Tobacco accessories specialist Republic Technologies is introducing a new countertop display unit (CDU), enabling retailers to showcase and drive sales of the fast-growing Combi Paper brand, OCB.
Each unit holds 10 booklets of the six OCB variants: OCB Slim & Tips in Virgin, Premium and Organic Hemp, plus OCB Ultimate, OCB Premium and OCB Virgin Papers.
Gavin Anderson, Sales & Marketing Director at Republic Technologies UK, said: “Demand for our OCB products is growing rapidly. Our previous OCB CDU, which held all three variants of the OCB Slim & Tips range, was really popular with retailers. Many of our customers reported a significant increase in interest around the products and more frequent impulse purchases.
“We’ve been talking to our customers about display solutions for some time now, as they have proven to be really valuable for showcasing popular products and signposting the wider category. Retailers who build a broad RYO range, tailored to their shoppers’ requirements, and boost visibility of bestsellers, are most likely to see a sales uplift.”
The display units are being rolled out to selected convenience stores in England and will be available while stocks last.
Currently, more than half of all tobacco accessories sales are in the convenience channel, equating to over £171m. Within this, Republic Technologies’ brands are worth over £68m, highlighting the opportunity for convenience retailers to tap into incremental sales.
NAM Implications:
- This combination of niche raises impulse smoking accessories to a new level of accessibility.
- i.e. at a time when cash-strapped consumers are reducing their impulse consumption…
- …this counter-top may make a difference.
