigar cutter for his father. We had been friends since our college days at Kansas so I went along. We both loved cigars but were not in the business. Our professional backgrounds brought some key fundamentals when we decided that "there has got to be a better way!" At the time Kurt already had a great deal of international business experience as well as a good eye for design. He had introduced new products for several consumer products companies, both in the U.S. and abroad. I had worked at sales and in industrial design for several Japanese companies. I also had an Industrial Design degree from the University of Kansas. We both loved the challenge of creating a product that would need to be equally attractive to the eye as well as functionally superior to products that had been on the market for years and years. So we started meeting for breakfast before going to our regular careers, exchanging designs, ideas and then prototypes. The first few designs of the Xi cutter took a couple years to get to the point where we could get parts manufactured at a local machine shop and begin selling. We assembled the first 200 units in Kurt's garage, and then Kurt took the first Xi cutters to RTDA in 1998. Kurt still remembers packaging product on the family room floor with his wife & baby daughter looking on. The rest you could say is history. We really got into the lighter business because of demand. Retailers and customers all over the country wanted us to take the same fundamentals we brought to design & customer service to lighters. Lighters are difficult to make perfect but we put our best efforts towards that goal everyday - new and exciting developments happen everyday. CC: What makes Xikar cigar cutter a step above from the others? (KURT ) In short: The combination of style and function create a piece that makes one want to carry it in their pocket, show to friends and use on their best cigars over and over. Long answer: 1. the unique design that ergonomically fits into the palm of one's hand allowing for a quick, confident cut. 2. Razor sharp 440 stainless steel blades positioned at the perfect angle to cleanly slice just the right amount of cap. 3. Combining these two elements into a tool small enough to carry around all day. 4. Style that simultaneously compliments function without being superfluous. 5. A fair price! 6. Forever: a lifetime warranty. Our customers travel often and they must feel confident that they'll be taken care of if they ever have a product issue. CC: This Lifetime Warranty deal makes each cutter worth its weight in gold, and a lot more affordable than gold, but what brought on this idea? (KURT ) We expect number's 1-5 for all our purchases in terms of quality of design, production and functionality so those were given for a XIKAR product. In addition, people buy from people so they should always know that there is a person willing to fulfill a commitment that is made when a product is purchased so we made sure that # 6 was a piece of the foundation rather than a secondary business unit. (See Numbers 1-6 on previous question) CC: And how does one take advantage of the lifetime warranty, can we take it back to the store where we bought it? (SCOTT) 9 times out 10 a retailer will honor your purchase with a straight exchange - given that they have the item in stock. We work very closely to encourage retailers to maintain this 'over-the-counter' exchange policy. This way, you can go on your way with a brand new item and we settle up with the retailer later. Unfortunately we can not control a retailer's inventory or their willingness to do the straight exchange in ALL cases. That is why you can ALWAYS send your product to us for repair or replacement when your local store isn't an option. CC: I noticed on the website that you can get a free sheath for your cutter, how do you go about doing that? (ANDY)There are two ways to register for your warranty and get a free sheath for either your cigar cutter or lighter: fill out the warranty card in your products packaging or go to our website and click on the link "warranty/free sheath". A few steps later we'll have a sheath out to you in the mail in a few days. If you buy another cutter later on down the road you can login and add a sheath to your account as well. CC: I have seen the ad with the fireman's cutter that had burned up in a fire and was replaced, can you really get it replaced for anything happening to it, besides maliciously destroying it yourself, I would think is the only given? (ANDY) You are right - unfortunately life gets in the way of some products in ways we can't control, as was in the case of Chris' cutter! We guarantee the quality of the product for anything you can imagine other than total misuse or drunken loss! Believe me, we've seen some pretty amazing conditions of returns but they more often provide for good conversation around a cigar - for us and the customer who gets a new product! Ha! CC: What I really dig is all the colors and all the cool woods and the finishes, can you give us a rundown on the finishes of everything? (SCOTT) From the lowest priced models going up (keeping in mind that all Xi cutter blades are 440 stainless steel): Xi2: Zytel body Xi1: Aluminum body Xi3: Stainless body, polished. Misc handle materials: redwood, beechwood, zebrawood, rubberized plastic, bocote, amboina, cocobolo. CC: We especially dig the Xi3 Havana Collection, now these are real art, tell us about this collection and there must be a lot of work in these babies, I understand real artists have a hand in these? (SCOTT) Yes, the Havana Collection is a labor of love for us and we couldn't be happier with the reception it has received. Here is a run down of the incredible process: To create each unique, mixed media decoupage art piece, the Parisian artist begins by fashioning handles of French maple wood to fit the Xi3 body. He then hand paints the handles in one of five vibrant colors, including green, yellow, red, blue and black. Once the base is complete, the artist individually cuts or tears pieces of actual cigar bands, then meticulously arranges the cut cigar band pieces in place with tweezers. By varying each collage pattern, he gives each cutter a one of a kind Havana signature. When the artist completes the collage, he seals the cutter's beauty forever with several coats of clear varnish. To ensure a smooth and comfortable grip, he lightly sands and polishes the