Tobacconist University has announced that it is making a change to its Certified Consumer Tobacconists (CCT) program, and will be handing off the program to its Certified Retail Tobacconists (CRTs) in April. The program is designed for cigar smokers who do not work in the industry to become certified through an education and exam process. It began in 1996 and culminated in 2014, with a program fee of $500. Now, with CRTs handling the program, they will be enabled to certify consumers at will while also charging significantly less for the program. In a press release, these changes are being made with the anticipation that they will “elevate credibility throughout the luxury tobacco industry and strengthen retailer/consumer bonds.” CRTs now have the exclusive right to administer the exams to those consumers wishing to become certified. Consumers wishing to become certified can find a current list of existing CRT and Certified Consumer Tobacconists (CCT) on the TU website. “While facts, truth, and knowledge may not matter to many marketers, they do matter to retailers and consumers,” said Jorge Armenteros in a press release. “Through certification we can establish a strong foundation of knowledge which bonds consumers, media, and retailers, thereby helping to ...
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