handles before attaching them to the Xi3 cutter body. When the process is complete, the Havana Collection cutter by XIKAR is more than the best cigar cutter money can buy. It is a handmade, piece of art that liberates the spirit of the quintessential cigar city, Havana. CC: These caught my eye as a must have for me; in fact, it is on the top of my Christmas list, I hope Santa is reading this. (SCOTT) HA! I'm glad you like them! No doubt he'll be doing a background check on your behavior! CC: Yeah that is the part that worries me!! Ha-ha!! Scott and Kurt make a great team, I mean look at the perfection of the product and the unique styles and colors, and how did these two minds come together come? (KURT) College at the University of Kansas - we met through mutual friends and shared many of the same interests. After we both quit our previous careers to pursue XIKAR full time we've been fortunate to maintain a strong friendship as well as business partnership. Our wives & children have been very supportive as well - we can not thank them enough!!!! CC: Yes, I too am blessed to have such a supportive inner sanctum. Xikar is world famous for its cigar cutters; but tell us about the other accessories; the lighters, bullet punches, and the cigar pouches are all top notch items? (SCOTT) The lighters, just 3 years on the market, are becoming one of the biggest parts of our business. We will no doubt continue to refine and design bigger and better things in the coming years. Look for many different designs coming to a store near you in the next year. The punches are a unique item - many people prefer a punch over a cutter and that is just fine by us, we'll just make the best one we can! Another cutter, the V cut, will be another style we are going to continue to perfect before we go to market. Glad you brought up the cases - it doesn't matter how much you pay for your sticks, if you don't take care of them they are worthless when it comes time to smoke. We are working on a few different designs right now to add to our offerings - a carrying case for every occasion no matter the length of trip. CC: Wow, all these are very elegant if you ask me, so much precision, value, and elegance in everything, is the idea to keep making everything more appealing year after year? (SCOTT) We don't rest on our laurels. We love to invent, reinvent and then invent so more! CC: I hang out at the local cigar store a lot and I notice these things have wings, they just fly out the door, can you tell me where can somebody get a set of wings like that for their products? (Basically, how can somebody pattern themselves after your success, any little secrets you want to share? (KURT) There is no one formula for a product's attributes that make it a winner. If you look at the statistics, MILLIONS of products fail to make it to market much less gain market share and growth. However, the basic principles of dealing with people will gain and most importantly KEEP customers: honesty, consistency, dependability, concern and communication. Granted a product has to have value to a customer or they wouldn't buy it. When we believed we produced a product with value, then proved it with initial sales we knew "this is our window" and that that was the point where service and commitment had to ensure a customer would say: " they make great products AND they stand behind them ". That is a very short window and the most successful entrepreneurs win take that window of opportunity very seriously. CC: There you go for anyone wanting to make it big with an idea; I am sure appreciative of that information. Now for something not a lot of people know is the "Defiance" cigar group, tell us about it and why Xikar sees the need for this? (KURT) Scott and I have the fortunate connections through the cigar industry to be able to meet many of the best cigar makers in the world. We've always wanted to bring a spectacular cigar to market. We searched for years and then we met Jesus Fuego, an incredibly talented and very kind cigar maker. He is a native and member of one of the four families of the renowned Corojo region in Cuba - to boot he is a very accomplished blender with an unbelievable palate. When we finally got the quality and taste we were looking for we brought forth our long term idea of giving back to the cigar community through Defiance. We are donating 5% of all our sales of Defiance to the state's local coalition in which the cigars are sold. First and foremost, Defiance cigars are a premium cigar made from one of the most talented makers in the industry. Really the treasure from our years of treasure hunting! To show our appreciation for everything the cigar industry has done for us we want to give something back to ensure it will be here for years to come. Trust me, smoke one Defiance cigar and you'll agree it is so good you WANT to fight for your right to smoke it! CC: I did have one at the RTDA and it was an awesome smoke! And here is the always important question, so what's new? (ANDY) We just introduced a brand new triple jet flame lighter called the Trezo. It is the industry's first in-line triple jet and I assure you that the Trezo lights a Churchill faster than I've ever seen! We've expanded both our Havana collections and Exotic woods collections to include cases & lighters as well as humidors. More in 2008. Our Xi3 STK is also very new (introduced at RTDA in Houston last August). The body of the cutter is made entirely of stainless steel, and then coated with a charcoal color of titanium nitride coating. It makes for a very durable finish on our heaviest cutter yet! Always be on the lookout for the best in cigar humidification product from us - we are rapidly developing some very cool products that will keep your investments in peak aging condition. CC: Well we learned a lot and this is exciting news, tell us the best way for a consumer to contact you with ideas, comments, or just to say "Hi."? (ANDY) You can always send an email to info@xikar.com , fill out a comment section on xikar.com or simply give us a call! 866-676-7380. WE READ EACH AND EVERY EMAIL SENT AND WE LOVE COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, SO PLEASE KEEP THOSE LETTERS COMING!! Editor's Note: Thanks Kurt, Scott, and Andy for the informative insight on Xikar, I have to say by far these are my mainstays when it comes to lighting and cutting my smokes. |
Cigar Compaņero Premiere Edition 2008 |
